Locally-Led Development: Moving from commitments to practical action

The pace of advances in AI is faster than anything we've ever seen in human history. Nathan explains how this can create a lot of overwhelm for leaders, leading to a disparate kind of view, with leaders saying, “I don't know what the future looks like if I use AI but I know what it looks like if I don't.” The sentiment is that we know we have to do something with AI, we just don't know what.If it sounds familiar to you, tune into the episode. Chris Meyer zu Natrup, Managing Director at MzN, and Nathan Chappell, Senior Vice President at DonorSearch AI, discuss:What AI can do for a nonprofit organization, not tomorrow, but today.The difference between predictive AI and generative AI, and how NGOs can use both together to serve their mission in a much more strategic and precise way.The steps every leader needs to take with AI. “I would identify where my biggest gap is, I wouldn't look at AI as this umbrella thing that could solve all my problems, I would get very specific on one gap or challenge that I have in my organization and then and only then would I look at the types of AI technologies.” Why Nathan believes that AI is the only scalable solution to reverse declines in charitable giving. There is a systemic decline in the number of people who are giving to charity in almost most developed nations, but Nathan describe two ways that AI can work to reverse this:It can create so much efficiency that an organization can now offload mundane tasks and instead spend more time human to human.By using AI at scale, nonprofits organizations will more intimately know their audience by using thousands of data points and will be able to identify those donors that will have the greatest lifetime value. Could AI actually make us more human and more empathetic by cutting through the dead digital overload that we are exposed to every day? What responsible AI looks like for humanity, and the outsized responsibility that the nonprofit sector has for ensuring we prioritize safety over scalability. Nathan closed by quoting Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett's business partner, who said “show me the incentives and I'll show you the outcome”. If we look at the AI arms race, scale has been prioritized over safety almost every time. What do we think the incentive is for the nonprofit sector? ResourcesThe Generosity Crisis The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity's Greatest Challenges, by Nathan Chappell, Brian Crimmins and Michael Ashley.Sgn up for MzN’s free webinar on proposal writing and AI - link to the webinarMore on Nathan:Nathan Chappell is a Senior Vice President at DonorSearch AI, where he leads AI deployments for many of the largest nonprofit organizations in the United States. With over 10 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and fundraising, he is a co-author of the award-winning book, The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges. He is also an inventor of multiple AI patents and a certified fundraising executive.Nathan is passionate about the responsible use of AI for social good and the ethical implications of AI for philanthropy. He is the co-founder of Fundraising.AI, a collaborative initiative that aims to guide best practices and accelerate the impact of AI on advancement. He is also a frequent public speaker, a Forbes Technology Council member, and a recipient of the 40 Over Forty Award for his contributions to the nonprofit sector. Nathan's mission is to reignite generosity and transform the future of fundraising through AI.

Darina frames equitable partnerships as the key to locally-led development. However, achieving such partnerships requires us to rethink the conventional project management model as we know it.

In this episode, Zoë Elliot from Women for Women International highlights the urgency to accelerate gender equality efforts. She discusses reaching marginalised women in conflict zones, the importance of crisis response funds, and the need to increase funding to women-led organisations.

In this episode, Antonie Treuren, Program Leader and Business Developer for Woord en Daad, walks us through the steps needed to address the root causes of poverty instead of treating symptoms, as well as why mainstreaming climate change adaptation across all programs is essential.On this year’s World Day of Social Justice, we speak about: Letting the voice of the local people be heard, our local partners know better. We discuss the steps needed to empower those living in poverty to take on leadership roles and provide them with the necessary support.Systems change, it is more than just a buzzword. We discuss Woord en Daad’s guiding policy Value-based systemic change, aimed to influence the root causes of poverty and social-economic inequality. How to shift our mindset from a project-oriented approach to a partnership-focused one.Mainstreaming climate change adaptation across all programs using a systems approach.The push towards climate-related funds, such as the Loss and Damage Fund, increases competition.The Benkadi Project: Woord en Daad’s partnership across four West African countries, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Mali, focused on policy making, planning and implementation related to climate change. Benkadi, meaning 'working together in the same direction', has a focus on Southern leadership. The project's main objectives include strengthening the position of vulnerable groups and communities in the four countries when it comes to the effects of climate change. It aims to provide equal access for these groups and communities to rights, capabilities, and opportunities to be more resilient to climate change. The project also seeks to implement concrete actions to reduce ecosystem degradation, such as deforestation, coastal erosion, and pollution caused by gold mining. The project aims to work closely with governments, local communities, and the private sector in achieving its goals.Find out more about the Benkadi Project

