Official Development Assistance (ODA) was introduced in the 1960s as a temporary instrument to respond to a particular moment in history, amid decolonisation, the Cold War, industrialisation and pove
A debt is owed – the UK should transition from traditional aid to reparations
Despite the UK ruling out reparations from the official agenda, the demand from descendants of enslaved people and nations harmed by colonialism remains loud and clear. The word ‘reparations’ comes f
Passing the Buck: The Economics of Localizing International Aid
A study by the Share Trust and the Warande Advisory Center estimates the economic implications of shifting 25% of Official Development Assistance (ODA) - aligned with Grand Bargain and USAID commitme
International aid agencies pay the price for boom and bust
‘If they were strengthening local actors, they would never have grown so much in the first place.’ A global funding squeeze on humanitarian finances has rippled through the system, as multiple donors
What are the benefits of long-term research funding
Funding from development agencies for research projects is integral for trying to reduce global poverty, but often short-term funding produces short-term results which are hard to track in the terms
A new paradigm in philanthropy: Embracing innovation in grantmaking
Reflecting on the 2024 Grantmakers Summit, the call for a renewed approach to philanthropy is clearer than ever. The summit catalysed introspection within the sector, challenged entrenched approaches
Cash Before Calamity: Anticipatory Action for Flood Resilience
Rather than reacting to a crisis after it occurs, anticipatory action was implemented before the shock materialized. Forecast-based triggers were activated five days before water levels reached their
Funding in conflict-affected areas: Time for bolder, more adaptive strategies
Explore the urgent need for sustained funding in conflict-affected areas to support peacebuilding efforts and shift power dynamics in global civil society.
Localisation doesn’t shift power. It deepens international dominance.
International aid actors are reinforcing their power through localisation processes. The system still determines whether local actors are worthy humanitarians, if they’re capable of receiving funding
Community-Driven Change: Demonstrating Impact in Africa and India
For decades, philanthropy and governments have practised a top-down approach to funding, treating the symptoms and not the root causes of the most pressing social issues. By contrast, community-drive