Driving Change through Participatory Grant-Making: Transform Trade in Alliance Magazine
Deborah Doane, a Partner at Rights CoLab and a co-convener of the RINGO Project, wrote a thoughtful piece in Alliance Magazine recently on the transformative potential of participatory grant-making (PGM), a paradigm shift in the international development funding model that aims to fundamentally redress power imbalances in aid work.
In essence, PGM is a framework that seeks to shift the decision-making power of grant-making away from donors and international NGOs by putting it squarely in the hands of the communities they are seeking to impact. PGM challenges classic assumptions and narratives of development by offering a new way of organising projects, working with communities to jointly decide topics such as spending priorities, reporting mechanisms, and overall goals.
In collaboration with the human rights group Norsaac, Transform Trade led a trial pilot programme with the RINGO Project exploring PGM in practice in Meru County, Kenya. While Doane goes into detail about the most insightful takeaways, the key lesson was that to truly strengthen communities and decolonise aid, traditional funders must relinquish control and decision-making power directly to the people they work with instead.
The trial showcased remarkable outcomes – increased income, boosted confidence, and greater independence reported by participants. Our CEO, Charlotte Timson, is quoted throughout the piece emphasising the need for a new investment approach by traditional funders and a transition towards measuring outcomes over the long term rather than short time frames.
Embracing PGM offers a path forward on how to truly localise engagement and prioritise local needs first and foremost above all else. By embracing PGM, we can reduce reliance on traditional funding models and move towards a sustainable, collaborative model of development work.
Read the full article for a better understanding of the key principles, strengths, and challenges associated with PGM here.