Learning in the open example

Trust thought for today - talking of 'learning in the open' yesterday - here is a great example.

A large group of international, national and local NGOs, North and South, convened by the RINGO project (Reinventing the International NGO) - have done alot of searingly honest soul searching about the problems in the sector.

https://lnkd.in/eQzr8ikf

I haven't seen anything from a corporate angle this blunt about its shortcomings. We could all learn alot.

Their synthesis report (see link below) identifies 'common areas of stuckness' which include a huge breadth of issues from risk appetite of donors to systemic problems with measurement; patriarchal organisations, racist and colonialist resistance, and the endemic western superiority complex which is certain that the North knows best. It looks at entrenched mindsets, beliefs, assumptions, fear, power and ego, geopolitics, decision making and system inertia and more.

It then takes a deep breath and starts to really think about how to fix all that. Good on them.

The only thing that sticks out to me as weird is the debate about 'feminist leadership' as the way forward to replace the entrenched patriarchy of the current approach. This is about power, and this language, I understand, is a common but unchallenged description. But to me seems to indicate replacing one bias with another, even though that isn't what it is really about. I would have had fairness or some such instead of that terminology.

https://lnkd.in/ec4UMM3M

Really worth reading and reflecting on one's own situation. Congratulations Deborah Doane and the RINGO team.

It might be interesting to see Alison Taylor, Darrin Charlesworth, Christian Hunt, Jane Fiona Cumming, Dr Raj Thamotheram, Alvin Carpio, Florent Gaillard, Fraser Battye, Mathew Mytka, Nathan (Nate) Kinch and others. Thanks again Arnold Schrijver for the inspiration, what you meant I think?