Bond launches collection of stories to encourage donors and INGOs to put local partners and communities in the driver’s seat of development

Bond, in partnership with Recrear and The Local Trust, has launched a set of illustrations and stories to encourage INGOs and donors to use that support locally led development.

The free online resource What makes a good “locally led” funder? Stories from your partners takes a storytelling approach rather than traditional case studies to capture the human relationships and creativity underlying strong donor and local partner relationships. The illustrations were created by illustrator, Liliana López.

The stories demonstrate that a locally led approach to international development can build a more equitable and sustainable system where initiatives are owned and led by people, in their country context.

This collection of stories emphasises that the sector works as a system where everyone has a significant role to play, from funders to national intermediaries to community activists. They also highlight the similar challenges, both UK funders and those who fund internationally, face and encourages greater collaboration and learning between them. The stories also call for funders and INGOs to change the way they work, understand, and relate to the type of humanitarian assistance and development that puts local partners and communities in the driver’s seat.

The report is designed for institutional donors, INGOs, development agencies, foundations, philanthropies – or any person or institution that intends to resource development work within the UK or internationally. Bond invites funders and development practitioners to read the stories and reflect on how locally led development initiatives could be resourced.

Yolaina Vargas Pritchard, Sector Change and Funding Adviser at Bond, the UK network for INGOs, said:

“These stories are about returning to why we, the UK INGO sector, work with local organisations and demonstrate the impact of local activists and grassroot organisations.

“The collection of stories is about going back to the humanity of our development work, moving away from transactional relationships and towards building trust with local activists and grassroots organisations.

“This collection of stories contains reflective questions for you to think about as funders and INGOs. Ultimately, in this complex system, we all have the power to change how we interact with each other in pursuit of a more equitable development system.”

ENDS
Notes to editor

1. What makes a good “locally led” funder? can be downloaded here. If you would like to use any of the illustrations for coverage, get in touch with [email protected] or 07555 336029
2. Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 400 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
3. Recrear is a community where people with a social itch come together to connect, recharge, co-create knowledge and manifest new realities within us, our communities and humanity
4. The Local Trust is a place-based funder supporting communities to achieve their ambitions.
5. For further information or interviews please contact Maryam Mohsin at [email protected] or 07555 336029