DDG’s AVR approach is needs based and assistance is also based on local needs and broad contextual analysis. The approach is underpinned by the following operational principles:

Participation – DDG believes that responses should be locally owned and driven. By emphasising participation, inclusion in decision-making and bringing together different social groups DDG seeks to empower communities and local institutions to take direct control over planning and decision-making.

Capacity development – Through active engagement in the visioning, analysis, planning and implementation of its programme DDG seeks to develop the capacity of target communities and institutions to address their safety and security issues and facilitate various processes.

Gender – DDG recognises the different needs and capacities of women, girls, boys and men and tries to create space for and utilise these differences in programming, aiming at benefitting both males and females.

Advocacy – DDG uses direct and indirect advocacy as a key instrument in strengthening the ability and willingness of local institutions, structures and individuals to take up their responsibilities for changing their safety and security environment.

“Do-no-harm” – DDG strives to ensure that the implemented programme has no negative side effects on the conflict in question or on direct and indirect beneficiaries and instead promote positive side effects by supporting local capacities for peace, cooperation and conflict management.

Collaboration with local partners – DDG involves existing local management structures and community based organisations as collaborative partners in programming and thus seeks to increase local control over planning and implementation and enhance readiness to take over activities. DDG also works with local NGOs and government institutions on implementing programmes.

Complementarity – DDG takes an integrated approach to security and development recognising that the factors which make communities insecure are often a combination of security and development issues.  In order to address the variety of issues threatening communities a coordinated approach is needed. DDG therefore seeks to engage with a wide range of other agencies and government institutions throughout its programming.

Sustainability – The sustainability of the programmes is ensured through extensive involvement and capacity building of local communities and institutions.

Conflict-sensitivity – In insecure environments, the design and implementation of responses must be based on an analysis of local conflict dynamics. Thus, a conflict-sensitive approach is taken that ensures that interventions at a minimum ‘do no harm’ and go further to address root causes of conflict and insecurity.

Evidence based programming – By conducting detailed needs assessments DDG will obtain good understanding of local conditions enabling the organisation to ensure that responses are tailored to the local context.