Thread by @intrac_uk

We're looking forward to our first #INTRACat30 online event, which begins in just under an hour! Join our experienced panel to discuss how to #shiftthepower through OD. Still time to register here: bit.ly/3IKPPcK

We'll be live-tweeting some of the key parts of today's event, so keep an eye on this thread and the #INTRACat30 and #shiftthepower tags. Whether you're in the event or not, feel free to join the conversation here on Twitter!

Our interim Chief Executive Peter Sargent is kicking off the meeting. Over 80 participants in the room already, time for the chat introductions and to find out where everyone is from!

Peter introduces the #shiftthepower movement how the sector needs to do more to promote change in practice. Today's focus is on how organisational development can contribute to this.

Peter sets the event in the context of INTRAC's 30th anniversary - the desire to #shiftthepower has been a part of what we've done since 1991.

Our speakers today:

- Rick James (INTRAC)
- Angela Zamaere Smith
- Nancy Akanbombire
- @lucyclmorris (INTRAC)

Our trustee @SmrutiPatel11, Co-Director of the Global Mentoring Initiative and a long-time advocate of #shiftthepower will be providing some closing remarks today.

For Rick James, his work with INTRAC on OD started in Malawi. Since then INTRAC has done face-to-face training for OD consulants from many countries from Kyrgyzstan to Malaysia.

Rick speaks about how vital it is that a thriving community of local OD consultants is built up. Not only organisations, but also ecosystems must change to #shiftthepower.

"To have international consultants flying in and out is unsustainable on so many levels."

Rick explains that INTRAC will be working with foundations to train new "Consultants for Change" in four regions. To Rick, it is not only skills but a "real calling" to support civil society that is needed.

Increasingly, a hybrid mix of face-to-face and online learning is going to be the future of learning and that is equallty true in OD.

Rick emphasises that "you can't impose lasting change from outside. Good consultants must cultivate the fragile flower of ownership."

Rick concludes by saying, as we celebrate #INTRACat30, "what I'd love people to say is that we cultivated a generation of consultants who catalysed change around the world."

Angela Zamaere Smith is speaking now!

Angela introduces her employer All We Can, for whom she is Director of Programmes and Partnerships. She mentions how her engagement with INTRAC has strongly influenced her work.

"We provide flexible and unrestricted funding to support not only programmes but also their organisational development [...] we want to leave partners stronger than when we found them."

"When we exit, our partners must be left able to support the needs of their communities for many years to come."

"There's as much emphasis on OD as there is on programmes", in the way that All We Can works. "To us, OD is an end in itself, as well as a means to an end", says Angela.

We're lucky to be joined now by Nancy Akankombire to speak on feminist organisational development!

"Feminist OD basically applies feminist principles into our approaches and practices - how is power interrogated in our processes and and approaches?"

Nancy refers to "building organisations with soul", and how organisations can be like living beings - it's a thing we can keep in mind when we work to #shiftthepower

"We have been singing the same song for a long time, and it's time we subverted what is considered normal so that we can change how power is used in our organisations. #shiftthepower is complicated but starts with the individual."

Nancy says we must engage in honest conversations about power in our organisations and our OD methods. We can take this from an individual level, and then to the collective level.

"We have to be diverse and very intersectional in our OD practices", says Nancy. "It is important that we look at change in a very intersectional way." Sometimes unlearning is as important as learning - we need to "sing the song differently."

Our fourth and final speaker is INTRAC Principal Consultant Lucy Morris, who will talk about digital OD!

We're slightly taken aback as @lucyclmorris has taken us back in time to March 2020... 🕖

Lucy talks about how we've learned to shift many processes online (professionally and personally) due to the impact of the pandemic.

"While acknowledging the pain and suffering the pandemic has caused, it has done more for digital OD than we have ever seen before."

Increasingly citizens expect to be able to access services online and this is important for the #shiftthepower movement. Communities are demanding more voice, accountability and transparency.

