Shifting the Power Dynamics: Funding Community-Led Development on Local Terms
About the session
What does it take to move from talking about locally led development to actually resourcing it?
This session brings together Tostan, dZi Foundation, and Woven Foundation to explore how community-led development becomes more effective and scalable when funders shift from directing solutions to supporting communities to lead their own.
While the sector increasingly embraces the language of locally led approaches, decision-making power and funding flexibility often remain out of reach for the communities themselves. This conversation will examine what changes when that dynamic shifts, and what becomes possible when communities, particularly women leaders, have real agency over their own priorities and pathways.
Through a moderated discussion, implementing partners and funders will share practical examples of shifting power in action. This includes investing in local leadership, supporting communities to define their own solutions, and designing exit strategies where success means partners stepping back and communities continuing with confidence and ownership.
The session will focus on practical insights and honest reflection, including what funders can do differently and how accountability and success can be redefined when community resilience is the end-goal beyond organizational success – unlocking durable, locally-held power that outlasts any single grant or institution.
Who this is for
This session is for funders, philanthropists, INGOs, and practitioners interested in advancing community-led development and aligning funding approaches with local leadership.
What you will get out of it
Real examples of how power can be shifted in funding and implementation
Insight into trust-based philanthropy and flexible, long-term support
Perspectives from organizations working closely with communities and local leaders
Practical ideas for aligning funding models with community-led approaches
Exploration into a genuine culture of learning and adaptation in philanthropy
This session is for those interested in moving beyond intention toward approaches that support more sustainable and equitable outcomes led by communities themselves
Location & access
Accessibility matters deeply to us, and we do our best to choose spaces that reflect that. That said, some of our Oxford venues are in historic buildings without lifts. This room is unfortunately not accessible for wheelchair users, those with mobility challenges, or anyone needing step-free access.