News

Understanding our world 

We are hurtling faster and deeper into an ecological catastrophe that poses an existential threat to life on the planet as we know it. Even if we meet the global targets to reduce carbon emissions and global heating to below 1.5°C by 2030, it is no longer a question of when we will start to experience the impacts of human-made global heating, but for how long people and planet will experience cascading socio-ecological collapse.

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.