A MANIFESTO TO THE PHILANTHROPIC
SECTOR WORLDWIDE
The climate and environmental emergency, the water crisis and biodiversity loss we are currently experiencing disproportionately affects marginalized communities worldwide. It is the people living in natural territories, rural areas, or peripheral regions of urban areas who bear the heaviest burden of natural resource loss, pollution, and climate-related disasters. It is also for this reason that truly sustainable alternatives for the protection of all the world’s ecosystems emerge from these very communities.
For there to be a possibility of life on our planet with a sense of justice, it is necessary for the communities and people most directly impacted by environmental and climate devastation to be our top priorities. This involves providing immediate resources, both financial and technical, to people from various local communities, whether in rural or urban areas, or in forested, mountainous, desert, or wetland regions.
The field of community philanthropy arises precisely from the appreciation and recognition of the role of local communities, their leaders, and their resources in addressing the greatest challenges of our time. Unfortunately, these people are often the most excluded from philanthropic support, facing significant challenges in terms of resource access. Many times, these difficulties are invisible to traditional donors.
It is imperative for the philanthropic sector to recognize that resources can be used more efficiently when directed directly to local groups and communities. Furthermore, local entities must have decision-making power over the allocation of these resources, maximizing the impact of their efforts. This strategy is essential to reduce the gap between those who traditionally hold power and resources and those who have been excluded from these opportunities. By prioritizing local communities, we seek to dismantle systemic inequalities, promote social justice, and create a more inclusive and equitable environmental movement.
Local funds from the Global South play a crucial role in this scenario as they recognize and address the needs of communities invisible to national and international philanthropy. They empower communities, promote sustainable solutions, and contribute to transformative change originating locally. Furthermore, these funds are building a culture of philanthropy from within their countries and regions, fostering more just and inclusive societies worldwide.
