Fundraising in times of scarcity: lessons from Geneva

This summer, I interned with Data for Change: The PARIS21 Foundation, a Geneva-based organisation that works to strengthen data systems in low- and middle-income countries, with a particular focus on Africa. In particular, they work closely with climate and gender data, two types of data that are under-captured and therefore difficult to work into policy.

Coming into this internship, I wanted to bridge my background in data strategy in the private sector with the world of international development.

The challenge with today’s aid landscape

My main role was to support the organisation’s fundraising efforts. Over the course of the summer, I evaluated potential donors, mapped their strategic priorities, and developed tailored proposals. I helped produce three project proposals: one on connecting climate journalism with national statistics, another one on building statistical literacy programs for youth, and one on a coordinated project with Swiss AI startups and the University of Geneva to develop innovative ways of sustaining trusted data for international organisations. I also worked on a proposal to the Canton of Geneva, which gave me a front-row view into Geneva’s economic strategy as it positions itself as a hub for innovation.

The experience was largely shaped by the broader reality of today’s international development landscape: massive funding cuts to foreign aid. NGOs are under pressure to do more with less, while competition for foundation grants has intensified.

This means that international organisations must necessarily innovate to remain efficient with fewer resources. But this brings us a chicken-and-egg situation:  how can we innovate ways to become operationally efficient without having funding to innovate?  

Collaboration and crowdsourced solutions

One answer is taking the time to build strong relationships. At Data for Change, I witnessed how partnerships are becoming essential. For example, we never work alone; we partner with AI startups in Zambia, with universities in Switzerland, with international organisations across continents, and with other innovative Swiss startups. Joint projects and pooled strategies, and resources are increasingly the norm.

During week two of my internship, I had the opportunity to come into the OECD offices in Paris, where our parent organisation PARIS21 is hosted. I had numerous conversations with my PARIS21 colleagues about how closely they work with national statistical offices across LMICs. Getting countries’ buy-ins on our work was also a key partnership we continue to maintain.

Looking ahead

This summer gave me a new perspective on the realities of international development, where we need to be more creative about how we collaborate and how we can make NGOs work better with less.

I worked with an amazing team that taught me so much about philanthropic proposal making and the broader Swiss-donor ecosystem, and that it really does take a village to thrive amidst the disruptions in the impact sector.

This internship experience was supported by the INSEAD Hoffmann Institute Impact Internship Stipend.