Systems
Systems

Systems

Do you believe that another way is possible? Come join us for the #ShiftThePower Global Summit, 5–7 December 2023 in Bogotá, Colombia

Do you want to be part of a global conversation that puts communities in charge of their own development and that produces flourishing lives for all?

Do you believe that the current international funding system can and must be re-shaped to be more locally-owned and locally-led?

Do you want to be inspired by new ways of deciding and doing that are emerging around the world, that centre dignity, equity and trust – and that recognize the resources and inherent power of communities?

If so, join us in Bogotá from 5–7 December 2023!

Looking in the mirror: Personal reflections on decolonizing aid

As we undertook this work, we came to appreciate the depth of our personal conditioning as well as that of the staff, leadership, and organisations that engaged in these conversations. We became more aware of the extent to which our own personal perspectives and those of others involved in the discussions have been shaped by existing norms and practices of aid.

Measuring in complexity

On 9th May 2023, the Global Fund for Community Foundation hosted a meeting with Deepthy Menon in conversation with Barry Knight on Measuring What Matters. The following are extracts from the meeting repurposed into a written Q&A to extend this conversation to a wider audience. 

Human-centred mentorship in global health research: Are we ready to give what it takes?

Given its nature of being an interpersonal endeavour, the human-centred mentorship process is a complex array of responsibilities that requires continuous symbiotic collaboration between mentor and mentee. It also requires a deeper holistic focus on the individual with mentee development (personal and professional) being the outcome.

Applications are now open for the 2023 #ShiftThePower Fellowship!

Are you involved in exciting, trailblazing and experimental grassroots or community-led work? Are you interested in being part of broader efforts to shift power and build the (civil) society we want by helping to connect the dots between innovative and emergent practices around the world? Do you want to dig into questions of “systems change” in international philanthropy and development aid with other like-minded peers? Are you interested in connecting with others like you around the world, both to learn and share, but also to strengthen the collective voice and muscle of local actors? If this sounds like you, then read on!

Measuring what matters, one pemakna at a time

We were unhappy with the current system, which is extractive and reductive in terms of capturing the complexity of our work. Moreover, it was also unaffordable to us: there is an entire industry of monitoring and evaluation that has a standard of payment that we would never be able to meet. But we also did not want to simply do a cheaper version of the conventional model. We needed to develop a new paradigm.