#BEYONDAIDNARRATIVES
Rethinking Power, Agency, and Storytelling in Global Development
Narratives shape not just what we believe, but whose voices matter and what solutions gain attention. For too long, the prevailing stories in global development have been told about, rather than with communities. We are shifting this focus.
We ask critical questions:
Who frames the narrative?
Whose stories are centered, and whose are missing?
How do narratives impact power, funding, and policy?
Our approach to narratives goes beyond representation: it centers authentic community voices and critically examines who creates, controls, and benefits from the narrative. We focus on shifting from extractive to collaborative communication, narratives with, not about communities.
Ethical Imagery and Storytelling
visual media ETHICS
Communication Strategy
What We're Concerned About
Dominant development narratives can:
Reinforce harmful stereotypes portraying communities as passive, needy, or dependent
Erase local expertise ignoring lived experience and community driven solutions
Maintain unequal power by privileging voices and perspectives from the Global North
Shape funding and policy priorities in ways that sideline true local agency
