Working towards equitable partnerships: recommendations from WACSI & Bond for how FCDO and global civil society should work together

The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and Bond UK have published a roadmap aimed at fostering equitable partnerships between the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and global civil society organisations. Developed through a global engagement exercise funded by FCDO, the roadmap draws on insights from civil society leaders across a range of countries and regions and the executive summary of the roadmap is now publicly available.

In summer 2023, the FCDO, commissioned WACSI with support from Bond, to organise a series of workshops with civil society groups to explore what a progressive and equitable civil society and civic space programme run by the FCDO, could look like. WACSI and Bond consulted with civil society across a range of countries and regions, including the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and the Indo-Pacific.* This project produced a roadmap to support the FCDO and international civil society organisations to foster more equitable partnerships, placing an emphasis on shifting power dynamics, strengthening local leadership, and fostering trust-based partnerships.

Based on the engagements, WACSI and Bond have developed several recommendations that can help move donor and partner relationships toward being more impactful and enable FCDO to be a key player in advancing sustainable development and equitable partnerships.

The recommendations include:

Investing time and resources in building relationships with civil society organisations (CSOs) in lower-middle income countries (LMICs) – and require UK CSOs to report on their commitments to becoming more equitable partners. While provide funding and support for UK CSOs to transition towards more equitable practices.
Enable communities to lead – Leverage the resources, networks, and knowledge of diaspora communities to identify and support locally led projects and raise money.
Addressing the risk of systemic challenges – By reflecting on organisational culture and policies, all donors, including FCDO, and international NGOs can actively engage with civil society, advance equitable partnerships and support local leadership by establishing trust and credibility.
Develop a strategy on locally led initiatives.

Funding

Promoting a trust-based approach to funding – The approach to funding needs to address the inherent power imbalances between funders, CSOs and the communities they serve. Therefore, flexible funding should become standard practice, enabling organisations and projects to readily adapt to changing circumstances. 
Designing funding models to support a shift in power – ringfence funding that goes directly to LMIC CSOs.
Transformational funding – adopting a more direct and collaborative approach to funding.
Diaspora funding and engagement – Acknowledge the essential role of diaspora communities who can help integrate FCDO’s work.
Review approach to risk – Review the FCDO’s approach to risk management, recognising that risk is a necessary catalyst for change and impact.

Capacity building

Investing in additional civil society staff capacity – Upskill FCDO staff to work with LMICs and small CSOs.
Building strong relationships with civil society organisations – We would encourage FCDO to commit more resources and additional staff capacity to rebuild its relationship with UK civil society, which has been strained over the last few years as a result of UK aid cuts and the merger.

Nana Asantewa Afadzinu, Executive Director of WACSI said:

As the tide turns in international development, civil society in the countries of focus have bared their hearts and openly shared what needs to be addressed, championing their communities’ voices and advocating for inclusive, locally-driven solutions. This series of engagements presents a unique opportunity for FCDO to improve the future of its engagement with civil society actors across the globe.

Zoe Abrahamson, Head of Sector Transformation at Bond said:

Donors, including the FCDO, have a real opportunity here to make how they partner with and fund civil society organisations much more progressive. We would encourage them to take onboard the recommendations that have come directly from civil society to help ensure funding for civil society promotes equitable partnerships and supports communities in lower- and middle-income countries to lead.

ENDS.

Notes for editors

*307 individuals participated in virtual and in-person engagements in West Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, and the Indo-Pacific regions. Additionally, 202 individuals attended virtual and in-person engagements in the United Kingdom and Eastern Europe. The process also benefited from responses from a survey which was available to a global audience, of which 588 people completed the survey.
Read the executive summary.
Read the WACSI-Bond blog about this project.
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) supports civil society, primarily in West Africa, as key contributors to development in the region, to be effective, efficient, resilient and sustainable. In addition, WACSI engages locally and globally to advocate for an equitable and decolonised international development system.
Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 350 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 350 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
For further information or interviews please contact Jess Salter at [email protected] or call 07392972411.