A brand new Digital Power Awareness Tool
Over the past months, Partos and co-investing members have worked hard to create a digital solution for the Partos Power Awareness Tool, one of our most successful ‘offline’ tools contributing to a power shift for more equitable partnerships.
During the launch, we will:
- Give a demo of the tool and its features;
- Hear from the experiences and practices of previous users;
- Engage in a panel discussion on the relevance of Shifting Power in the light of shifting (political) funding landscapes in the Netherlands and beyond with Marije Nederveen (Oxfam Novib), Lori Cajegas (Wilde Ganzen) and a delegate of the Dutch ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken).
The development of the Power Awareness tool is made possible by our co-investing members (Cordaid, Oxfam Novib, Wilde Ganzen, Woord & Daad & Liliane Fonds), consultant Heinz Greijn and our developing Partner, Akvo.
What is the Power Awareness Tool?
As the name suggests, the PAT makes partners aware of power relations in partnerships by making them visible. In any partnership, decision-making power can be a silent yet critical factor. Who gets to decide what and how can make or break a collaboration. The Power Awareness Tool (PAT) helps you shine a light on these dynamics and explore how power can be shifted while ensuring that all partners are involved.
This is necessary because in many partnerships for development, donors and international NGOs have too much power, and local NGOs in the Global South too little. There is widespread agreement that this should change. Despite this consensus, the power imbalances persist. Apparently, it is hard to put the principles into practice. Therefore, Partos developed the Power Awareness Tool. By using the PAT, you’ll be able to:
- Identify crucial decision-making topics and who holds decision-making power in your partnership.
- Avoid misunderstandings and frictions that can undermine your collaboration.
- Have open and honest discussions about decision-making processes.
- Agree on how to involve all partners in decision-making in a way that works for everyone.