Sign our open letter here.
Dear Members of the OECD DAC,
We the #ShiftThePower movement, a global network of people and civil society groups rooted in the Global South and North, including INGOs and allies within various places of the international aid system, write to you with a pressing concern.
For a long time, details governing the flow of resources from OECD DAC members to Global South CSOs have been “buried” in layers of paperwork and technical language in a manner that has been opaque and difficult to grasp. However, our analysis of DAC member aid flows reveals systemic imbalances in the distribution of Official development assistance (read the full report: Too Southern To Be Funded or its one-page summary here). Despite rhetoric committing to support Southern leadership and civil society, a significant portion of aid remains unofficially “tied”, disproportionately benefiting CSOs within DAC member countries, while marginalizing civil society in the South. This practice not only discriminates against Global South civil society but also undermines the spirit of the DAC Recommendation on Untying Official Development Assistance of 2001.
For example, we are aware of a little known clause in the Recommendation that allows Global North governments to consider funding to their own CSOs as untied if it is core support. We feel this loophole, while it breaks no laws, also undermines the spirit of commitments to support Global South civil society. Additionally, by restricting these funds to Northern CSOs only, the current funding practices are complicit in a system that undermines access to rights in regions experiencing a shrinking civic space in the Global South.
Furthermore, our analysis of the formal and informal practices that limit funding to Global South CSOs in favour of Northern organisations, including CSOs and private companies, reveals a series of disturbing assumptions the OECD DAC has made about Southern civil society. These assumptions and biases reflect a lack of nuance in understanding Southern CSOs and they include:
- Capacity: The assumption that Global South CSOs lack the capacity to effect change in their communities is flawed. We have spent decades building our capacity to understand and address local challenges, as well as navigating the complexities of global institutions. In any case, a lot of what the Global North considers capacity has little bearing on local realities.
- Trust: The relationship between the OECD DAC and Global South civil society has been marked by distrust. Southern civil society has not been trusted to take a lead on how to respond to local challenges. In continuing to maintain a system in which Southern CSOs must always look to Northern CSOs for funding, the OECD has enabled a system akin to the “indirect rule” found in the colonial histories of various countries.
- Assumption of guilt: OECD DAC members have continued to restrict funding to Southern CSOs in part because of an assumption of guilt and fraud laid on Southern CSOs who are assumed to be guilty until they prove themselves innocent.
We urge the OECD DAC and its members to immediately:
- Remove the legal and regulatory barriers for more direct funding to move from OECD DAC donors to Global South CSOs directly without procurement restrictions.
- Redefine Tied Aid Policies: Adopt a more inclusive definition of tied aid that acknowledges and addresses the implicit biases favouring DAC-based CSOs, moving away from defining as core support to only Northern CSOs as “untied aid.”
- Enhance Transparency: Implement mechanisms for greater transparency in funding. As it is now, there is no systematic transparency to track how much of the funds that go through Northern CSOs eventually make it to the South.
- Advocate for reforms: Prioritizing the voices of communities that are most affected by development interventions during decision-making.
The #ShiftThePower movement envisions a world where development assistance is rooted in the principles of equality, mutual respect, and local agency. We are confident that the OECD DAC can play a pivotal role in making this vision a reality.
We look forward to a constructive dialogue and are available for further discussion on these critical issues.
#ShiftThePower Movement
Sign our open letter here to call for an end to tied aid and all discriminatory funding practices against the Global South.
