In recent years a welcome debate has come to the fore about the legitimacy of non-governmental organisations (NGO) in society. During my time as the head of one of the largest, international NGOs, CIVICUS, I saw the tensions that could prevent such bodies from being good partners to grassroots groups. An open letter earlier this year from 200 organisations based primarily in the Global South articulated these concerns – calling out international NGOs for paying lip service to “shifting power”, challenging them to reduce their footprint and use their resources to help smaller organisations scale up.
In my two years since I joined Oxfam GB as CEO, I have seen the challenges involved in an international NGO trying to adopt a new approach. But, as our newly-published strategy sets out, we are convinced that this fresh approach is needed, to maximise our impact and support the collective strength of civil society. To achieve our vision of a kinder and radically better world, where everyone has the power to thrive, not just survive, we will need to re-balance power more fairly – within our own Oxfam GB organisation, within the larger Oxfam confederation, and within wider movements.
For me, the strength of civil society lies in its diversity. I believe organisations like Oxfam are at their best when they support, amplify and connect local action. Radical, lasting gains in democracy, equality and freedom – the kind that reduce poverty and create fairer societies – don’t come in prefabricated kits that can be flown in and dropped into place. They require strong foundations and on-site builders to work from the ground up. I hope that Oxfam can play a role in supporting this in at least three ways.
