Democracy and Systemic Change Dialogues
How are EDGE members funding progressive work supporting true democratic practices? What are the main challenges philanthropy is experiencing globally attempting to contract the resurgence of populist governments? What are the progressive alternatives that we have identified as most successful in building strong and sustainable democratic processes?
The EDGE Secretariat invites you to join the EDGE Democracy and Systemic Change Dialogues and co-shape a conversation series focused on understanding how EDGE members can collectively strengthen democratic institutions and governance globally. Our collective analysis aims to identify what are the best practices for philanthropy in supporting movements and leaders engaging for democracy globally, ensuring that we truly acknowledge the needs of specific contexts we are working in, without hiding away from challenging conversation on power, North/South dynamics and beyond.
The EDGE community believes that philanthropy needs to change to cultivate a trust based collaboration with our grantees and through these dialogues we hope to understand the how we work with grassroots organizers, identifying what type of changes are needed to support even more effectively movements working to strengthen democracy.
By exploring and analyzing different philanthropic practices, geographic contexts, funding experiences, and challenges, we hope this dialogue series will serve as a) common repository of progressive democratic innovations and experiences; b) contribute to build a common strategy on shaping narratives around democracy and its impact on our political, economic, and social realities. These learnings will be complemented by the work of the other dialogues and shared through a Webinar Series and Sessions at the Annual Conference.
Want to join these conversations? Become an EDGE member!
Previous Sessions
“The Constitutional Process in Chile & How Philanthropic Actors Can Actively Be Part of Democratic Transformations” Facilitators: Fundacion Avina and their partners Ciudadanía Inteligente and Ahora Nos Toca Participar.
To kick off the EDGE Members Space on Supporting Democracy and Just Transitions, EDGE held Session 0 “The Constitutional Process in Chile & How Philanthropic Actors Can Actively Be Part of Democratic Transformations” in collaboration with EDGE member Fundacion Avina and their partners Ciudadanía Inteligente and Ahora Nos Toca Participar..
The relationship/joint work, based on closeness and truthfulness, between philanthropic actors and civil society movements, networks, and organizations, becomes a relevant element when considering the need for systemic transformations in the global south democracies.
During this session, we started with a presentation on how civil society in Chile has learnt and improved from its numerous transformations during the past 15 years, we listened to alternatives on how to jointly build civic and participatory processes between philanthropic actors and social movements, and we had a dialogue on how narratives and counternarratives had an immense effect on what happened last year and on what will happen in 2023.
To inspire you to consider funding democratic innovations with a systemic change lens, we offer some of the big takeaways from our conversations as well as extra resources to continue your learning and reflecting on the meaning of supporting democratic processes with a just transition lens.