How aidXchange works

aidXchange is an online platform that fosters civil society partnerships in response to humanitarian or development needs. Our approach draws on the experience of “shared economy” models of enterprise, linked with an appreciation of the limits of many current foreign and humanitarian aid programs.

Participants develop project plans with the help of trained independent facilitators. Projects, which are established in areas such as healthcare, gender, children, sport, environment, spirituality and the arts, can involve the shared development of physical goods, text or audio-visual materials, such as visual art, videos, music, poetry, and story-telling, or the provision of educational or other services. They may be self-funded, or supported by donations or micro-funding contributions facilitated through the aidXchange platform.

What is our code of conduct?

aidXchange requires participants to observe a code of conduct, which can be found here. In brief, the code requires that participants engage each other according to the ethical principle the guide the respectful conduct of communication and dialogue.

What are our core values?

There are three core clusters of values underlying the reconciliation project, which we summarise here as “respect for difference”, “responsibility” and “magnanimity”. There are other ways of referring to these values, which overlap with many others. We see the clusters as points of reference, to be negotiated in relation to local circumstances, rather than as principles to be implemented or as standards of judgment.

Respect for difference
“Respect for difference” refers to the recognition that the differences between us—in culture, gender, political affiliations, religious beliefs etc.—constitute the source of the richness of human interactions and the origin of all new meaning. An acknowledgment of the specific integrity of another person’s way of understanding the world is the fundamental starting point for all ethical exchanges.

Responsibility
Just as we accept difference we recognise the ties that bind us to each other. Indeed, it is these ties that are most primordial, that define us as human, that logically and ethically precede all other constructions of meaning. We are bound to each other as ethical subjects before we create knowledge or theorise about the world of people and things.

Magnanimity
Sometimes referred to a “generosity”, “openness” or “hospitality”, magnanimity is the active principle according to which we move between responsibility and difference. This is the disposition that allows us to make contact across the gap that separates us, to make a leap from one way of experiencing or understanding the world to another. Magnanimity is the moment at which we interrupt our personal biases and habits and make ourselves vulnerable to another person, to allow the bonds of responsibility to be exposed to the play of differences, so that we too can see the world a little differently.

The aidXchange program is founded on these three clusters of values. We recognise that practical circumstances—including those characterised by systems of exploitation, inequality, injustice and lack of compassion—need to be changed to allow the blockages to their realisation to be overcome. However, it is our conviction that the struggle for such change itself requires, and depends upon, a shared ethical foundation that incorporates these ideas.

Protocols for conducting activities

In order to facilitate effective and satisfying meetings, aidXchange recommends that an agreed protocol be followed. We suggest the following steps as a guide.

Protocol for online meetings:
1. The project generates an invitation to various parties asking if they would like to join a conversation with another party.
2. If the parties agree an invitation is sent to set up a conversation.
3. The identities of the parties are disclosed to each other with their permission.
4. A facilitator is appointed by the project who contacts the parties introducing himself or herself and outlining how the conversation will proceed.
5. Parties are asked to attend punctually at the appointed time and to sign on with the addresses provided.
6. The facilitator introduces himself or herself and summarised the expectations of the meeting.
7. Permissions and consents are provided where appropriate and where children are involved permission from parents or guardians for them to attend is obtained.
8. The confidentiality of the conversation is emphasized and agreed.
9. The participating parties are then asked to introduce themselves one by one, explaining their interest in the project and what capacities they bring and what needs they week to address.
10. The facilitator initiates a conversation about possible joint activities, drawing on the profiles and known interests of the parties.
11. Free discussion ensues about possible joint activities.
12. The facilitator proposes a decision on one or more specific activities to which the partnership may aspire.
13. The parties discuss specific activities and agree on priorities.
14. The facilitator leads discussion on practical requirements and time-lines.
15. A discussion ensues about possible resource needs.
16. A process is agreed to in order to complete a project proposal to be submitted to aidXchange, including reporting processes.
17. A decision is made about the next meeting.
18. The facilitator offers the parties an opportunity to make closing comments.
19. The facilitator closes the meeting.
20. The facilitator submits a summary of the meeting to aidXchange, including a note regarding the follow-up meeting (for which a reminder will be sent).

Protocol for requests for funding support:
Small amounts of funding may be provided to support specific activities. The process for applying for such support is as follows:
1. A project proposal is submitted to aidXchange, with time-lines and reporting requirements.
2. A follow-up meeting is held to confirm commitment to project and activity and to develop a budget for the activity.
3. An application is submitted for funding support.
4. The recipient parties will be required to provide identification and bank account details as required by international standards.
5. Payments may be made by instalments. If this is the case, reports will be required prior to the payment of a subsequent instalment.
6. At the conclusion of the project a report must be submitted with details about the outcomes of the project, including materials for posting on a public website, unless otherwise agreed.