Episode 13: #ShiftThePower - Grantmaking

Disrupt Development

The call to change the balance of power in development cooperation is getting louder and louder. It is time for more local ownership of the global agenda, everyone seems to agree. There is even a real movement under the hashtag #ShiftThePower. The development community has been talking about this for decades now, but what has changed? In this new Podcast series of Disrupt Development I am going unpack the #ShiftThePower debate with great minds.

Breaking power systems is difficult, and handing over power to marganialized groups requires a cultural shift. Community led funds are specifically designed to bring power to the disempowered and are part of a system-shifting paradigm in philanthropy, where more initiatives are starting to work through community-led or participatory grantmaking and enhancing community philanthropy.

In todays episode together with Danielle we are going to talk about participatory grantmaking. What traditional grantmaking systems development aid needs to leave behind, how Both Ends is searching for the most inclusive system of grant-making, what the role of communities and grassroots organisations should be in grantmaking and what positive outcomes participatory grantmaking shows.

Danielle Hirsch is director of Both ENDS Foundation that together with environmental justice and human rights groups countries works towards a sustainable, fair and inclusive world. Both Ends has been disrupting grant-making since the 90’s in the search for the most inclusive community led grant-making system.

Read more about the research on participatory grantmaking of Both ENDS