Disrupt & Innovate

Youth of today under the age of 30 comprise more than half the world’s population at present. Born and raised in a digitalised and globalised era, their approach to activism is vastly different to that of their predecessors, and this is why we feel that the time is ripe for civil society organisations (CSOs) to adapt the ways in which they operate to meet the needs and preferences of these digital natives.  

Far from being a threat to jobs in the development and humanitarian aid sector, we believe that digital tools can enhance the way work is done, such as helping organisations gather necessary information, measure progress, or align their goals with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

At TolaData, the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) software we build makes it easier for projects to be managed and tracked across their entire lifecycle. Through our platform, project managers can remotely monitor activities in real-time, so that less time is spent collecting data but on analysing and learning from it to improve the projects that matter.   

We envision the following ways in which we can support this new generation of work. 

• The next generation of collaboration 

As working in multinational teams spread out all over the world increasingly becomes the norm, we’d like seamless communication across different time zones to become a reality. The next generation will work together in the cloud or with tools like TolaData, with full transparency in staying up to date on what others have done to ensure that everyone is aligned on the same tasks. Not only will that keep the team productive by preventing double work, team members will also have the freedom to work whenever and wherever they want, which fits in with the results-oriented flexibility that post-Millennials desire. 

• The next generation of progress 

We’d like to enable teams to learn faster and better from data, in order to determine which approaches are a success or a failure, and again in the spirit of collaboration, be able to share that knowledge with others.  

• The next generation of help 

Through technology, we’re able to reach marginalised communities in harsh and remote places. New digital tools will  be able to function offline just as well as it does online, thereby enabling work to take place in tough environments where help is most needed.  

Can we see the next generation fulfill the SDGs and realise a world without hunger and extreme poverty? Certainly! And we’re committed to bringing the latest technology to the sector to maximise the impact that organisations achieve. To recognise this goal, however, we’ll have to work together. 

Together with some of my brilliant colleagues from TolaData, we look forward to being at Global Perspectives 2018 to meet and connect with other like-minded practitioners from the sector to discuss our ideas and experiences in shaping the trajectory of this new generation. There’s so much we can do and we can barely wait for it to happen. See you there! 

• Global Perspectives
• Global Perspectives 2018

Non-Governmental Organisations are generally characterised by a high degree of independence, being a critical counterbalance to established political and economic structures, and act as advocates for the marginalised people and their issues. Their reputation is traditionally high in terms of morale and ethics, being perceived as down to earth and close to the people. They are the organised part of civil society and represent voices of the weakest, particularly where there is oppression and autocracy.

The above is an idealistic description, but it forms the most valuable capital of NGOs and should determine their way of working, as well as their ability to reach impact. It also forms a fairly fragile basis, as reputation and legitimacy are concepts that can be shaken easily and with dramatic consequences.

Every year, NGOs (or Civil Society Organisations, to use a more positive term) are scrutinised in the Edelman Trust Barometer, together with other institutions. Every year CSOs are frontrunners in public perception and trustworthiness, way above media, political and economic institutions.  Every year the trust ratings for CSOs oscillate around 50% (half of the people don’t trust NGOs), and every year, they drop somewhere – the latest figures seeing a big drop in the US and Canada from 58 to 49% – worse so by the so-called ‘informed public’ (from 73 to 51%).

The trust barometer shows many variables and regional differences and is not the only indicator on what is happening around established institutions. But it gives some credence to the widely noticeable development in thinking that institutions, the ‘glue and backbone’ of a thriving and stable society, are under scrutiny and losing support. This is particularly true when they are seen as exclusive and moving away from the interests of people. This is a phenomenon that has been described in the enlightening book ‘Why Nations Fail’ by Acemoglu and Robinson. So, a lot is at stake.

Of course, context matters. It is notable that some more autocratic regimes like China or Turkey are experiencing a sharp rise of trust in NGOs – this should come as no surprise given the dramatic shrinking space of citizen rights. Looking at the US and Europe, one would assume that the surprising developments of Brexit and the aftermath of Trump’s election in 2016 has also affected public perception – but it looks as if this goes in the opposite direction as one would have expected. The so-called Oxfam scandal in early 2018 has not yet been factored in, but will likely show up in next year’s barometer.

One of the biggest shifts of context over the past years has happened in Europe. With the de-stabilisation of Europe’s closest neighbour (the Middle East), the massive impact of the flow of refugees since 2015, and the inability of the political elites, particularly in the EU, to handle the situation, public opinion has changed direction, towards anti-establishment (and anti-foreigners). It goes way beyond the usual levels of 15-20% right wingers that show up more or less disguised in opinion and election polls. Also, Europe as the traditional haven of liberal democracy is under attack from actors that contest those values and would benefit from weakening the EU – Russia, and ultra-conservative moguls in the US and Europe. Their latest move is the foundation that Steve Bannon wants to create to support and mentor populist movements in Europe.

CSOs are in the middle of this. Their often global nature, their identification with multilateralism, and their social capital is under attack and scrutiny, as much as their legitimacy. ICSOs who work on social justice in the global South, and have a large and international structure, are caught between the danger of being instrumentalised for business or foreign security agendas and their attachment to donor interests. The public’s expectation for CSOs to be humanistic and selfless contrasts with a high level of professionalism, and an increased branding of CSOs as an ‘industry’ (latest example in Germany is the attack on refugee organisations as ‘anti-deportation-industry’).

At times this leads to splits of almost unbearable distances within those organisations – between the external philanthropic narrative and political and advocacy work, between donor funding and defending independence, between professionalisation and grass-roots orientation. Too often, and increasingly, CSOs are being seen as putting organisational issues above the cause, and thereby mimicking isolationist behaviour of some nation states.

