Activists call for revolution in ‘dated and colonial’ aid funding

Aspen Institute's New Voices want donors to exercise humility and trust those receiving grants to know what their communities need

Aid donors are being urged to revolutionise the way money is spent to move away from colonial ideas and create meaningful change.

Ahead of a two-day conference this week, activists from Africa, Asia and Latin America have called on public and private global health donors - including governments, the United Nations, private philanthropists and international organisations - to prioritise funding for programmes driven by the needs of the community involved, rather than dictated by preconceived objectives.