Community-driven change: demonstrating impact in Africa and India
Published on
6 April 2026
Originally published on bridgespan.org by Pritha Venkatachalam, Riti Mohapatra, Ntefeleng Nene, Aditi Sharma, Umang Manchanda, and Roger Thompson.
For decades, philanthropy and governments have practised a top-down approach to funding, treating the symptoms and not the root causes of the most pressing social issues. By contrast, community-driven change (CDC) is an approach that can lead to more lasting and equitable impact—it challenges funders and NGOs to reimagine how they work by shifting power and decision-making to the people they serve.
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Clean water, stronger communities
Today, collecting water takes only a few minutes for Edinah, and she no longer worries about whether it is safe to drink. Until a year ago, however, her family relied on a contaminated water source shared with grazing animals. The construction of a protected spring tank in partnership with RTV has improved access to clean water, reduced health risks, and freed up time for household and livelihood activities.
Building a future that feels possible
Sarah strengthened her household by improving farming, increasing vegetable production, saving, and starting new income-generating activities. She has also taken on greater leadership at home and in her community as chairperson of her savings group. Looking ahead, she plans to expand into poultry farming, grow her business activities, and continue investing in her children’s education.
Last-mile doesn’t mean last in line.
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Last-mile doesn't mean last in line. Every community deserves dignity and agency.