Moderated by social justice facilitator, Gigi Pasco Ong-Alok, the webinar opened with a powerful visual representation of the journey towards shifting power. Participants were invited to identify where they saw themselves in the image: crossing a wobbly bridge, observing from above, soaring through the sky, or resting at a campsite below. The wide range of responses highlighted an important reality: we are all engaging in this journey, but from different starting points and perspectives.
(Participants indicated their position in different colours through live annotation on Zoom)
Stories of Challenging Power Dynamics
The panel featured:
- Grace Maingi, Executive Director, Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF)
- Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi, Founder, HIVE Pakistan
- Raaval Bains, Research Officer, Peace Direct
- Sadaf Shallwani, Independent Researcher and Consultant, Niyat Pathways
Grace and Ali shared practical examples of how they are challenging traditional power dynamics in global partnerships and funding.
Grace described an emergency response initiative in which funders chose to trust local expertise and decision-making. Rather than imposing external approaches, they provided flexible, 18-month funding and empowered local actors to lead the response. The result was a partnership grounded in trust and recognition of local knowledge.
Ali emphasised that localisation without a genuine shift in power is little more than a label. True localisation, he argued, means local actors setting priorities, leading programmes, and shaping decisions. At HIVE Pakistan, this principle is reflected in efforts to democratise access to information. Recognising that not all community members have access to tools such as Microsoft Word, the organisation uses voice notes, WhatsApp, and other accessible channels to ensure inclusive participation. Communities are closely involved in programme design, reporting processes, and the development of exit strategies, essential in partnerships, that reflect local needs and priorities.
Navigating Challenges
Shifting power is not without its challenges. Ali reflected on the ongoing tension between trust and accountability. While HIVE works to build relationships based on trust and mutual respect, accountability requirements from funders can sometimes conflict with this approach.
Grace highlighted another key challenge: scaling community philanthropy. As sectors such as renewable energy continue to grow in Kenya, expanding community-led approaches remains both an opportunity and a complex task.
Research Insights on Transforming Partnerships
Building on these stories, Sadaf and Raaval reflected on the broader lessons emerging from their research.
Sadaf stressed the importance of creating space for open dialogue within partnerships. Meaningful conversations require time, but they are essential for cultivating long-term trust between funders and communities. She also highlighted the role of peer influence among funders, noting that power-shifting practices become easier to adopt when they are normalised across the sector.
Raaval connected the panel’s experiences to Peace Direct’s four pillars for decolonising partnerships: trust, humility, respect, and mutuality/reciprocity. He emphasised several key elements for transforming partnerships, including:
- Developing a shared vision from the outset
- Challenging entrenched, neo-colonial mindsets and practices
- Establishing a common language and approach to communication
- Co-creating partnership vision documents
- Building awareness of power dynamics among staff
- Providing direct, flexible, and multi-year funding
- Recognising the value of non-financial support alongside financial resources
Key Takeaways
As the discussion drew to a close, speakers reflected on what matters most for transforming partnerships. Their messages were clear: invest in relationships, foster genuine connections between funders and communities, remain grounded in shared values, learn from local actors, and be willing to unlearn traditional/colonial approaches to partnerships.
The webinar concluded with breakout discussions. This gave participants the opportunity to interact with one another and reflect on what resonated most, discuss persistent challenges, and consider how to apply these lessons in their own work. The conversations were rich and engaging, leaving participants with new insights, practical ideas, and new valuable connections with those attending.