Redefining Power Relationships in Funding Systems

Many talk of reshaping power dynamics in development funding, but fewer are doing it in practice.

This workshop will present learnings from the Systems Innovation Learning Partnership novel Experimentation Fund, through which EIT Climate-KIC and Sida addressed power through a radical learning focus in grantmaking, building trust-based collaborative relationships that transformed dynamics between a large donor, an intermediary, and community-led organisations in Asia, South America, and Africa.

You will consider different perspectives from the fund’s year-long collaborative journey delivering funding and facilitating a learning ecosystem while the role of the funder was rethought and new ways of working were implemented.

Through real-world examples and storytelling, you will learn how this approach fostered deeper collaboration, shifted power from donors to communities, and created a more equitable and effective funding ecosystem.

The workshop is tailored for professionals who want to radically change the way they fund development initiatives and move the idea of shifting power from concept to reality.

Learning outcomes

  • Gain a practical approach to shifting power in funding systems
  • Learn about applying participatory approaches and peer-to-peer sharing
  • Understand how to move from talking/thinking to action when it comes to empowering communities

Speakers

Marina Gil Velasco
Learning Strategy Development Lead, Climate-KIC
Solveig Zophoniasdottir
Director, Learning, MEL & Impact, Climate-KIC