Do you think that the development aid system at its core is disempowering? We began discussing this question at the 8th East African Philanthropy Conference. The breakout session “From the system we have to the system we want: how can community philanthropy pave the way for fostering people power?” was a conversation spurred by Foundations' research on Re-imagining civil society resourcing in Tanzania.No anonymous agreement…
Some felt yes because it does not benefit the constituents who are the system beneficiaries, and those who felt that the answer depended on your position on the development spectrum: It is empowering when you have the space to define the change and do what you want—but disempowering when you must align for the sake of other interests and players.
Great hearing from Jonathan Kifunda, Thibutu Africa Initiatives (TAI), who shared his experience of having a mindset shift from giving to communities to working with communities - taking deliberate steps to identify and co-create opportunities for partnership. And from Falastin Omar of NEAR, on integrating community-driven solutions in the humanitarian aid systems as an entry point to addressing the systems we want, that are community-driven.
However, these models of creating alternative systems have their pain points. It means you are creating unpopular and apolitical pathways (challenging the status quo), so there is no applause or ululation of your actions. Instead, it is met with questions, criticism, and skepticism.
Dr Stigmata Tenga, CEO of the African Philanthropy Network, alerted delegates on the need to introspect on our contribution to the current system as culprits of this system, even as we seek to define a system that promotes community ownership and indigenous giving practices as opposed to looking at the system from an observer’s perspective.
The key takeaway is that we need to focus on ways to influence and impact the system we want.
• Recognizing that systems have a lifespan too. To change systems, we must take up a disruptive role… This means dealing with our mindset and the processes of how we work, promoting flexibility, giving way for innovation, and being active listeners to the community champions who are the innovators of the emerging change path.
• Letting go, letting it be..... how about acting and working outside the box, allowing for organic growth of processes and designing solutions from this point?
• Providing platforms for community champions to inform and engage in systems thinking.
• Communities have approaches that work for them; we need to ensure that these approaches are documented, appreciated, and acknowledged.
Will it take time to establish these emerging models? of course! But it will also require a mind shift, acknowledgment that we have to be disruptors and practice listening to what communities are prioritizing and engaging in towards their development.
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