There are increasing calls for a fundamental restructuring of the international Aid sector in the wake of the pandemic, with far more funding and agency given to locally-led, grassroots groups. A ‘black lives matter’ lens is starting to be applied to Aid in Africa and critical questions are being asked about the systemic side-lining of African-led organisations that has happened up to this point.
So What?
Worldwide, more than 99% of humanitarian and philanthropic funding goes to predominantly white-led international NGOs. Despite Africa’s growing and dynamic social sector, only 5.2% of US foundation giving to Africa goes to African-led organisations. However during the pandemic, a pattern has emerged where locally-led grassroots groups have risen to the occasion, while INGOS have had to pull staff and programs and many now cannot continue with previous models. A power and funding shift towards grassroots groups has been called for, for years, and would represent a major systemic change. Is the moment of change now finally imminent? What would be the wider implications?
Sources
-
Aid spending in Africa must be African-led – it needs a Black Lives Matter reckoning | Dedo Baranshamaje and Katie Bunten-Wamaru http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jan/11/aid-spending-in-africa-must-be-african-led-it-needs-a-black-lives-matter-reckoning -
As a poor Ugandan farmer, white and black people ignore my advice on poverty http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/09/ive-spent-most-of-my-life-in-extreme-poverty-i-really-want-to-see-change-uganda -
How Covid could be the 'long overdue' shake-up needed by the aid sector http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/05/were-all-connected-how-aid-can-be-made-to-work-better-after-covid
Join discussion