How we work
The Centre for Strategic and International Governance is committed to advancing good governance and ethical leadership globally. Our mission is to promote human rights, the rule of law, democracy, and peace through informed leadership, education, and training. By empowering individuals, organisations, and communities, we aim to bridge gaps in human rights initiatives and foster partnerships for sustainable social impact.
Our aims
The CSIG aims to work both in the UK and internationally, collaborating across public, private, and third sectors to advance human rights and education. Its activities include research, training, advising, and mentoring with the goal of:
- delivering transformative change for a broad range of beneficiaries, including the general public, specific communities, institutions, and partners.
- supporting the development of a state-society relationship based on constitutionalism, justice, equality, and human rights.
- promoting governance reforms guided by human rights principles, especially those identified by the UN.
- encouraging governance that addresses power imbalances and achieves sustainable improvements in security, growth, and equity.
- supporting ethical leadership and standards in public life, while countering exclusion, corruption, and unequal power dynamics.
- providing pro bono services for hardship cases when resources are available.
Think tank
The CSIG’s think tank will be a forum for discussing national and international policy and strategy. It will focus on identifying, evaluating, and proposing solutions to human rights issues, with an emphasis on achieving ethical leadership and good governance
Research
The CSIG aims to deliver evidence-based and innovative solutions to complex problems, leveraging research, interdisciplinary collaboration and domain expertise to ensure sustainable, scalable, and impactful outcomes that address both present and potential future human rights challenges
Training & Skills
The CSIG will offer training and skill development for both the general public and professionals in human rights and related fields, including continuing professional development and training for trainers
Advisory
The CSIG will provide advisory services and mentoring to help initiate and sustain positive changes in strategy, policy, organisational culture, processes, and attitudes
Our ambit of operation
Linking across boundaries and bridging gaps in policy and strategy.
Nationally
The CSIG supports good governance and integrity in public life, aids in the fight against corruption, and advises on development assistance priorities within foreign policy initiatives
Internationally
The CSIG supports global and regional governance institutions by helping them adapt to address societal demands on global issues like climate change, pandemics, and organised crime. It also seeks to promote collaboration and coordinated efforts between international bodies such as the G7 and the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).
For businesses
The CSIG assists corporations in adopting the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles, promotes corporate integrity and accountability, supports companies in achieving sustainable living and ESG goals, and demonstrates the business benefits of these efforts. It also fosters partnerships with governments and civil society.
For civil society organisations
The CSIG helps build capacity in line with the Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+ and supports civil society organisations (CSOs) in assuming governance responsibilities and rebuilding state institutions in fragile environments.
The CSIG’s distinctiveness
The CSIG’s distinctiveness is its ability to:
- Bridge the multi-faceted gaps by connecting human rights initiatives across sectors and tiers, from community-level actions to strategic government, business, and third-sector engagements, while advising donors and regional and international agencies.
- Work at the intersection of diplomacy, development, and state-building, leveraging the expertise of members with extensive international, high-level experience across diverse contexts.
- Provide long-term support for beneficiaries, respecting and reinforcing local positions while providing remote assistance when appropriate
- Advance the development of strong institutions by focusing on the achievement of the governance and democracy indicators of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, for which the UNDP is Custodian
- Provide mentoring, coaching and research services offering personalised one-to-one support - remotely if needed - alongside comprehensive advisory services
- Promote SDG 17, ‘Partnership for the Goals’ by overcoming institutional silos
- Support leaders and leadership groups in adopting the human rights and anti-corruption principles of the UN Global Compact to benefit wider communities.
- Forge purposeful linkages between academic research, policy analysis, and practical, on-the-ground action to ensure sustainable and long-term beneficiary support.
- Challenge conventional thinking, bringing innovative approaches to complex issues.