Water that works: how an alternative management model for rural water supply is proving its worth in Nepal

Anjil Adhikari Governance, Innovation, Water

Traditional models of managing drinking water have delivered progress – but where these are failing, we now need to look at alternatives, says Oxfam’s Anjil Adhikari. In a blog for World Water Day, he shares a new model that could deliver a significant boost to water system performance and governance in rural Nepal and beyond.

When the farm is gone – but the loan remains: how can we build climate-resilient microfinance?

Rita Abiodun Agriculture, Climate Change, Innovation

When floods destroyed one Pakistani farmer’s crops and income, they also destroyed her ability to get and repay the credit on which she, like millions of smallholders, depends. Rita Abiodun looks at a programme that offers much more protection from climate shocks to microfinance users.

How can INGOs shift power in partnerships to build climate resilience?

Jessica Valerani Climate Change, Innovation, Power Shifts

Convening, brokering and co-creating must be at the heart of how INGOs such as Oxfam work in future with urban communities to build resilience to climate shocks. Jessica Valerani introduces a new paper that draws lessons from a recent collaboration between communities, governments, the UN and Oxfam in south-eastern Africa.

How do you build a digital movement? Smart strategy, good stories – and make sure it is rooted in the real world

Marieke Meeske Active citizenship, Influencing, Innovation

Oxfam Novib staff on four lessons for digital activism, drawn from their “E-motive” peer-to-peer learning project that connected campaigners across borders.

Six things INGOs must do to fund local partners fairly

Dominic Vickers Innovation, Participation and Leadership, Power Shifts

Why are local organisations still missing out on funds for overheads that don’t just keep the lights on but are vital to their survival? Dominic Vickers reports back on a webinar that brought SIDA, UNHCR, Oxfam and Development Initiatives together to tackle the thorny problem of ICR, or Indirect Cost Recovery.

An ‘Uber’ app for cooks and cleaners? How tech is starting to change the lives of informal domestic workers

Fatema Tuz Johoora Innovation, Private sector, Women's Economic Empowerment

On International Domestic Workers’ day, Fatema Tuz Johoora and Tarek Aziz explain how gig economy apps can make Bangladesh’s invisible army of domestic workers visible, as well as offering new opportunities to help them claim their rights to better pay and conditions.

Compliance for INGO partners is riddled with colonial attitudes: here’s how that can change…

Dominic Vickers Governance, Innovation, Power Shifts

As international NGOs, we need to stop assuming partners are risky, respect local standards, accept we should prove ourselves as much as partners do, and slash the form-filling, says Oxfam compliance advisor Dominic Vickers. In fact, how about encouraging partners to apply for funds by video?