Summary
Highlights
Tim Hanstad, Vice Chair of the Chandler Foundation, discusses the foundation's core focus on governance, recognizing governments as the most significant lever for societal outcomes. He explains that philanthropy often addresses the symptoms of failed government systems, while the Chandler Foundation aims to move upstream and build up government systems. Hanstad also highlights the importance of being part of networks like the African Philanthropy Forum (APF) to learn from others and understand local contexts.
Hanstad details the Chandler Foundation's approach, which involves two sister organizations: the Singapore-based Chandler Institute of Governance, focused on improving public systems and civil service capabilities, and the Cape Town-based Chandler Institute of Justice, which supports government-led law reform. He emphasizes how philanthropy and civil society can help governments become more high-performing, a topic he will discuss in a session on high-performance governments.
Hanstad advocates for engaging with governments, stating they are the primary mechanism for policymaking, possess vast financial resources, and have delivery mechanisms to reach entire countries. He also notes that governments, especially in democratic systems, have a mandate and accountability to their people, making them crucial 'proximate actors' in development, a point often overlooked in localization discussions. He challenges the common philanthropic mindset of viewing government as an adversary or incompetent.
Hanstad acknowledges the many challenges in working with governments, including NGOs' focus on a watchdog role and a common perception of government incompetence. However, he shares positive experiences from Malawi and Zambia, where the Chandler Foundation started by understanding government priorities and identifying overlaps with their own. This 'government-first' approach focuses on building trust-filled relationships with key reformers and leveraging those connections to engage with civil society.
Hanstad discusses using the Open Government Partnership (OGP) framework in Malawi and Zambia to advance priorities related to good governance and preventing corruption. OGP brings together government and civil society to co-create and implement action plans for accountable and transparent governance. He also mentions other multi-stakeholder frameworks like EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) and CoST (Construction Sector Transparency Initiative) as valuable opportunities for philanthropists and NGOs to engage.
Addressing the impact of funding cuts and political shifts, Hanstad states that philanthropy cannot fill the massive gap left by reduced foreign aid. He argues that the best way forward for NGOs and governments is to refocus on improving government performance, as investments in government capacity often yield a 10x return. He uses the analogy of improving an 'old car' (government) rather than just constantly adding 'fuel.' He advocates for shifting philanthropic focus from direct service delivery (alleviating symptoms) to improving systems (addressing root causes), suggesting that more resources should be directed towards building government capacity.
Hanstad advises APF members and philanthropists to make 'big bets' on civil society organizations that are effective at influencing and building government capacity. He suggests moving away from seeking direct attribution for impact and embracing a 'contribution' mindset, recognizing that systems change requires collaborative efforts. He also emphasizes the need for philanthropists to adopt a long-term, flexible approach with their funding, acknowledging that systemic change is a gradual process requiring years of sustained effort.
Hanstad shares his recent move to India, explaining it was to support his wife's work. Having lived in India before, he enjoys being closer to the 'action' and dynamism he sees in Asia and Africa. He believes these continents represent the future, moving towards an 'African century' and fostering exciting, innovative developments.