Values & Principles
Values
Issues concerning the underlying framework to our work, the choice of our organisational structure, the people we hire, the projects we take on, and the way in which we engage and act – are determined by the values that hold COHRED together.
1. Social justice
- We believe in a world that should be and can be better, fairer, hold more opportunity for self-realisation – for everyone and everywhere;
- We also believe that maximising health and health equity are core to both social justice and to socio-economic development.
2. Development can be facilitated – not done, and needs research and innovation
- We believe that at the heart of development is an environment that is conducive for individual and collective self-realisation. Well functioning national systems – in health, research and innovation, and many others – are the cornerstone. Our expertise is in research and innovation systems that promote health and equity – and that result in and stimulate socio-economic development. Our expertise may well expand beyond health – but will remain focused on building transparent systems that serve everyone in society.
3. Most people in the world share our vision – and want to contribute to it
- We will work with anyone, any organisation – institution or business, and any government sharing our values if this will help to increase health, equity and development;
- and We will create vehicles and mechanisms for everyone sharing our values, vision and modus operandi to participate.
Operating Principles
1. We operate as a not-for-profit, social enterprise
- and always with the highest level of integrity.
2. We aim to excel at what we do – to be the best at what we do – or not do it at all
- while, at the same time, We aim to address relevant problems in an ethical and equity-promoting manner.
3. We stimulate creativity, innovation, inventiveness
– We focus on and design solutions and then scale them up;
– We believe problems are made to stimulate solutions.
4. We are an ‘enabling organisation’
- which means that We leave behind not just a product – but increased capacity and better systems with which people, institutions and countries can pursue their own development even better.
- our aim is not to build out COHRED per se – but to build out low and middle income countries to engage in research and innovation for health, equity and development. Building out COHRED can only be justified, if this leads to maximising our mission or doing it in a shorter time.
5. We work hard and have fun doing it
- We don’t pay the highest wages, but we aim to create the best work environment there can be.
