Pacific Partners Workshop Action on Poverty

After months of virtual meetings, there is nothing quite like the energy of meeting your partners face-to-face. The three-day AOP Pacific Regional Workshop in Fiji last year was an opportunity to break away from screens and immerse ourselves in real conversations, tackling the challenges we face together in the Pacific. For me, it was more than just a workshop, it was a chance to reaffirm our shared mission and strengthen the trust that drives every successful partnership.

By Anjuman Tanha, Action on Poverty

The experiences shared by our partners allowed me to better understand how we, as Australian NGOs, can be more self-reflective and confront traditional aid norms to make development aid more inclusive. Whether it’s improving capacity building, enhancing safeguarding strategies or simplifying compliance processes, our ability to truly make a lasting impact hinges on our collective action. The intriguing conversations we had with our partners during this workshop were a powerful reminder of this and sparked some reflection which I thought would be worth discussing in detail.

AOP Pacific Partner Presents to Workshop

Is it really ‘capacity building’ if we’re not all in it together?

Having worked alongside partners across the Pacific, I have always believed that our true strength lies in these partnerships. However, it is not always easy to break away from the traditional donor-recipient dynamic, especially when funding is involved. Research has shown that this dynamic often mirrors neo-colonial power structures, which can limit the effectiveness of our work. The imbalance of power between INGOs and local organisations risks undermining trust, creating dependency, and stifling locally led development. During the session on collaboration and partnership, I highlighted how AOP is working to move beyond these roles, where we truly collaborate as partners—not just funders and beneficiaries. But talking about it is not enough. To truly establish trust, we must actively dismantle the unequal power dynamics that persist within the aid system.

AOP Pacific Partners Workshop whiteboard brainstorm
Stakeholder mapping developed by partners and AOP

One crucial step in breaking these power dynamics is to be open about our own growth and limitations as ANGOs. If we truly see ourselves as partners, we need to share how we have evolved through this collaboration—what we’ve learned and how this partnership has shaped us. Being open about our challenges and growth isn’t always easy, but during capacity-building sessions and workshops, where we discuss the strengths and areas for improvement of our partners, we must also be transparent about our own journey. This kind of vulnerability is how we build trust and create deeper connections. If we want to challenge the donor-recipient mindset, we need to show that we, too, are on this journey of growth.

Acknowledging that we have areas to improve strengthens our partnerships and ensures that the work we do together will be more sustainable and impactful in the long run.

Pacific partner presents to peers at workshop

As we continue to build inclusive and equitable aid systems, embracing this approach, although uncomfortable at times, can ensure that our work together will have a lasting, positive impact on the communities we serve.

Who’s missing from the conversation? Strategic communication for safeguarding communities

As ANGOs, we must work closely with our partner NGOs to strengthen strategic communication, particularly ensuring that all levels of staff are involved in the design and adaptation of projects. This was one of my key takeaways from the workshop, as I led the discussion on best practices and strategies to safeguard the children and vulnerable communities we serve. Often, the voices of field staff, who are on the frontlines working directly with vulnerable populations, are not fully integrated into the development of key project documents, such as risk assessments and safeguarding policies. This creates a gap in understanding the real-world risks children face.

During the session on child protection and safeguarding, partners presented scenarios where children are vulnerable to violence
During the session on child protection and safeguarding, partners presented scenarios where children are vulnerable to violence

An important aspect to consider is the organisational power dynamics within partner NGOs. Just as power dynamics can exist between donors and recipients, they also manifest within organisations themselves. At times, staff at the top levels have more decision-making power and influence, while field staff, who bring critical contextual insights, are often left out of crucial conversations. This imbalance can lead to a disconnect, where the strategies designed at higher levels may not always align with the realities of the communities on the ground.

Child protection and safeguarding workshop with Action on Poverty and Pacific partners

As ANGOs, we need to be mindful of these power structures that can unintentionally exclude the valuable perspectives of those closest to the community. To address this, it is crucial that we actively involve field staff in both the creation and adaptation of child protection strategies, as well as in other steps of project design phases. By co-developing these documents together, we ensure that the insights from those working directly with communities are reflected in our risk assessments and safeguarding policies. This approach creates a more inclusive and effective child protection system that acknowledges the power dynamics within organisations and empowers all staff to contribute meaningfully.

Cutting through the red tape: Time to simplify compliance

Compliance is a necessary part of our work, but it can often feel like a heavy weight, especially for our partners on the ground. During the workshop, we acknowledged that while due diligence is crucial, the current compliance process can be overwhelming. Our partners, already stretched thin trying to support vulnerable communities, often find that the time and effort required to meet these standards can sometimes outweigh the funding they receive. In fact, some partners are even pushed to consider opting out of partnerships altogether simply because the administrative burden feels too great.

Counter-terrorism financing training delivered by AOP Head of Finance
Counter-terrorism financing training delivered by AOP Head of Finance

This issue isn’t just an internal one; it also impacts donor relationships. The unintended consequence of compliance demands is that donors, understandably, are often reluctant to contribute to organisations with high overhead costs. Compliance spending falls into this category. Research shows that donors are often just as averse to compliance costs as they are to any other form of administrative overhead, even though these costs are necessary to meet regulatory requirements. When donors see high administrative costs, they often assume inefficiency, which, in turn, can lead to fewer donations. This creates a vicious cycle where the pressure of compliance weighs heavily on organisations, while the funds to support their work grow scarcer.

Breakout groups at AOP Pacific Partners workshop

I believe, this is where we, as ANGOs, need to act. We need to rethink how we approach compliance. The idea of due diligence passporting, for example, being explored by organisations like Humentum, offers a promising way forward. By allowing partners to submit the same assessment to multiple donors, we can eliminate the repetitive tasks that drain resources and time. It is a win-win. Not only does it free up more resources for the real work, supporting communities, but it also allows donors to focus on the impact we are creating together, instead of getting bogged down in paperwork. In the end, this approach aligns with our ultimate goal of inclusive aid, where local actors are not burdened by redundant administrative tasks and prioritise delivering impactful initiatives for the communities.

Growing together and challenging norms: The path to transformative change

The AOP Pacific Regional Workshop reinforced the power of true collaboration, not just between partners and ANGOs, but within our teams. Our discussions highlighted that sustainable impact happens when we work as equals, learning from each other and adapting to the needs of the communities we serve. Whether it’s enhancing child protection, improving capacity building, or streamlining compliance, we all have something valuable to offer and learn.

Leaving the workshop, I was hopeful about the potential of our partnerships and inspired to confront traditional development approaches. By reimagining our collaboration models, we can certainly transform the aid system to drive better impact in the Pacific and beyond.

Team bonding at AOP Pacific Partners workshop

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