A conversation with Samantha Ross, International Programme Director UK, of Link EducationTo mark this year's International Day of Education, we discuss Link's initiatives, the current landscape of funding, the locally-led development agenda, and the implications of climate change and technology on education.

In this episode, we sit down with Christina Bennet, CEO of Start Network, to explore the crucial question: how do we truly accelerate the global shift towards locally-led development, and not just commit to it?

In this conversation, Hande Akpinar, a Senior Consultant at MzN International, discusses the dynamics of localization and trust-based giving with Wendo, the Founder and Executive Director of Dandelion Africa. While the podcast provides the full experience, here's a sneak peek at what you can expect:Founding Dandelion Africa: A Path Filled with Unique Challenges and SuccessesWendo reflects on the inception of Dandelion Africa, highlighting the numerous challenges she faced as a founder, a woman, and a villager. Her journey led her to a leadership role she hadn't initially anticipated - The challenges of gaining trust in a grassroots organization, coupled with imposter syndrome and cultural biases against women in leadership, posed formidable obstacles. Nevertheless, the defining moments and the unwavering belief of an exceptional team in the organization's vision have been pivotal to Dandelion Africa's success.Exploring the Essence of LocalizationWendo explains what localization means to her, and how to empower local communities to take ownership of their development. It's not just about freedom, but the freedom to be authentically creative and innovative without the fear of failure. She explains how transparency and open dialogue between donors and the NGO is crucial for effectively structuring localization. This core principle shapes the quality of partnerships, work, and innovation within the organization. She explains the steps that will allow for this to happen. Trust-Based Philanthropy: A Game Changer for Local NGOsTrust-based philanthropy has been instrumental in enabling Dandelion Africa to put localization into action. With unrestricted funding, this approach allows them to think outside the box, make mistakes, and communicate openly without fear of losing funding. In doing so, the organization can better serve the communities it is dedicated to.Bridging the North-South Divide: Trust and Capacity BuildingWendo reflects on the global division between the North and South when it comes to funding and operations. In a world where some international partners might doubt the capacity of local organizations in the South to handle funding, project monitoring, or policy development, the need for trust and capacity-building becomes increasingly vital. Wendo emphasizes the importance of trust and capacity building, both among local organizations themselves and in partnerships with international NGOs.A Call to Action: Walk the Talk on LocalizationWendo concludes with a passionate call to action. She insists that organizations should not just talk about localization; they need to put it into practice, and she explains how. By truly understanding the needs and capacities of local actors and trusting them to lead their development efforts, a profound transformation can occur.Find out more about Dandelion Africa’s mission to improve health and livelihoods for women in rural Kenya now