Signatories to this open letter:
Organisations:
- AACDS RDC – Democratic Republic of Congo
- Action for Community Development (AfCD) – United Kingdom
- Action for Women and Children Concern(AWCC) – Somalia
- ACUCOBA ONG – RDC
- ADIF, Association Pour Le Developpement Des Initiatives Feminines – Democratic Republic of Congo
- Adolescent Health Centre – Zambia
- Advocates for Social Protection, Innovation and Resilient Ecology (ASPIRE), Inc. – Philippines
- African Girls Empowerment Network – Nigeria
- African Philanthropy Network (APN) – Africa
- Amour Et Avenir Du Congo (AACO-ONGD) – Democratic Republic of Congo
- ARSOW Nepal – Nepal
- Asociacion SERES – Guatemala
- Association of Refugees with Disability – Uganda
- Association of Refugees with Disability – Uganda
- AVSD – Democratic Republic of Congo
- Barokupot Ganochetona Foundation (BGF) – Bangladesh
- Bathopele NGO – South Africa
- Beyond Beijing Committee Nepal – Nepal
- Biba Transformations LBG – Ghana
- Bright Harriet Foundation – Kenya
- BYC – Belgium
- CAPAIDS Uganda – Uganda
- CDP Foundation – Philippines
- Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation – Philippines
- Centre De Recherche Agro-Ecologique Crae – Democratic Republic of Congo
- Centro para el Fortalecimiento de la Acción Solidaria – Mexico
- Child’s Destiny and Development Organisation (CHIDDO) – South Sudan
- Child’s Destiny and Development Organisation (CHIDDO) – South Sudan
- CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation – South Africa
- Civil Society SDGs Campaign GCAP Zambia – Zambia
- CivLegacy Foundation – Uganda
- COFHED – Haiti
- Community Based Organisations Coalition for Human Rights and Good Governance – Malawi
- Community Foundation for the Western Region of Zimbawe – Zimbabwe
- Coterraneos – Chile
- Curiosity Design Research – Philippines
- Development Expertise Center – Ethiopia
- Divine Intervention Impact foundation – Nigeria
- Drug Policy and Harm Reduction Platform – Malawi
- Durojaiyevic health care and old people initiatives – Nigeria
- EPIC – Africa – Segal
- Equidad de Género, Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia – Mexico
- Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance – Philippines
- Family for Every Child – Global
- Fearless Project – Puerto Rico
- Feed the Children – Uganda
- FONAHD RDC – Democratic Republic of Congo
- Fondation Alimasi Pour la Charite,FACHA – Democratic Republic of Congo
- Fondazione Aurora – Italy
- Fondo Accion Solidaria, AC – Mexico
- Fondo Potosino AC – Mexico
- Foundation for Social Transformation – India
- Freedom Studio – Nepal
- Freelance – Philippines
- Freeport Workers League – Philippines
- Fundacion Barichara Regenerativa – Colombia\Fundacion Comunitaria Oaxaca – Mexico
- Fundación Comunitaria Oaxaca – Mexico
- Fundación Halü Bienestar Humano – Colombia
- Fundacion Punta de Mita – Mexico
- Gili Child Foundation – Uganda
- Global Change Center – South-South / South-North / Argentina
- Global Fund for Community Foundations – United Kingdom
- Gramin Evam Nagar Vikas Parishad -India
- Green Nature – Zambia
- Green String Network (GSN) -Kenya
- Grupo Semillas – Colombia
- Healing Venezuela – United Kingdom
- HelpAge International – United Kingdom
- How-Matters.Org – U.S.A.
- Hugh & Sandra Davidson Trust – Isle of Man, British Isles
- Human Development Society – Pakistan
- Humanitarian Aid International – India
- IDEAS Comunitarias – Mexico
- Independent – Colombia
- Independent Consultant – Colombia
- Independent Consultant – Denmark
- Initiative Pananetugri pour le Bien-être de la Femme (IPBF) – Burkina Faso
- Integrated Rural Development Trust – India
- International Center for Policy and Conflict (ICPC) – Kenya
- Jitolee Voluntary Service Association – Kenya
- Kaisa Ka – Philippines
- Kawempe Youth Centre – Uganda
- Kole Oyam Alebtong Education Initiative Center – Uganda
