#STOP THE PITY: UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL
Early on our first realization was that the focus and funding towards community-led development was at the bottom of the barrel as far as funding and understanding of the impact of their work entailed. So for many years, the core of our work and advocacy was around bringing awareness to community-led or locally-led or localization work. MAMA HOPE advocated for flexible funding earlier on, giving community members and its leaders the authority to decide what funds could do for them and not what the donor wanted the funds to do.
However, to do this, it was important to remind the world that community members and their leaders were people, humans, just like us, who didn’t require pity so as to be supported. We boldly said #StopThePity where we wanted to shift the focus from sympathy and pity to dignity and respect.
The #StopthePity campaign ran from 2012-2018 and was very successful. It ran alongside us advocating on the importance of flexible funding, allowing communities to own their futures. And guess what? It worked! Major players now see localization as a key pillar to sustainable development.
#StopThePity Articles
PROXIMATE WORK AND ETHICAL STORYTELLING
In 2020, as the global development sector players moved from the global majority countries where they worked, to go back home. We moved our operations from the US to East Africa, where most of our partners are based. This shift was a game-changer. Being closer to the communities we serve has given us a deeper understanding of what real, sustainable impact looks like. It’s about being present, appreciating the work being done, and advocating more effectively for the resources needed.
An action that has helped us build a Language Bank that is in constant flux as we discuss what words mean, not just in why they exist, but how they define groups, especially those that are marginalized. Instead of the word Empowerment, we prefer to say strengthen systems, instead of well-wishers we prefer to say investors, instead of helping we say share resources.
It also led us to be invited to build an Ethical Storytelling Toolkit alongside other allies in the global development sector.
FUNDING FACELESS IMPACT
Now, our new clarion call is to go Beyond Feel-Good: Funding Faceless Impact. We’re asking funders to look beyond the picture-perfect projects and support the essential backend work—strengthening systems that allow organizations to grow and thrive for years to come. It’s time to invest in the unseen heroes of development, the work that doesn’t make the headlines but makes all the difference.
Let’s shift the narrative and, together, shift the sector towards a more equitable and impactful future.