When we think of development, we often conjure images of aid budgets and financial assistance to lower-income nations. While aid is undoubtedly a vital part of the development landscape, it's just the tip of the iceberg. In this episode, Ian Mitchell, Co-Director, Europe and Senior Policy Fellow at Center for Global Development (CDI) sits down with Christian Meyer zu Natrup, Managing Director of MzN. Together, they unravel the recently published CDI's Commitment to Development Index, revealing a comprehensive assessment of what governments are doing for development beyond aid. This podcast episode explores the Commitment to Development Index, which looks at a spectrum of policies that influence the pace of growth for developing countries such as investment, migration, trade, environment, technology, health, and security. By expanding the dialogue to include these factors, we can shape more comprehensive strategies that lead to sustainable development. Using quantitative measures, this index compiles a ranking of the countries in their commitment to development across various dimensions.During this podcast, we'll explore real-world examples from countries such as Sweden, the UK, the United States and explore the deliberate policy choices that have contributed to their consistent successes or shortcomings.The conversation won't stop there. We'll transition into the realm of climate and development overlap, highlighting the urgent need to integrate climate considerations into development strategies. Climate finance, a substantial component of global aid, is poised to undergo the rigorous evaluation that development finance has experienced. This knowledge gap is of critical concern as it could affect the argument for climate action within development efforts.As we wrap up, we'll touch on the essence of trust in global efforts to reduce emissions and tackle climate change. Trust among countries is integral to forging collective commitments to emission reduction. Without it, nations might opt for cheaper, less sustainable technologies, creating economic advantages without sufficient accountability. We'll also discuss the pivotal role of carbon taxes in addressing climate change, offering a realistic alternative to subsidies and bans.Join us in this podcast as we journey through the multifaceted world of development, exploring how the Commitment to Development Index and climate considerations are shaping the future of global growth. This episode promises fresh insights and perspectives that will encourage you to reevaluate what development truly means.Explore the CDI 

Scaling Private Sector Involvement within UN Humanitarian and Development Systems- with Kareem Elbayar programme director of CBIIn this week's episode, we sit down with Kareem Elbayer, the Programme Director of the Connecting Business Initiative (CBI). We look into how the relationship between private sector entities and the UN humanitarian and development systems is evolving, exploring ways to facilitate businesses of all sizes in participating effectively in aid and development initiatives. Kareem explains the role of the Connecting Business Initiative (CBI) in bridging the gap between these sectors. CBI's mission is to simplify the process for companies, particularly those operating in disaster-prone regions, to seamlessly integrate with humanitarian efforts. It's all about fostering communication, building vital bridges between businesses, governments, and international organizations, and making engagements for the benefit of societies and for the people who live in those societies.Throughout this conversation, we unravel essential topics, including the challenges of coordination, the need for streamlined processes, and the imperative to scale up private sector involvement in disaster management. Kareem also emphasizes the importance of private sector engagement beyond financial contributions, aiming to leverage their expertise, agility, and extensive networks to support long-term development goals.Join us in this discussion that offers fresh insights into reshaping the future of humanitarian and development efforts through mutually beneficial cooperation with the private sector.Website Connecting Business Initiative

Mastering NGO Board Leadership - with Bill RyanWelcome to the latest episode of Chasing Impact, MzN's international podcast hosted by Managing Director Christian Meyer zu Natrup . Today, we're honored to have Bill Ryan, an acclaimed author and expert in NGO board governance, as our special guest. With over a decade of experience, Bill has dedicated himself to understanding the intricacies of board leadership.During our conversation, Bill shares valuable insights on the role of boards in the nonprofit sector and the importance of bold leadership in challenging times. He emphasizes the need to move beyond compliance and foster meaningful engagement for organizational success. Bill's work revolves around aligning purpose with practicality, equipping boards with actionable strategies for effective governance.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:The significance of bold leadership in the nonprofit sector.Driving meaningful engagement beyond compliance.Aligning purpose with practicality in board governance.Overcoming challenges in translating board vision into action.Constructively challenging management as a coordinated team.Fostering productive teamwork through structured engagement.Practical solutions for addressing limited management perspectives.Stepping back with management to identify key board questions.Early engagement of boards in shaping ideas and proposals.The power of collective leadership for strategic discussions.Bill encourages purpose-driven decision-making and constructive dissent within boards. He provides practical advice on engaging with staff and committees while avoiding individual pursuits that hinder teamwork.One common challenge boards face is management's focus on day-to-day operations. Bill suggests stepping back annually and involving boards early in idea development.For a deeper understanding of board governance and leadership, we recommend reading Bill Ryan's book, "Governance as Leadership."Tune in to this episode of Chasing Impact to gain valuable insights from Bill Ryan on navigating nonprofit governance complexities and making a lasting impact.