Diversity in Oxfam GB: engaging the head and turning the heart

Overview

This article, by Oxfam GB’s diversity adviser, shares her experience of addressing diversity in an international development NGO that has British roots and history. In particular, the article focuses on race and sexuality. Oxfam recognises diversity as an inclusive concept – that is, it makes a commitment to value all individuals and their identity differences. It also recognises that individuals from particular identity groups experience inequality and discrimination because of who they are. Therefore, Oxfam has to address both the need to include individuals from different identities in its work, and the inequalities between groups. Here, some of the personal and professional challenges facing change-agents are discussed, in the context of developing a strategy and action plan on diversity, and of work on learning and development.

This article is hosted by our co-publisher Taylor & Francis. For the full table of contents for this and previous issues of this journal, please visit the Gender and Development website.