Nuru International applies an integrated methodology of community-led development called The Leadership Program, which seeks “to foster an environment of co-creation in which local servant leaders recognize and develop their ability to critically analyze and successfully develop poverty solutions in constantly changing environments.” Nuru aims to remove psychological and physical barriers, so that these new leaders produce genuine discourse about the needs of the community.
Nuru’s methodology, found here in this brochure, is termed “servant leadership“. It is based on the idea that “a leader can achieve more by bringing out the best in those they lead with a service-oriented mindset. To do this, a community leader must “serve” her followers to help them achieve their fullest potential.”
Nuru highlights twelve core traits and actions:
- Admit when you make a mistake
- Seek to understand
- Be together with your people
- Do what is right
- Speak when something is wrong
- Lead by example
- Apologize for mistakes
- Treat all people equally
- Don’t waste resources
- Represent your team well
- Make sacrifices for your people
- Take the initiative to make improvements
Nuru has found with empirical evidence that traditional approaches to management and leadership perpetuates the gap between those in power and those living in extreme poverty. To counter this norm, Nuru seeks to grant agency to the staff and the community. Nuru does this in three ways:
- By promoting agency and dignity of the local staff
- By sustaining opportunity structures to encourage critical thinking, feedback and debate
- By allowing local staff to manage their programs and make all decisions
With these steps of co-creation, Nuru hopes to grant meaningful power to those in the community living in poverty by engaging in discourse to shape their own futures.