tl;dr: Development organizations must align their operations with their public benefit missions, ensuring that institutional interests don’t compromise community empowerment. #FutureOfCooperation
💡 The development sector typically presents itself as prioritising the public good. However, as a multi-billion dollar industry, it harbours significant vested interests. Institutions tend to adopt business models aimed at self-preservation and growth. While this may be justifiable at an organisational level, it can seep into operational practices and undermine principles such as “helping people to help themselves” and the goal of becoming redundant as catalysts for change.
Some considerations:
- Align Incentives with Public Benefit: Design funding models that reward measurable, tangible public impact instead of institutional growth alone. Results-based financing and community-driven approaches can realign priorities effectively.
- Build Locally Embedded Solutions: Collaborate with local stakeholders to design models that address actual community needs while ensuring long-term sustainability.
- Resilient, Adaptive Institutions: Diversify revenue streams and foster an agile organizational culture to balance innovation, adaptability, and sustainability.
- Leverage Technology and Data: Use data-driven decision-making and technology to enhance transparency, engage communities, and create feedback loops that keep public benefit at the core.
By aligning incentives, building locally embedded solutions, fostering resilience, and leveraging technology, institutions can uphold their mission and drive sustainable, meaningful change.
