CREED

Coalition for Racial & Ethnic Equity in Development
Equal Space for Every Creed & Race

About Us

Indira Ahluwalia, CREED Founder/Chair

The Coalition for Racial & Ethnic Equity in Development (CREED) is a collective of international development and humanitarian assistance organizations based in the United States committed to building racial and ethnic equity (REE). We pledge to advance racial and ethnic diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within our own organizations’ policies, systems and culture in keeping with attainable and measurable goals; and work to instill REE in international development.

Leaders from twenty large, medium and small for-profit and not-for-profit U.S.-based organizations working in international development and humanitarian assistance joined forces to create CREED and develop the REE pledge starting in April 2021. We have worked collaboratively with the intention of building personal as well as organizational responsibility for strengthening REE in our organizations and sector.

The Pledge

For Racial & Ethnic Equity

The Pledge for Racial and Ethnic Equity (REE), as developed by CREED, aims to create practical and quantifiable standards for advancing REE in our own organizations, and strengthen REE in the international development and humanitarian assistance sector, to build greater organizational effectiveness and a more equitable world for all.

The pledge encompasses the following five components that can significantly contribute to building REE in our organizations, create evidence-based learning, and transform the sector.

Whitney leaning against a railing on a downtown street
Photograph by Claire Nakkachi

Pledge Components

Policies and Systems

Commitment and accountability to REE in organizational policies and systems.

People, Leadership, and Organizational Structure.

Racial and ethnic diversity across the organization regarding roles, responsibilities, and compensation parity

Organizational Culture

All staff feel respected and valued, and experience physical and psychological safety in the workplace.

Accountability

Demonstrated implementation of REE commitments, measurement of progress in concrete ways, and regular reporting both internally and externally.

Communications and Transparency

Leaders speak credibly and openly about REE goals, progress, and outcomes internally and externally.