Investing in People and their Environment

"Because we want to live in a world which is not dominated by a division of people who live on the cutting edge of a new economy and others who live on the bare edge of survival, we must be involved ..."
(William J. Clinton)

Started in 1999 as an informal programme active in Southern and Eastern Africa JTJ Community Investment Programme is committed to building lasting relationships, that promote sustainable development, with people and their environment.

Sustainable Development has several interpretations many of which have evolved from the Bruntland Reports' definition and which are aligned with the current United Nations definition i.e. 'Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'. Some definitions favour resource protection.

The JTJ Community Investment Programme views sustainable development as progress that strives to ensure a balance within the environment - of which people are an integral part - that is, currently and in the future, mutually beneficial and/or offers opportunities, to all organisms. It is about environmental relationships including informed and skilled dwelling.

Investment

The JTJ Community Investment Programme focuses on 5 intervention areas:

Projects include:

Value

Essential to this programme is the investment in personal relationships and an ongoing personal commitment to development endeavors. As such relationships, whilst possibly fewer than elsewhere in the development 'marketplace', tend to be more intimate and entered into with a long term personal commitment.

Notably, the JTJ Community Investment Programme pursues performance excellence in its activities. Whilst the programme focuses on the 'spirit of community' it does so with an emphasis on critically evaluating its activities. Furthermore, the programme strives to avoid cultural insensitivity, global/'outsider' top-down approaches and 'donor investment naivety'.

This programme works in partnership with communities, individuals as well as other development bodies to best achieve mutually supported and beneficial objectives.

Programme Structure and Planning

In 2005 the decision was taken, by funders Jones and Trevenen-Jones, to formally structure their interventions and financial investment. This formalization involved the introduction of an innovative and adaptive approach to sustainable development objectives - one which emphasizes local value yet also recognizes international and other regional-local best practice.

Strategic Planning was cognizant of the significant funding, planning as well as operational requirements and context changes in the international, regional and local development ‘market place’. Notwithstanding these challenges the over-riding intention of this formalization is to enhance intervention-partnership quality and facilitate effective, efficient and performance orientated activities (including accountability, transparency and respect).