- Leap Girl Africa – Cameroon
- Light House – Bangladesh
- Lite Africa – Nigeria
- Makaia – Colombia
- Marijke Priester – Netherland
- Mariwala Health Initiative – India
- Maskani Digital Peacebuilding – Kenya
- Maynooth University – Ireland
- McGill University – Canada
- Measures of Justice and Democracy Foundation – Zambia
- Mitini Nepal – Nepal
- Mongolian Women’s Fund – Mongolia
- NA – USA/Vietnam
- Naturehub Collective Community Organisation – Kenya
- NCD Alliance Malawi – Malawi
- Nguzo Africa Community Foundation – Kenya
- Noble Youth Foundation – Uganda
- Norsaac – Ghana
- Pakistan Citizens Alliance – Pakistan
- Peace Direct – United Kingdon
- Peace Initiative Network – Nigeria
- People’s Action for People in Need – India
- People’s Participation – India
- Philanthropy Advisor – United Kingdom
- Proximate – United States
- Psicología y Derechos Humanos PSYDEH A.C. – Mexico
- PTF – United Kingdom
- Queer & Allied Chamber of Commerce Africa (QACC Africa) – Kenya
- Reality of Aid Africa – Zimbabwe
- Rede Comuá – Brazil
- Resolutionist – USA
- Restless Development – Global
- Saviak Foundation for Development Training and Education Centre – Tanzania
- Savoir Vivre Asbl – Democratic Republic of Congo / North Kivu
- Sistah Sistah Foundation – Zambia
- Society for Gender Justice – Zambia
- Solidarité Féminine Pour La Paix et le Développement Intégral (SOFEPADI) – Democratic Republic of Congo
- Solidarite Pour L’encadrement Et Lutte Contre La Pauvrete – Democratic Republic of Congo
- Solidarity Foundation – India
- South Sinai Foundation – Egypt/UK
- SPNKK – Philippines
- Standerton Victim Empowerment Centre – South Africa
- Taking Care of Business – South Africa
- Talk to Loop – Netherlands
- TerritoriA – Colombia
- The Equity Index – United Kingdom
- The Healing Balm Foundation – Zambia
- The London School of Economics – United Kingdom
- The Richard Kambulu Compassion Foundation – Zambia
- The Saville Foundation – South Africa
- The Sherwood Way – Peru
- Thubutu Africa Initiatives (TAI) – Tanzania
- Tilitonse Foundation – Malawi
- Toa Nafasi Foundation – Tanzania
- Trust Africa – Senegal
- UCC – Denmark
- Uganda National NGO Forum – Uganda
- UHAI EASHRI – East Africa
- Union pour la Promotion/Protection, la Défense des Droits Humains et de l’Environnement-UPDDHE/GL – Democratic Republic of Congo
- Unity Empowerment Initiative – Zambia
- University of Arizona – USA
- Van Gendt Philanthropy Services – Netherlands
- Vision Plus pour le Developpement Durable – Democratic Republic of Congo
- Waloyo – South Africa
- We Give HOPE – Democratic Republic of Congo
- West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) – West Africa
- Wilde Ganzen Foundation – Netherlands
- Women’s Coalition Against Cancer – WOCACA – Malawi
- World Connect – United Kingdom
- Yayasan Gerakan Mandiri Pita Merah – Indonesia
- YEDSP – Congo DR
- Young Development and Health Focus – Zambia
- Youth for Development and Peace – Congo DR
- Zambia Social Forum (ZAMSOF) Zambia
- Zambian Governance Foundation (ZGF) – Zambia
- Zamkanda Initiatives Limited – Zambia
- Zanyengo Trustee Foundation – Zambia
- Zemunski mali umetnički centar (ZMUC) РSerbia
Individuals:
161. Adriana Alvarez – Brasil
162. Bikey Tamang – Nepal
163. Charles Kojo Vandyck – Ghana
164. Claudia Rodriguez – Colombia
165. Daniel Kaludzu – Malawi
166. Dr. Ehsanur Rahman – Bangladesh
167. Esther Kyazike – Uganda
168. Gary Shearer – South Africa
169. JC Gaillard – Aotearoa
170. Jitram Lama – Nepal
171. Katy VanDusen – Costa Rica
172. Marijke Priester – Netherlands
173. Miranda Morgan – Canada
174. Moses Chirwa – Zambia
175. Ogili Denis – Uganda
176. Palabatla Sujatha Raj – India
177. Pratik Karmacharya – Nepal
178. Raj Mariwala – India
179. Sepiso Mushoke – Zambia
180. Shewli Kumar – India
181. Terry L Holley – USA
182. Vilda Atieno – Kenya