Digital OD is a key means to meet this demand. Lucy highlights Loop as an example of an online-led organisation which is working in this area. Digital transformation is happening all over, Lucy says.

"Digital OD opens up huge opportunities to open up decision-making in our organisations. But: the digital divide remains." Lucy highlights issues such as #dataprotection and access to technology.

Lucy quotes Steven Bartlett's quote about "the bulldozer of innovation" which is relentless. We must build on our readiness to change to genuinely #shiftthepower through OD.

It's time for the Q&A! Rick is asked "How we can make the OD as local as possible, as international as necessary?"

Rick says the question we have to grapple with is how to "make things as local as is effective". He has always most enjoyed chances to work closely with people local to the context.

"Knowledge exists in all levels and all places", says Nancy in answer to the next question.

Nancy speaks about inviting partners to suggest their own solutions, based on their knowledge, and how this opens programmes up to new ideas.

The next question is "how can CSOs be 'weaned off' funding from large bilateral donors?" Angela is asked to tackle this one...

"Partners should be free to choose the type of funding that they get", Angela says, "but they tend to go for whatever funding is available."

"How can we re-imagine a future where we are not the conduits or middle men of funding?", Angela asks. This is where INGOs have a lot of power because they are trusted by funders.

What we need, Angela argues, is a scenario where organisations are free to decide whether or not to pursue particular types of funding. They need to be supported to become more financially independent.

"Organisations must become the drivers of their own transformation and change."

Is #shiftthepower merely a "flash in the pan"? No, says Lucy, because a critical mass has formed which is arguing strongly in favour of change. This is an "unstoppable wave", but we have to focus on things which are within our control.

In the chat, @llongboan points out that critically, CSOs in the global South are driving #shiftthepower, with support from Northern partners, and this is sustaining the movement.

Our participants have now had a 20-minute breakout session and we're about to hear from five "rapporteurs"...

Paul Knipe, INTRAC's Director of Consultancies, Impact and Influence highlights the importance of unrestricted funding in the conversation in his group.

It came out strongly in this group that long-term commitments are crucial, and that Northern organisations must ask themselves difficult questions.

.@llongboan of INTRAC feeds back from another group. "Letting go of power is not easy", one person commented. The group also emphasised that "every small step" is important in the #shiftthepower process. Genuine partnership and trust is vital.

INTRAC Consultant Alison Napier reports from a third group. Their discussion highlighted the need for consultants to "let go" and emphasise leadership within organisations. Donors don't give enough time for capacity development.

Multiple groups spoke about the issue of language in OD. How do we feel about the term "accompaniment" as an alternative to e.g., "capacity development"?

Alastair Spray from INTRAC reports back from a fourth group. There's an assumption that "gatekeepers" are good people whose power does not need to be interrogated. Do those with power really want to give it up?

The group discussed whether "expanding power" is a better term than #shiftthepower...

"COVID has given people an opportunity for local consultants to show what they can do", says INTRAC Consultant Rod MacLeod of the discussions in his group.

Rod also mentions the importance of local resource mobilisation, and the willingness of some foundations to use flexible funding that better enables self-directed development of organisations.

We're near the end so it's time for @SmrutiPatel11 to try to summarise all we've heard! She highlights how we must reflect on our own individual power as a starting point to #shiftthepower

Smruti also highlights how much time it can take to genuinely shift power through OD, and how critical it is that we interrogate the language we use.

Smruti refers back to Rick's earlier point about having a calling to want to do right by civil society and to work towards the best, most equitable outcomes. She also recalls the idea of "singing the same song" for a long time; are we at least adding new verses?

Smruti highlights Lucy's points about digital inclusion, which connects to Nancy's thoughts about inclusion in a more general sense. How decolonisation is perceived by people is strongly influenced by the language we use.

"Some may say there is a long way to go - but the baby steps are so important. [...] Systems are made of people and people can make the difference."