Beginning in December 2022, INTRAC embarked on a new communications theme focused on modelling progressive funding. In the civil society sector, progressive funding is becoming an increasingly prominent topic. But what does it mean to fund civil society programmes and organisations in a “progressive” way? What are the challenges that face funders working to pursue progressive models of civil society support? And what models would we like new funders, including those based in the global South, to emulate and build upon?
An ongoing series of blogs is examining these questions from a number of different perspectives:
- Our Chief Executive Kate Newman wrote the introductory blog, titled simply “modelling progressive funding.” It introduces some of the key questions and themes of the series.
- In the second blog, “modelling progressive funding: in practice”, Kate Newman takes a more detailed look specifically at the practice 0f progressive funding.
- Guest author Emilly Omudho, from the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF), contributed the third blog titled “A change agenda that belongs to communities: approaches to resource mobilisation in Kenya”.
- Alison McKinley from Comic Relief wrote the blog, “An approach to learning within progressive funding practice”
- Juan Lozano from Innpactia contributed the blog “Levelling the playing field: helping to foster a healthier funding environment in Latin America”
- Kate Newman added a postscript to the blog series with “Modelling progressive funding: what did we learn?”
While not strictly part of the blog series, a related blog is “experience and advice from a newly independent NGO in Mozambique”. The result of a conversation between Paul Knipe and Luize Guimaraes from Mozambique-based NGO MUVA, this blog is an entry in INTRAC’s ongoing civil society perspectives series.
On 18 January, 2023, INTRAC hosted an online event also titled “modelling progressive funding”. The event brought together four experienced speakers to share their perspectives on what progressive funding is, and how it can best be achieved. The event attracted over 170 participants from around the world. A full video recording is available below.
Additionally, an extensive written event summary is available as a downloadable PDF, and there is a playlist of short video highlights available on our YouTube channel. During the event, four speakers gave brief talks on different aspects of modelling progresssive funding:
- Esther Meester (Wilde Ganzen Foundation) on the Foundation’s changing approach to funding [Video]
- Luize Guimaraes (MUVA) on “from the princess to the pauper”; being seen differently as a Southern CSO [Video]
- Sarah Rose (USAID) on USAID’s localisation journey [Video]
- Janet Mawiyoo (Galvanize Africa Consult Ltd.) on common pitfalls facing funders [Video]
To keep up with all of INTRAC’s developments, be sure to sign up to our mailing list and to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.