Jul 23, 2007

Local Knowledge is Key; Here Too

by Laura Starita

Local insight is key. This humanitarian truism was confirmed and reinforced in a recent report entitled Principles of Accountability for International Philanthropy, co-published by the Joint Working Group of the Council on Foundations and the European Foundation Centre. Of the seven principles outlined in the report three describe working with locals. Despite its importance, however, local involvement is often bypassed.

An oversight of this kind was recently highlighted in a New York Times article describing the current conflict between US-based advocacy groups and local aid workers in the Darfur region of Sudan. At the root of the conflict were US-run newspaper ads, billboards and television spots sponsored by the Save Darfur coalition as part of a campaign to challenge the American public and policy makers to take action against the genocide occurring in Darfur. Aid groups active in the Darfur region have said, however, that the solutions prescribed did not take the region’s best interests into consideration. The entire confusion could have been avoided had the Save Darfur coalition spoken with people on the ground before prescribing solutions (they have since worked to bring their lobbying in line with local aid workers). Their failure to do so created a mixed message for those following the issue, misspent thousand of campaign dollars, and perhaps exacerbated existing resource scarcity in the conflict-torn region.

It is important to remember, however, that advocacy groups such as the Save Darfur coalition have local knowledge too—knowledge of what will work to inspire action in Washington. Their understanding of how to influence public policy and opinion in the US is invaluable. Matched with the knowledge held by on-the-ground local organizations in recipient communities they can collectively recommend effective solutions and empower donors to make wise funding decisions.

That joining of forces doesn’t come easy; acquiring useful local insight can be difficult even when it is sought early and often, because equally informed stake-holding locals can have contradictory ideas about what can help. In a recent opinion post, Laura Starita, Associate Editor of beyondphilanthropy.org, discusses what it means to listen to “Africans”.

Council on Foundations and the European Foundation Centre: Principals of Accountability for International Philanthropy

New York Times: Advocacy Group’s Publicity Campaign on Darfur Angers Relief Organizations