Now is the time for ethical and values driven consultancy. Will you join us?

By Paul Knipe

Cuts to official development assistance have intensified calls for a radical overhaul of the aid system. We are at a critical time, with the opportunity to move away from approaches that many feel are ineffective and rooted in the long shadow of colonialism. 

As the sector reforms, so too should consultancy practice. At INTRAC, we believe that through an ethical and values driven approach, consultants can work alongside organisations and actors to support resilient, impactful civil society ecosystems to secure a future where everyone can thrive.  

Whether you are commissioning or delivering consultancy, will you join our vision and work with us to build it?  

There are three dimensions of ethical and values driven consultancy:  

Firstly, who the consultant is and the knowledge and experience they bring. This is about considering who is best placed to deliver the work. This means emphasising the importance of deep contextual and cultural understanding, as well as familiarity with the nuances and sensitivities of particular cultures or scenarios. Lived experience and context-based knowledge must be valued just as much as technical skills. We will prioritise investment and support for local consultants and will be clear on the added value and justification for international consultants, if working in contexts where they are not already rooted.  

Secondly, the approach to consultancy. This is about seeking an open, honest, trusting relationship with those we are working with to get to the heart of the matter. Consultants must facilitate and support the changes and development that is sought., They must deploy approaches that respond to the distinct needs and realities of the context.  This is about building ownership and not necessarily being defined by a terms of reference. These qualities, or soft skills, build on years of refining our ‘consulting with soul’ approach.  

And finally, the intention of consultancy. This is about shifting power, building inclusivity, diversity and equity. This happens both within our own practice through the work we do and how we do it, and in wider civil society through challenging approaches that reinforce unequal power. This is core to enabling sustainable, legitimate, impactful organisations and support ecosystems as part of a vibrant civil society.  

With our network and partners we have refined a set of questions. These feed into our consultancy process and guide decisions on the opportunities we pursue, how we work, and who we work with.

We believe anyone with a stake in the consultancy journey – commissioners of consultancy, policymakers, consultants – can ask themselves these questions.   

How do they land with you?  For example, for commissioners: How are you redistributing power in your commissioning process? How are you empowering consultants rooted where the work is taking place? What does this mean for your consultancy commissioning approach? 

Or for consultants: How are you incorporating antiracist and feminist understanding in your practice? What guidance may help your consultancy practice?   

Now, we are raising awareness of ethical and values driven consultancy and what this means in practice. We will explore this further and gather examples of impact. We call for appropriate investment and support from funders who themselves see the value in locally rooted and globally connected civil society support ecosystems as a catalyst for change and resilience.  

Collectively, we can catalyse appropriate change.  Join us in our journey.