Photo credit: Saferworld
Photo credit: Saferworld

Working in partnership with civil society: A conversation with CEO Susana Klien and Global Partnerships Adviser Sara Torrelles

In this podcast episode, Saferworld Global Partnerships Adviser Sara Torrelles speaks with Saferworld CEO Susana Klien about what it means to work in solidarity with partners as an international peacebuilding NGO (INGO). How can INGOs challenge unequal and extractive power dynamics? How can we uproot colonial structures? Would a radical rethinking of resource sharing accelerate positive change?  
 

There are growing debates (in some cases movements) in the international aid sector about locally led responses, ‘shifting the power’, ‘decolonising aid’ and challenging patriarchal norms. These debates have been led by civil society in the global majority countries, but for decades we – INGOs – chose not to listen, because doing so could strip us of many of the privileges the aid system is designed to provide us with.

Recently, however, INGOs have begun to reflect on whether they are living up to their commitments to consider unequal power dynamics, share resources equitably with CSOs across the global majority world, and advocate with peer INGOs and donors to change those harmful practices that are creating competition and dependency and perpetuating white supremacy culture.  

When Saferworld launched our ten-year strategy in 2021, it was a clear juncture for us to ‘embrace the drive to decolonise international engagement’. 

This means we are focusing our efforts on: 

  1. acknowledging and challenging the unequal power dynamics that exist in the international aid system (where power and resources are dominated by INGOs mostly based in the Global North) 
  2. sharing resources and power with civil society, even if that means less resources for us 
  3. decentralising power and decision-making, putting it back where it belongs 
  4. rethinking our role as an INGO within the wider system and taking action to transform it through listening to our partners 
  5. reassessing opportunities and access to funding for civil society organisations (CSOs) based in the majority world and taking a step back where needed 

Listen to this conversation between Sara and Susana to hear more about Saferworld’s approach to partnership on Spotify and YouTube.

The conversation references Paulo Freire and Tema Okun’s paper White Supremacy Culture.  

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