{"id":7049,"date":"2023-11-07T13:17:23","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T16:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redecomua.org.br\/?p=7049"},"modified":"2024-01-22T14:06:01","modified_gmt":"2024-01-22T17:06:01","slug":"para-alem-do-discurso-qual-o-compromisso-real-da-filantropia-com-a-transformacao","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-wyy8bhlsif5v8gukfr0yhxue.studio.tikovolpe.com.br\/en\/para-alem-do-discurso-qual-o-compromisso-real-da-filantropia-com-a-transformacao\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the discourse: what is philanthropy\u2019s real commitment to transformation?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Photo: LAC Working Group<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the midst of a context of polycrisis, the transformation of philanthropy is urgent and demands real commitments from actors and actresses in the sector with civil society movements and organizations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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By Graciela Hopstein and Jonathas Azevedo<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Between the 3rd and 5th of October, Nairobi, capital of Kenya, was the stage for the first WINGSForum<\/a> post-COVID-19 pandemic. Global philanthropy network meeting WINGS<\/a>, the event was co-organized by African Philanthropy Network<\/a>, also a partner of Rede Comu\u00e1 within the scope of the Program DONATE TO TRANSFORM<\/a>, and brought together 350 people from more than 50 countries under the motto \u201ctransforming philanthropy to transform the world\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In preparation for the event, WINGS also spearheaded the Philanthropy Transformation Initiative (Philanthropy Transformation Initiative<\/a>, in English), \u201ca collaborative effort to bring together principles, materials and stories from around the world and build a movement to transform philanthropy so that it can reach its full potential\u201d. In addition to the website, the initiative launched a report and a set of cases that exemplify how there are already philanthropic actors and actresses promoting transformation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, the tone of the conference was set and the call for philanthropy became evident:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis year\u2019s theme was based on need to transform ourselves and our ways of working<\/strong> to address the scale, complexity and urgency of the global polycrisis \u2013 the set of interconnected global risks that pose a threat to us as humanity. As philanthropic organizations, We must transform ourselves, our practices and our institutions<\/strong>. To do this, we need to come together to learn from each other and share ideas, solutions and paths for change<\/strong>.” <\/em>(Translation and emphasis added)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In the plenary sessions, different perspectives on how this transformation could (or should) take place were debated. From the songs of the Suru\u00ed people, delivered by the coordinator of the Indigenous Youth Movement of Rond\u00f4nia and warrior Txai Suru\u00ed, to the power of youth in Japan, represented by Rena Kawasaki, from Earth Guardians Japan, in promoting change and innovation, to the fortunes of billionaires, philanthropists and even diplomats, the WINGSForum brought different views on the role of philanthropy in the midst of a world of polycrisis, but it also made it clear that the philanthropic field has a long way to go in terms of changes in principles, practices and logics of power who are truly committed to transforming the sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certainly, WINGS took a big step in guiding the need to connect philanthropy practices to transformation processes, however it was evident throughout the meeting that traditional and conservative practices and visions continue to be present and guide the field. Even in some cases, these ways of doing philanthropy establish themselves as universal truths, as univocal practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important that these spaces are prepared to hold in-depth debates and even a \u201cwar of narratives\u201d that are absolutely essential in current times that need new ethical-political positions to be able to face the profound crisis that we are going through in the political and socio-environmental fields. It is not just a question of promoting speeches filled with slogans, but of publicizing debates and reflections based on concrete practices, thus acquiring a material character, avoiding falling into fads or the appropriation of agendas that, without support at the real level, end being completely emptied.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philanthropy needs to give space to philanthropies (in the plural) <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Forum sought to bring new agendas and voices into discussions through debates around topics such as power, decolonization of philanthropy, taxation of great fortunes, etc. Certainly the presence of these agendas at the Forum must be understood as an achievement, as the result of the advocacy work that a group of organizations and networks from the Global South have mainly been doing to recognize problems and challenges in the field, as well as other new practices philanthropic. Although this was a significant step, we still have a lot to deconstruct considering that it is a forum (and a network) that primarily involves large philanthropic organizations (traditional philanthropy) and is not always very open to recognizing the arrival of new agendas and actors, mainly from the Global South. In fact, there is not a single philanthropy, but several philanthropies, involving different visions and agendas that still need to occupy a central place in the debates to which Wings is certainly committed, but which still need to gain space and recognition.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philanthropy is not the protagonist, but just another actor in promoting transformations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Transformation will only happen with a real commitment from philanthropic actors with those who are on the front line and leading these transformations \u2013 social movements, civil society organizations, community leaders and populations whose rights have been historically denied to them. Although looking at oneself and promoting transformations in one's practices and ways of doing things is urgent and necessary, philanthropy needs to recognize its place in supporting transformation processes promoted by these groups without co-opting, emptying or even imposing agendas. The struggle of these civil society actors and actresses is, above all, political and their autonomy must be respected and guaranteed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The transformation is already happening, but where are the resources?