Giving Compass' Take:

• Dennis Whittle and Megan Campbell, writing for Feedback Labs, explain lessons in democracy that can better shape International Civil Society Organizations. 

• The first lesson they discuss is about listening and engaging. What is the difference, and why is the distinction important for advancing democracy? 

• Read about the various ways donors can support a robust democracy. 

Three years ago, Renee Ho and I reflected on this blog about the changing nature of intermediation. Intermediation, we argued, was becoming localized and decentralized. Citizens were better able to express their needs and priorities, aided by new online tools. Service providers and implementers could no longer “control the narrative” because their donors and other stakeholders could see what people thought of their work. We argued that International Civil Society Organizations (ISCOs) should reconfigure to enable and amplify the effects of stronger connections, transparency and accountability.

In this follow-up, my colleague Megan Campbell and I would like to discuss three lessons learned, which together should help shape the evolution of ICSOs over the coming years:

  • Listening isn’t action: Listening and engagement initiatives are proliferating. They are a great first step, but responding is the hard part – and increasingly the binding constraint.
  • Don’t limit yourself to Incremental responses: In a recent article, Lant Pritchett argued that the gains from targeted interventions, of the kind favored by many aid agencies and practitioners, are dwarfed by the gains that come from broader institutional development and policy changes. But sometimes we need to step back and ask what type of fundamental shifts in resources, decision-making power, and institutional processes do we need to bring about more profound and longer-lasting changes?
  • Conversation is key: In 2015 I celebrated shifting the power toward individual donors and users. Yet this does not mean decisions should be made by plebiscite. The true power of feedback comes from rich conversations that generate new ideas and understanding.

Read the full article about democracy by Dennis Whittle and Megan Campbell at Feedback Labs