I was pleased to participate in the insightful conversation, “How Philanthropy Can Lead the Way to Locally Led Development: A Global South Roadmap,” hosted by Adeso Africa and the Ford Foundation on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week 2024. Convened at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice, the event brought together distinguished development leaders to discuss the evolving role of philanthropy in advancing locally led development across the Global South.

The discussions, featuring key voices such as Salih Booker, President of the Ford Foundation; Degan Ali, Executive Director of Adeso; and Fanta Toure, Fund Director at the Girls First Fund, highlighted the imperative of rethinking philanthropic strategies to promote local expertise and community-led initiatives. These conversations underscored the critical need for a new framework that not only amplifies local voices but places them at the forefront of shaping solutions to their unique challenges.

Adeso Africa and the Ford Foundation’s ongoing dedication to fostering social justice through inclusive, locally driven development models resonates deeply with the work done at the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, particularly in advancing Maternal, Newborn and Child Health – MNCH. This collective focus on community empowerment and local leadership is vital for ensuring that philanthropic efforts are more responsive, accountable, and sustainable in addressing development challenges.

Through this gathering, it was evident that the pathway to sustainable global development lies in dismantling the structural barriers that often hinder Global South leaders from fully steering their own development agendas. By fostering true social impact partnerships grounded in ‘glocal’ knowledge and priorities, philanthropy can become a catalyst for enduring change.