About Global Focus Aotearoa
What we do
Global Focus Aotearoa is a specialist provider of information and education on global and development issues.
We provide services to support critical analysis and a deeper understanding of global and development issues. Our website gives quick access to our lending library, magazines, teaching resources, email updates, training information and much more.
Global Focus Aotearoa consists of two teams: Education Services and Information Services.
Education Services (formally the Global Education Centre) provides resources and services to schools, teachers, youth workers, and community groups.
These services include training, publications, resource kits, and two magazines - Global Perspectives and Global Issues. Education Services also work directly with young people through a youth driven project, Just Focus, which consists of a website, a writing/journalism programme, Just Write, and a youth film festival package, Media that Matters Aotearoa.
Information Services (formally Dev-Zone) provides resources and research services to the development sector, including practitioners, consultants, policy-makers, and tertiary staff and students.
These services include the Global Focus Aotearoa lending library, Onepagers, and a free email service with fortnightly listings of development jobs and the latest quality development links. Our online resources include Weblinks - a searchable database of online toolkits, resources, country information and development research; directories; glossaries and more. Our website is updated daily.
Global Focus Aotearoa is a non-profit organisation, core funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme.
Our Kaupapa/Values
Global Focus Aotearoa is a values based organisation. Our work is underpinned by commitment to:
- Human Rights
- Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- People-Centred Development
- A Holistic and Sustainable Approach to Development
- Transparency
Our Philosophy
Information empowers; access to information is a fundamental human right. With accurate and comprehensive information people are able to make the best decisions about their own lives and how they engage with the world around them.
Education can develop skills, attitudes and values to bring about a more just and sustainable world. Global Education enables people to understand the links between their own lives and those of people throughout the world.
Action for a just world; Global Focus Aotearoa provides information on ways to help create a just world where human rights are upheld and respected, poverty is no longer tolerated, development is people-centred, holistic and sustainable, and we all recognise the interconnectivity of our lives and the world that we live in.
A Just Aotearoa
Since our establishment in 1993 we have acknowledged the importance of te Tiriti o Waitangi through its inclusion in our organisational values. Te Tiriti informs our perspective of development both in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.
In 2002 the ‘A Just Aotearoa’ (AJA) project team was formed. The AJA project is part of the core business of the organisation and ensures we are honouring our commitment to te Tiriti.
Who we work with
Global Focus Aotearoa works with other organisations to build strategic partnerships and alliances. These relationships promote collaboration and co-operation, encourage active debates on global issues and use resources more effectively.
Our strategic partners are:
- Te Iwi O Ngati Tukorehe
- Save the Children NZ
- Connected Media
We are a member of:
- CIVICUS – World Alliance for Citizen Participation
- The Council for International Development Aotearoa New Zealand
- The Development Education Association UK
- Asia Pacific Alliance: Advancing the International Conference on Population and Development (alongside Family Planning International, NZ AIDS Foundation and Positive Women)
- AGADEN – Aotearoa Global and Development Education Network
We manage DevNet: the Aotearoa New Zealand International Development Studies Network, and work in partnership with Human Rights in Education, Tearaway Magazine and others to help create a just world.
