shitfing the power means recognising and addressing inequality in systems.

Inequality is something that is widespread and it's impact is falling heavily on the impoverished women , youth the and other marginalised groups.

I recognize this injustice and i have been working in my small way to correct it. By listening to women and the young people i have found that collective action enables them to address inequalities within themselves, within their families, and their communities and the world as a whole. Economic freedom is a factor that accelerates this process. Income generating endeavors also serves as a catalyst for organizing and collaboration .To be able to support this, Various Actors including government, donors, and civil society can address the systems of oppression by championing investment in gender-responsive public services, and supporting women and youths peer organising. Women and youth always face the roots of inequality in systems that always prevent Access to quality education, natural resources, and economic opportunities .

Shifting visible power is something that involves changing laws, changing systems and legislators. But the deeper change always require addressing all the invisible power. The internalised beliefs and traditions that shape all the policy choices and participation is a process that Enables cultural shifts within Society and various institutions Which gives power to the marginalised populations. Women and youth organisations, are often not involved in policy making processes. On the other hand, representatives of big businesses participate. To be able to address this requires being able to amplify voices and actions of women and youth. Which will enable them to influence decision makers and reclaim power. This is essentially shifting the power to enable change.

Methods with which we can shift power are?.

1.Investing in gender responsive public services-this means ensuring access to education, Health Care, Economic opportunities, which are designed to be able to meet the needs of women and youth, and other underepresented Sectors.

2.Supporting Peer Organising-this is the process of empowering women And the Earth's groups to collaborate and take collective action.

3.Amplifying voices-This involves process of creating platforms for women and youth to be able to challenge decision-making processes that affect them. 

4.Cultural shifts -this involves addressing and changing the internalized norms and beliefs that perpetuate inequality in the society as a whole and this involves all stakeholders.

5.Systemic approach- This involves recognising and addressing all the historical and systemic roots of inequality.

By focusing on these methods, we can shift power to women, to youth and we can enable them to destroy the structures that hold them back and create more equitable society.

It was in 2016 that the shift the power movement was birthed, it was a signal of change in the phylanthropy sector. Since then it has been 7 years and it  begs the question, has power really been shifted?. The main reason of this movement can distilled into two questions, Have funders changed their funding distribution, and practises that they have?. second, has the relationship between funders and those whom they support evolved for the better?.

If the power has truly shifted, we should be able to see more funding directed to marginalized communities and to women led organizations which are working to bring change in the grassroots.But this is not the case. This would involve tackling the root causes than merely treating the symptoms. Marginalised communities are often still and underfunded. To be able to genuinely shift power. Funders should be able to embrace humility, recognising that there is expertise within communities that they support.

This will involve defining expertise, risk and impact and putting the communities at the centre in decision making. Removing barriers to access, and supporting a culture that allows inclusivity.

Funders should recognise and focus on what communities value -connection, love, relationships, and purpose over traditional measures of success which exist. Shifting power means moving from a lens of  charity to a lens of Justice and to be able to recognise systemic inequality, embodying humility, acknowledging and recognising where true power lies which is not with the funders which is technically with the people. The goal is to transform the relationship between funders and communities ensuring that funders represent and are instrinsically linked to the commmunities they serve.

By Daniel kiprop Ruto