Bond survey on changing UK government funding for local organisations |
Thank you for agreeing to complete this survey. The results will help Bond (a network of UK based INGOs) to focus its efforts in influencing the UK government to be more supportive of locally led initiatives. The Terms of Reference for a new Bond working group is summarised below:
Changing Donor Policy & Practice Working Group Terms of Reference
Background: Bond has established a new working group to influence UK government donor policy and practice, to support locally led development. Funding from the UK government often presents barriers for locally-led development, as application processes are strict, complex, have due diligence requirements that exclude local actors and are not always transparent or accessible. This working group is made up of humanitarian and development practitioners, who have a commitment to accelerating locally led development by influencing the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), its various funding instruments and its key suppliers to transform the way in which – and who - they fund. The FCDO is responsible for most of the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) funding disbursed by the UK government and, while the amount of funding has declined in 2022, the UK remains one of the largest providers of overseas development funding in the world.
Our rationale for focussing on the UK government is as follows:
- Our remit as UK based INGOs is the UK market and the FCDO is still a key player in the UK funding market
- There is less momentum on shifting funding practices at the FCDO compared to other government donors, including USAID and SIDA., therefore greater need for our advocacy
Objectives:
- The overall objective of this workstream is to influence the FCDO to change its policies and practice to better facilitate and resource locally-led development.
The specific objectives are to:
Provide practical recommendations and tools to FCDO with the view to:
- Improve the quality and accessibility of funding for locally led development
- Strengthen the partnership practices of donors, including encouraging donors to establish direct relationships/partnerships with local organisations in the global south
We will do this by (some suggested activities):
· Scope out what we/the sector already know – and don’t yet know - about the best funding models for locally-led development and barriers to change. Could include donor interviews, a desk-based review of existing initiatives that are working in this area e.g. donor practice compendium, blogs on successful donor practices, resource list of good practice
· Consult with local organisations in the global south to validate/challenge our assumptions about donor policy and practice, and ensure we define our role as Northern Actors in the process
· Undertake a power analysis of decision makers and influencers at the FCDO and identify key champions and targets on locally led development
· Compile case studies (funding permitting) of best practice/positive deviance amongst donors
· Develop a guide to ‘Resourcing locally-led development’ - co-created with global south orgs, progressive donors, UK INGOs and the other two working groups.
· Develop one or more practical models for donors to pilot to resource locally-led development (e.g. a process for community-led problem identification which guides resource allocation and calls for proposals and/or a new model for assessing fiduciary risk, compliance and due diligence)
· Advocate to donors and seek buy-in to the guide or agree to pilot one/or more new modalities for resourcing locally-led development
· Partner with a group of southern-led organisations (from the consultation phase) who we can jointly influence with/invite to meetings with target donors.
Changing Donor Policy & Practice Working Group Terms of Reference
Background: Bond has established a new working group to influence UK government donor policy and practice, to support locally led development. Funding from the UK government often presents barriers for locally-led development, as application processes are strict, complex, have due diligence requirements that exclude local actors and are not always transparent or accessible. This working group is made up of humanitarian and development practitioners, who have a commitment to accelerating locally led development by influencing the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), its various funding instruments and its key suppliers to transform the way in which – and who - they fund. The FCDO is responsible for most of the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) funding disbursed by the UK government and, while the amount of funding has declined in 2022, the UK remains one of the largest providers of overseas development funding in the world.
Our rationale for focussing on the UK government is as follows:
- Our remit as UK based INGOs is the UK market and the FCDO is still a key player in the UK funding market
- There is less momentum on shifting funding practices at the FCDO compared to other government donors, including USAID and SIDA., therefore greater need for our advocacy
Objectives:
- The overall objective of this workstream is to influence the FCDO to change its policies and practice to better facilitate and resource locally-led development.
The specific objectives are to:
Provide practical recommendations and tools to FCDO with the view to:
- Improve the quality and accessibility of funding for locally led development
- Strengthen the partnership practices of donors, including encouraging donors to establish direct relationships/partnerships with local organisations in the global south
We will do this by (some suggested activities):
· Scope out what we/the sector already know – and don’t yet know - about the best funding models for locally-led development and barriers to change. Could include donor interviews, a desk-based review of existing initiatives that are working in this area e.g. donor practice compendium, blogs on successful donor practices, resource list of good practice
· Consult with local organisations in the global south to validate/challenge our assumptions about donor policy and practice, and ensure we define our role as Northern Actors in the process
· Undertake a power analysis of decision makers and influencers at the FCDO and identify key champions and targets on locally led development
· Compile case studies (funding permitting) of best practice/positive deviance amongst donors
· Develop a guide to ‘Resourcing locally-led development’ - co-created with global south orgs, progressive donors, UK INGOs and the other two working groups.
· Develop one or more practical models for donors to pilot to resource locally-led development (e.g. a process for community-led problem identification which guides resource allocation and calls for proposals and/or a new model for assessing fiduciary risk, compliance and due diligence)
· Advocate to donors and seek buy-in to the guide or agree to pilot one/or more new modalities for resourcing locally-led development
· Partner with a group of southern-led organisations (from the consultation phase) who we can jointly influence with/invite to meetings with target donors.
For more information, contact Zoe. zabrahamson@bond.org.uk