Episode 26: Decolonising Funding, featuring Pendekezo Letu (Kenya) and Undugu Society (Kenya)

Family for Every Child: Conversations on Care

In this podcast Amanda is joined by leaders of two Family for Every Child member organisations based in Nairobi, Kenya. Okari Magati is the Executive Director of Pendekezo Letu and Eric Mukoya is Executive Director of Undugu Society of Kenya.

At Family we know that local CSOs are best placed to deliver change that reflects the cultural, social, economic and practical realities of their communities. But funding continues to be delivered via international NGOs and intermediaries who often continue to perpetuate a culture of dependency. In addition, burdensome requirements around reporting can effectively shut local organisations out of competing for funding. So what can be done to decolonise grant making and ensure grass roots organisations are properly resourced to deliver meaningful change?

Eric and Okari provide insights into the challenges facing CSOs in accessing grants, talk donor bias, the essential nature of core funding and offer advice to funders on how to decolonise their processes to achieve effective, sustainable change.

This podcast was recorded before the announcement of the USAid freeze in January 2025.