Debate: How to shift power and decolonise the aid system

17 May 2022 | Danny Sriskandarajah | Tags: , , ,

It was a privilege to be invited to talk to Scotland’s international development community about Oxfam’s experience of trying to shift power, alongside a panel including Lena Bheeroo, Hamimu Masudi and Radhika Govinda. It is great to see the growing interest and energy in replacing top-down structures with fairer models, and to discuss practical ways … Continue reading “Debate: How to shift power and decolonise the aid system”

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Debate: Progressive philanthropy that shifts power to communities

15 July 2021 | Danny Sriskandarajah | Tags: , , ,

I enjoyed being part of this panel discussion organised by the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Strategic Philanthropy. It explored alternative funding models to traditional grants that can lead to more transformative outcomes, that truly shift power and money to communities pushing for their own change. There are some exciting examples out there, from the … Continue reading “Debate: Progressive philanthropy that shifts power to communities”

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Debate: The way forward for development

1 July 2021 | Danny Sriskandarajah | Tags: , , ,

Elena Heatherwick / Oxfam

I was invited to address the United Nations Development Programme as part of its Development Dialogues, to reflect on how the UN and the aid system can adapt in order to be fit for purpose in today’s world. I made the case for an aid system that doesn’t treat people as beneficiaries of largesse, but … Continue reading “Debate: The way forward for development”

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Speech: Humanitarianism for the new era

28 April 2021 | Danny Sriskandarajah | Tags: , , , ,

Ed Blagden

I was invited to give the opening keynote speech at the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership’s annual conference, organised by Australia’s Deakin University. I reflected on how the development sector has evolved over past decades and how by integrating key values – keeping people safe, accountability, and innovation – into humanitarian work going forward, we can … Continue reading “Speech: Humanitarianism for the new era”

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Letter: 100 charities warn that plans to merge DFID with FCO risks Britain turning its back on the world

16 December 2019 | Danny Sriskandarajah | Tags: , , ,

Nana Kofi Acquah/Oxfam

An independent Department for International Development with a seat in Cabinet has been central to Britain’s success in fighting global poverty and has enhanced our standing on the world stage. This is why Oxfam has joined more than 100 charities – specialising in humanitarian aid, education, health, clean water and sanitation – in urging Boris … Continue reading “Letter: 100 charities warn that plans to merge DFID with FCO risks Britain turning its back on the world”

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Letter: Let the UK continue to lead the world in global development

5 December 2019 | Danny Sriskandarajah | Tags: , , , ,

Tommy Trenchard / Oxfam

Ahead of the UK General Election, I joined representatives of 48 other organisations to write an open letter to party leaders. We urged them to rise to the ambition of UK and global commitments to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and tackle the climate emergency, and to show the world what it means to be an … Continue reading “Letter: Let the UK continue to lead the world in global development”

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Opinion: If we want water for all, building more taps just isn’t going to wash

25 August 2019 | Danny Sriskandarajah | Tags: , , ,

The theme of this year’s World Water Week conference in Sweden is ‘including all.’ I wrote an article for Thomson Reuters Foundation urging delegates to work towards a new approach that goes beyond quick fixes in order to create self-sustaining, resilient systems that continue to function long after the outside aid-tap is turned off.  

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