What role can private philanthropy play in post-conflict and post-authoritarian transitions? Why do these unique moments in history require a different level of creativity, flexibility and willingness to take risk? What are the biggest challenges on the ground and how can these be effectively anticipated and mitigated? These are the questions that will be addressed by this special feature. Guest editors are Mark Freeman of the Institute for Integrated Transitions, Barbara Ibrahim of the Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Hilary Pennington of the Ford Foundation.
The special feature includes a mix of articles and interviews reflecting different approaches to institutional grantmaking and social investment in transitions from Tom Carothers, Akwasi Aidoo and Ellen Friedman, among others; and local experiences and grantee insights regarding past and present transitions from Northern Ireland, the Arab region, South Africa, Sierra Leone and Colombia. There are interviews with Chris Stone, president of the Open Society Foundations, and Berghof Foundation chair Johannes Zundel; an article outlining the Norwegian government’s approach to transitions; and a write-up of a roundtable discussion that attempted to identify conditions that lead to success when intervening in transitions. The special feature is powerfully illustrated by the photos of Magnum war photographer Moises Saman.
The December issue of Alliance also includes Michele Fugiel Gartner and Daniel Overall questioning the clamour for ‘transformation’; articles on 20 years of community foundations in Central and Eastern Europe by Boris Strečanský, and on global community philanthropy by the Monitor Institute; and a look at the rise of strategic philanthropy and impact investing since Japan’s 2011 earthquake.
