The chaos generated by the USAID freeze has underscored the fragility of the current system and highlighted how power within the minority world can wreak havoc in the majority world without accountability. The chaos has created shock and outrage among international development actors, but this could present an opportunity to do things differently.
The situation demands a new way of upholding social justice, dismantling inequity, and protecting children’s rights. It is time to transform the system to ensure it recognises the agency of local communities to bring about change for themselves, releases the power of local CSOs to support communities and challenge structural barriers, and places resources and decision-making where they can achieve the most change.
We call on the sector to accelerate efforts to rebalance power to local communities and fund local CSOs. We urge governments and donors to prioritise direct support for community-led responses, ensuring that no child’s future is jeopardised by the politics of a foreign power. If you’d like to be part of the conversation, please join this community of practice.
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- Let us know what area of children’s care you’re working on;
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