The power of local organisations

The residents of a small town came together to rebuild a dormitory for internally displaced persons. A woman from a village in the Kirovohrad region started her own production of soup kits for the military, engaging dozens of volunteers in the process. A cultural civic organization raises funds for combat medkits for soldiers through concerts. Local initiatives, which often grow into local NGOs, respond instantly to the needs of society because they are an integral part of it.

Shift The Power is a movement that aims to give local organizations more power in the international aid system. Their goal is to shift the balance of influence so that communities and local associations determine how, where, and in what way assistance should be provided in the areas where they operate.

For over a year, the National Philanthropy Development Network has been collaborating with Shift The Power. Their Manifesto for Change (now available in Ukrainian) inspired the network’s team to create the open letter If Not Now, When?, which marked the beginning of their advocacy efforts.

In 2014, when Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s eastern borders, international donors increased funding, and many local organizations began implementing projects with their financial support. At the time, few people paid close attention to the dynamics between donors and local organizations.

The full-scale war opened up a broader discussion on the localization of international resources. The first months of the war significantly undermined the credibility of international organizations in Ukraine. The UN, the Red Cross, and many others became the subjects of negative media coverage and viral memes on Twitter. Ukrainian society was outraged by their delayed response, ambiguous statements about “wishing peace to everyone,” and, at times, inefficient humanitarian missions.

Gradually, this discussion became more constructive. Today, Ukrainian NGOs are uniting to increase their influence over donors. One of the key challenges in advancing localization is defining a common desired outcome. According to a survey by the ACAPS Analysis Hub, no two organizations provided the same definition of localization.

Currently, the National Philanthropy Development Network is part of the National Working Group on Localization, led by Caritas. Cooperation with Shift The Power allows local organizations to exchange experiences worldwide and learn from each other.

In May 2023, the Global Fund for Community Foundations hosted a seminar for Shift The Power participants in Eastern Europe. The two-day program centered around group discussions, moderated by the participants themselves.

Here is a brief overview of the discussions held during the event:

• How can we create and own our narratives?

Very few local organizations have the resources to effectively showcase their everyday work. However, a lack of visibility in the information space slows down the process of driving change. People struggle to imagine what nonprofit sector work looks like beyond the offices of Brussels.

• Building bridges between local and international actors – what are the methods of influence?

Local organizations must unite at the regional level and advocate for their needs with international actors operating in their area. Many such regional movements would help demonstrate that certain problems can be addressed using already tested solutions.

• Proving the importance of funding institutional expenses

It is necessary to present case studies of institutional support that have led to the rapid growth of local organizations with quantifiable and qualitative improvements. These case studies should be publicly available on official websites so that organizations can use them for advocacy in private discussions with donors.

• How to combat discrimination against small NGOs?

Small NGOs can seek support from networks and consultants within the civic sector to better communicate their needs to donors. A creative approach and solid evidence of how discrimination affects small NGOs are essential for drawing attention to this issue.

• Technical and psychological competencies in the grant assistance process

Develop a set of recommendations for foundations on how to achieve sustainable partnerships based on trust. Discuss the risks that co-investors face and establish rules for regular feedback.

• Strengthening the voice of local organizations

This issue is especially critical in areas where donors have local offices. Local actors must clearly define their vision and role within the community. When interacting with donors, local teams should set boundaries, establish unacceptable terms, and learn to say “no.”

• Localization indices

Financial investments in local communities should be measured not only quantitatively but also qualitatively. Local organizations can provide assessments of their collaborations with donors and present annual reports highlighting the resources received and successful practices implemented.

Changing the impact in the sector is a long process with many pitfalls. The team of the National Network for the Development of Local Philanthropy managed to find like-minded people in the form of the Shift The Power movement. More information about their activities, events and goals can be found on their website.