Rethinking Risk: Bridging the Gap Between Funders and Implementers, with Victoria Tayler of Risk Pool Alliance
Oxford Global Health Society Presents: Global Health Organization (GHO) Spotlights. A series of talks to introduce University of Oxford students to global health organisations around the globe. These include social enterprises, funders, leadership development programmes, and more.
This week, we are introducing Risk Pool Alliance, a funding body that provides flexible funding and protection to implementers.
In development and philanthropy, risk is often framed as something to minimise or control. But for organisations delivering programmes on the ground, risk is an everyday operational reality.
In this session, Victoria Tayler, Executive Director of Risk Pool Alliance (RPA), explores the disconnect between how funders and implementers perceive risk — and how traditional funding models can unintentionally shift the burden onto frontline organisations.
Drawing on lessons from the Risk Pool Fund, Victoria will discuss:
why organisations are often discouraged from surfacing challenges early,
how rigid funding structures can undermine impact,
and what more flexible, collaborative approaches to risk management could look like in practice.
As the sector faces shrinking aid budgets, growing uncertainty, and increasing pressure on nonprofits, this conversation will explore how philanthropy can better support adaptive implementation and resilient delivery.
About the speaker
Victoria Tayler is the Executive Director of Risk Pool Alliance (RPA), where she leads a pooled funding mechanism that provides fast, flexible contingency funding to NGOs facing unexpected implementation challenges in low and middle income countries.
With a background spanning global health, philanthropy, and strategic advisory work, Victoria focuses on improving how funding is deployed in complex, resource-constrained environments. Her work centres on helping philanthropy better manage risk, support adaptive implementation, and move beyond rigid funding models to safeguard programme outcomes.
This event is hosted by the Oxford Global Health Society, and invites anyone from around the world to join (including non-Oxford members).
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