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As shown by the aforementioned Philanthropy Transformation Initiative (PTI) and the Mapping of independent philanthropy donor organizations in Brazil<\/a>, carried out by Rede Comu\u00e1 in partnership with PonteAponte, philanthropies that transform exist and resist. In the PTI report, for example, there is the case of the project Tracing Paths for Good Living<\/a>, from the Society, Population and Nature Institute (ISPN), member of Rede Comu\u00e1, in partnership with the Wirazu and Guerreiras da Floresta Association. In Mapping, we have a first portrait of the work carried out by 31 independent philanthropic donor organizations. During the forum, the speeches of Txai Suru\u00ed and Rena Kawasaki<\/a>, mentioned above, also highlight other practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time that such examples represent futures of what this transformative philanthropy(ies) can be, they also reinforce a call to look at these ways of doing philanthropy, such as that represented by independent philanthropy in Brazil , which already exist and fight to guarantee and defend rights and which drive transformations by supporting civil society actors and actresses in their struggles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a key question still remains: where is the money for these transformation processes? In Brazil, the GIFE 2020 Census, for example, denotes the low volume of resources allocated to issues linked to the struggle of political minorities \u2013 only 5% of the philanthropic organizations associated with GIFE directly finance initiatives focused on racial issues; 9% to women; 3% for LGBTIQA+ communities and 4% for people with disabilities<\/a>. Or, as shown in Pipa Initiative research<\/a>, where peripheral organizations live on less than R$5,000 per year. At an international level, the report Where is the money for black feminist movements?<\/a> (in free translation), organized by the Black Feminist Fund, also shows that 53% of organizations led by black feminists do not have enough resources to survive the next fiscal year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What, then, are the possible paths?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For Rede Comu\u00e1, talking about transformation in philanthropy is not new, but rather the reality of the work that member organizations promote in the fields of community philanthropy and socio-environmental justice. For the Network, support, through donations (financial and non-financial) to organizations, movements, civil society collectives in their fight for access to rights plays a strategic role in transformation. In other words, strengthening civil society and, consequently, democracy through the lens of access and guaranteeing rights, is key to driving transformative processes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Brazilian delegation at the Wings Forum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A significant group of representatives from Brazilian organizations working in the field of philanthropy and ISP were present in Nairobi: professionals from the executive team of Rede Comu\u00e1 and four associated organizations \u2013 Tab\u00f4a, Baob\u00e1 Fund for Racial Equity, Elas+ Doar para Transformar and Fundo Agbara \u2013 Initiative PIPA, GIFE, ABCR, IDIS and also family foundations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certainly, the participation of philanthropic organizations was significant in terms of representation, which indicates that Brazil has a developed, diversified ecosystem engaged with philanthropic agendas. However, it would have been interesting if the Brazilian delegation had been more articulated and active in conducting sessions and debates to show not only its relevance in the region, but also to give visibility to some of the significant agendas and practices in the field that could serve as a reference for Latin American philanthropy.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final reflections: what are the paths taken that we need to strengthen?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Forum finally leaves a message about political organization<\/strong>. The meeting in Nairobi facilitated a space to strengthen global articulations of actors and actresses in the sector committed to transformation, which although they were not the majority, are relevant from the point of view of engagement with this agenda. By bringing together people and organizations committed to movements such as #ShiftThePower, the Donate to Transform alliance and other representatives of civil society organizations and movements, the conference was a moment of strengthening bonds, aligning agendas and, above all, of organization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rede Comu\u00e1, for example, together with the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) and Wilde Ganzen, also partners in the Donate to Transform Program, promoted a parallel session called Transformative Philanthropy: Strengthening civil society when human rights are under attack <\/em>(Transformative philanthropy: strengthening civil society when human rights are under threat, in free translation), in which the role of community philanthropy and social justice in promoting and defending rights was discussed in contexts of increasing restriction of civic space and attacks on marginalized populations. The Forum also allowed for the first face-to-face meeting, in more than five years, of the Latin America and Caribbean Working Group, facilitated by WINGS. Just like these sessions, other meetings and networks were created and strengthened during the forum, showing that only organization and collaboration, intentional and political, between actors and actresses is capable of promoting real transformations. It is therefore necessary to continue guaranteeing the presence of these actors, especially from the Global South and who represent other philanthropies, in these spaces of influence and power, in order to continue actively tensioning the logics of power and control that still govern philanthropy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, for the transformation of philanthropy to occur, you need to ask yourself: what political project is the philanthropy you practice serving? To perpetuate the concentration of wealth, privileges and the colonialist and supremacist legacy of the sector? Or the struggle of civil society organizations and movements to conquer and guarantee their rights and to strengthen an emerging, but also ancestral, system of philanthropies? WINGSForum has taken a big step towards including the topic of transformation on global philanthropy agendas, however, we still have many challenges to face in the field. But certainly, debates and reflections are a good starting point because they force us to leave our comfort zones and question the status quo<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Graciela Hopstein<\/strong> Master in Education (UFF), PhD in Social Policy (UFRJ). Consultant, teacher and researcher in the social area. Author of articles and books on themes linked to public policies, social movements and philanthropy. She was executive director of Instituto Rio (2012-2016) and is currently (since 2017) executive director of Rede Comu\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jonathan Azevedo<\/strong> He has a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Universidade Federal Fluminense and specialized in Humanitarian and Development Aid from PUC-RIO. In 2020, he completed his master's degree in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Jonathas worked in the management, monitoring and evaluation of projects and building partnerships in Brazil and Haiti. He has experience in projects focused on human rights, community articulation, violence reduction, among other topics. He is currently a program advisor at Rede Comu\u00e1 and is a member of the administrative board of Doctors Without Borders Brazil.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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