Inter Pares means among equals in Latin. Relationships are the core of who we are.
We collaborate with more than 70 social justice organizations across 15 countries.
Since our inception in 1975, we’ve been dedicated to transforming colonial “aid” relationships into equal partnerships working for social justice around the world. This mission is built into our DNA and the way we work is structured around it.
This means we work with local organizations to tackle injustice together. From our office in Ottawa, we work with more than 70 social justice organizations across 15 countries, including Canada, to build peace, advance justice and globalize equality.
We seek out partnerships with social justice activists, strengthening ties based on mutual respect, shared values and collective commitment. These partner organizations—our counterparts—know best their communities’ needs and the local solutions to meet them. These collaborations are not one-way “helping” relationships, but two-way collaborative relationships. We support them to strengthen their work and increase their impact as we also learn from them.
Inter Pares means among equals in Latin. Relationships are the core of who we are.
We collaborate with more than 70 social justice organizations across 15 countries.
Since our inception in 1975, we’ve been dedicated to transforming colonial “aid” relationships into equal partnerships working for social justice around the world. This mission is built into our DNA and the way we work is structured around it.
This means we work with local organizations to tackle injustice together. From our office in Ottawa, we work with more than 70 social justice organizations across 15 countries, including Canada, to build peace, advance justice and globalize equality.
We seek out partnerships with social justice activists, strengthening ties based on mutual respect, shared values and collective commitment. These partner organizations—our counterparts—know best their communities’ needs and the local solutions to meet them. These collaborations are not one-way “helping” relationships, but two-way collaborative relationships. We support them to strengthen their work and increase their impact as we also learn from them.
Our counterparts know their communities’ needs and the local solutions to meet them.
We are committed to solidarity, not charity, as our approach to international cooperation.
In addition to sharing material resources, Inter Pares engages with people and communities in solidarity, forming common cause as we support struggles against poverty and injustice in Canada and around the world. Together, we are committed to addressing the structural inequalities within and among nations and among people that underlie the challenges the world faces. In doing so, we are proud to be a vehicle for our donors who share this commitment to global solidarity.
This is how we put solidarity into action:
Advise
We draw on fifty years of experience to offer organizational support to our counterparts.
Advocate
We advocate for improved and fairer policies.
Connect
We facilitate learning exchanges by bringing together activists who are facing the same issues.
Fundraise
We raise funds to support our counterparts internationally and in Canada.
Women's leadership
We support women’s leadership, because while women occupy a central and crucial role in societies, they face systemic barriers to social, political and economic equality, and the opportunity to live full and free lives.
Mobilize
We carry out public campaigns and share stories to engage and inspire Canadians.
We are an intersectional feminist organization.
Inter Pares is an intersectional feminist organization. We see issues of equality as important elements of our political analysis—equality between women and men, North and South, marginalized and privileged, among race and class, as well as other forms of socially and culturally constructed hierarchies.
We value methodologies that promote collaboration, foster good process, and encourage the agency of those with less power. We support women’s organizations and programs that encourage women’s leadership. Our feminism is trans-inclusive. Advancing trans rights is essential to achieving gender justice. We are in solidarity with the trans women who are shaping feminist and LGBTQI2S+ movements and embrace trans and non-binary activism. We work with counterparts and allies who advocate for trans people’s right to live without fear of harassment, violence or discrimination.
DEEP DIVE
Learn more about our feminist approach in Does it Work? Feminist analysis and practice at Inter Pares.
As Inter Pares evolved, inspired by feminist thinkers, staff and Board worked together to flatten the institutional structure.
Full-time staff became “co-managers,” agreeing to make decisions and run Inter Pares by consensus. The commitment to feminist practice extended to the Board, who also work by consensus—both among Board members and with co-managers.
Co-managers share the management of the organization, which operates on principles of equal responsibility for the organization and equal salary, working by consensus, while also nurturing women’s leadership. Our long-term practice in resisting hierarchy has strengthened Inter Pares, empowered us as co-workers and demonstrated how we can work with feminist principles to build accountable and productive relationships, among equals.