If we are not careful, many of our efforts to “shift power” in international philanthropy will not actually shift anything.
Over the past several years, philanthropy for international aid and development has begun experimenting with increasing approaches to shifting power. This is to be commended. Trusting and funding locally born, raised, and reputed organizations, longer term, flexible funding, and participation are all critically important, but if we are truly going to shift power we must be honest with ourselves and each other about what it really looks like.
If we are not honest, no matter how good our intentions are, we will – at best – waste our own time and resources, not to mention the time and resources of the communities and people we say we wish to support. At worst, we will cause continued harm, ignoring the institutional and structural inequities that plague the system, inserting additional layers and paradigms into it or rewarding performative organizations or gestures that will only continue to consolidate existing power structures and their harms.
To be clear, this is not about undermining efforts to shift power. This is about being honest that unless we truly shift power in our philanthropy, we won’t shift much at all.