29. The Pledge for Change with Degan Ali

Embodying change: Transforming power, culture and well-being in aid organisations

In this episode Melissa Pitotti speaks with Degan Ali, the Executive Director of Adeso, about the story behind the Pledge for Change 2030. They explore the ways in which the process that led to the Pledge was informed by lessons learned from the Charter for Change and the Grand Bargain. They consider the need for brave leaders to have safe spaces to come together on tough issues - and for leaders to be evaluated on metrics of success other than “bigger is better.” They end with reflections on equitable partnerships and accountability mechanisms.

Degan Ali is Executive Director of the African humanitarian and development organisation Adeso, as well as co-founder of the first Global South civil society network for local and national humanitarian organisations, the Network for Empowered Aid Response (NEAR). She is a Rockefeller Foundation Global Fellow for Social Innovation, and a contributor to the Overseas Development Institute/Humanitarian Policy Group and Global Food Security journal. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Al Jazeera and The Guardian. Degan holds an M.A. in international service from University of Roehampton and a B.A. from Trinity College. She lives in Kenya and works with organisations across the Global North and South.

To learn more about the Pledge for Change 2030 check out:

- The Pledge for Change website: https://pledgeforchange2030.org/

- The launch of the Pledge on the New Humanitarian Podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/event-launch-of-the-pledge-for-change-2030/id1420089508?i=1000584624738

To learn more about the CHS Revision Process check out: https://corehumanitarianstandard.org/chs-revision

***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***