Strengthening Majority World philanthropies to transform climate and development finance

Communities most affected by climate change and economic shocks are often also leading the solutions needed to build resilience and a more sustainable future. Yet they face major barriers in accessing climate and development finance.

In response, a growing number of Majority World philanthropies are building alternative ways of financing change.  

These organisations and networks – including trust-based, community-led and justice-oriented philanthropy – are channelling resources where they are needed the most and supporting locally-led solutions to global challenges.

As traditional sources of climate and development finance come under increasing strain, the role of Majority World philanthropies will become even more critical. Yet their contributions and innovations remain largely invisible in dominant global finance systems.  

Reform will require stronger coalitions across research, advocacy and policy – to build greater recognition of their leadership and ensure they have a seat at the decision-making table.  

What is IIED doing?

IIED is partnering with Majority World philanthropies and philanthropy networks to strengthen their visibility, influence and collective power in climate and development finance debates.

We work as a knowledge partner, bridge-builder and strategic convener – helping to surface evidence on what works, connect locally-rooted funding models to global policy spaces, and build alliances to push for a fairer global financing architecture.  

Through this work, IIED aims to support a shift towards finance systems that are more locally led, rights-based and accountable to the communities they are meant to serve.

Activities under this programme of work include:

• Building a shared strategy for change: convening Majority World philanthropies and networks plus national and global finance and policy actors to explore how to leverage the unique contributions of justice-centred Majority World philanthropic action across strategic agendas. This includes supporting local partners to map philanthropic action for adequate housing in Brazil and understanding philanthropies’ role in advancing urban resilience efforts.
   
• Generating evidence of and amplifying innovative funding models: documenting and analysing the models and lessons learned from Majority World philanthropies’ innovative approaches. As strategic knowledge partners of the Global South House, IIED is synthesising the key messages and demands from global South funds on how to transform climate and development finance flows.
   
• Accessing global decision-making spaces: facilitating the participation and influence of Majority World philanthropies through joint messaging and advocacy efforts at global forums such as the Forum on Financing for Development, the World Urban Forum or the International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation.

By strengthening alliances, generating evidence and amplifying Majority World leadership, this programme aims to contribute to real shifts in how climate and development finance is designed and governed – so that resources reach frontline communities, using justice-oriented and locally-grounded solutions to tackle the triple crisis of climate, nature and inequality.