Global solidarity, local agency, and the future of civil society.
As the crisis of trust in global civil society partnerships grows, power imbalances undermine meaningful solidarity across borders. A critical shift is needed: We must move from donor-driven, extractive, and performative models of engagement towards ethical, trust-based collaborations that centre local agency and leadership.
In this session, you will explore how funding structures, narratives, and decision-making practices shape relationships, and you will gain practical insights into how we can rebuild partnerships that are accountable, equitable, and capable of sustaining long-term social change.
Learning outcomes
- Identify and critically assess power dynamics in global civil society partnerships, including how funding, accountability, and narrative control affect trust and effectiveness
- Apply practical principles for ethical global solidarity, like shared decision-making and locally-defined measures of impact
- Design or adapt partnership and funding approaches that rebuild trust and strengthen long-term collaboration between local movements and global actors