Why is “locally led development” missing the mark?
INGOs’ current interest in power and equity is welcome and long overdue.
Barely a day goes by without a webinar or new report on shifting power, decolonising aid or transforming development. Various INGOs have publicly committed to transformative change, and RINGO, Partos, the International Civil Society Centre and others are supporting these processes.
This is all well and good. But the international development field is susceptible to changing fashions, and what is the flavour of the month can quickly be superseded by the next “sparkly new thing”. While this window of opportunity is open, it is essential that real and lasting progress is made. It is also important to recognise that any agenda for change which requires INGOs to give up their power and status might be quietly resisted.
