DEVELOPMENT
April 2, 2026
Africa
Oped : The Shift from Bureaucracy to Impact Diplomacy by Mr John Gbenagnon – RFLD Regional Development Director
In the evolving landscape of philanthropy, significant shifts are evident, particularly in direct, trust-based partnerships. MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving has donated $26 billion to 2,700 NGOs without proposal calls, emphasizing trust rather than bureaucracy. Similarly, Sweden’s Sida has distributed over one billion euros to about 100 organizations, focusing on long-term relationships. Major U.S. foundations have moved away from rigid models, contributing billions to international development, which grew by 17.7% recently. This transformation highlights the importance of human capital, networking, and visibility, showing that success now relies on personal relationships and influence rather than traditional application processes.