Particularly disputed is the necessary empowerment and transfer of responsibility to partners and new actors in the global south, to youth, social entrepreneurs and activists. Here, transfer of resources seems to matter most, and cause high emotions and a growing divide in the civil society sector, particularly between established ICSOs and local organisations.

Much of the above calls for change – within and between Civil Society organisations. Very rusty business models might not crack unless pressure from the public, donors and new actors mounts. Decreasing levels of trust are an alarming sign and should accelerate changes – safeguarding what has been achieved in terms of professionalism, high standards, established models for solidarity; but handover of what needs to be let go in terms of ownership and decision making.

Civil Society Organisations have to re-gain support of the public majority in the middle, in order to maintain trust and their license to operate. They should embrace citizen-oriented forms of action, be politically more bold, more inspiring, and form multi-actor movements to call out on abuses of power. They need to move closer to their original mandates, and live their values and ethics more consequently. And they should not be afraid of working themselves out of their jobs.

In the lead up to Global Perspectives 2018: Engaging a #NewGeneration we will take a look at initiatives by and for young people that aim to help them improve their lives. These initiatives show how young people are already impacting the civil society sector, and beyond, throughout the world. They will form the basis of our discussions at this year’s Global Perspectives. Please find more Global Perspective related content here.

Bangladesh has made enormous social progress over the last decade, but there are still millions of children who face discrimination and poverty on a daily basis. Within this context, Save the Children has supported young campaigners to connect with marginalised children and together call for better access to health, education and protection.

Why is it important for young campaigners to connect across society?

Exclusion is central to understanding why some children have not benefitted from progress in Bangladesh. However, social action to tackle exclusion is complex. The concept does not easily translate into one clear identifiable societal change. It requires a number of interventions within different sectors across different strata of society.

One idea is to join forces with young people and support them to explore what exclusion is and what can be done about it. Partners in Bangladesh are doing this by igniting a conversation across social divides. The idea being that if young people can be supported to come together, share their experiences and learn from one another,  they can also engage decision makers and the media and start to bridge the gap between the most marginalised communities and those who hold the power to make change.

This campaign is called #bridgingthegap.

How did it work?

Jaago, leading newspaper Daily Star and Save the Children formed a partnership aimed at supporting young volunteers to connect with peers, tell stories and raise issues on the political agenda.

A group of urban young people received training on the issues and story telling[1] and then met young people living in urban slums and rural areas. Together young people discussed their commonalities, differences and the issues that underpin exclusion. While on these visits, young people created and shared content through their personal social networks and had a news platform to publish their stories. This process has allowed them to spread knowledge and act as champions for issues they care about. The young champions were also brought together with policy makers to further discuss challenges and solutions.

One of the things discussed in great detail was that of transportation in rural areas. The present Government officials did mention that this is something they are keen to work on. Water supply, electricity and gas for slum dwellers were also a challenge affecting everyday life and something the Government wanted to address as well.

What has the campaign achieved so far?

Creating a national discourse on exclusion

The stories from young people were shared across traditional and social media, #bridgingthegap trended nationally on social media with a reach of 28 million people. In traditional news, national newspapers covered ‘untold stories’ – one cover story and 6 news stories. Many of these discussions focussed on access and affordability and future opportunities for excluded young children.

The initiative generated interest from UN and partner organisations, but the success of coverage and discourse was primarily due to partners taking a step back and encouraging young people to lead the discussion. If partners are able to continue to support young people to raise these issues, the hope is that this will start to build awareness and change attitudes towards the people that face discrimination and the systems that create exclusion and discrimination.

Policy makers listening to young people

Young people were given a platform to talk with government officials. They shared their concerns and recommendations, discussing how Bangladesh could meet the Sustainable Development Goal targets. Government representatives listened and made a number of positive statements on how the recommendations made by young people could be used to tackle issues of exclusion and discrimination. If there is sustained pressure on decision makers for policy change and accountability there may be an opportunity to shift decision making towards excluded communities.

Building confidence

Young campaigners said that the experience was transformative both for their understanding of the issue and for how to campaign. Many feel motivated to continue campaigning within their communities. Beyond the immediate issues, by building the agency of young people to continue to create social changes within their communities, the hope is that they will continue this work into the future.

Participants Perspectives

“When you are not aware of other people’s problems, you cannot solve them. But when you go there and see their problems with your own eyes, you think about what you can do.”

“This campaign totally changed my mentality and my opinion. I realised how different our lives are and that I am very lucky for all the chances I have. It was a blessing to me. I learned about another part of our society.”

“After the campaign I shared my experience with my friends and encouraged them to take action to help”

 

What are we learning?

Collaboration is central to this success. Partners have stood back and encouraged youth to lead, they have shared common expectations and been flexible and adaptive. This process has been time consuming but worth the investment.

Replicating the model – partners agreed that the model has the potential to be replicated. It is an inexpensive way to create discussion, mobilise young people and engage the wider public on issues that will impact on the next generation of adults and decision makers. The only issue stopping replication is further seed funding.

Influencing policy and attitudes in a middle income context – As Bangladesh becomes a middle-income country the role of international organisations like Save the Children will move aware from service delivery. Supporting the public, the media and young people to unpick and communicate the issues that affect the population will be an important role to play.

The power of young people – By 2025 it is expected that 60% of the population in Bangladesh will be between 18-35 years old. These young people will be the future decision makers. There is an opportunity to empower and encourage these young people to actively participate in society and there is an important role for partnerships, such as this one, to support this process.

Aknowledgements:

Reefat Sattar, Karim Waheed, Korvi Rakhshand, Thouheda Tabassum.

[1] Training included an overview of concepts like exclusion, child safeguarding, storytelling, video editing and photography.

 

• Global Perspectives
• Global Perspectives 2018