Projects
‘Fundermediaries’ Illustration for the Aid Chain in Nairobi, Kenya
Project
By representing the voice of communities, community-based organisations are increasingly joining development partnerships. This illustration explores the inherently contradictory relationship between the ‘inclusion of voices’ of marginalized communities and the politics of listening in development partnerships. This illustration explores the inherently contradictory relationship between ‘voice raising’ and the politics of listening. While academia has mostly focused on the inclusion of CBOs, few studies have approached this subject from the perspective of the listening practices of ‘fundermediaries’ (a portmanteau term combining ‘funder’ and ‘intermediary’). This ethnographic research on a CBO led by male sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya, illustrates that the listening ability of fundermediaries hinges on their position in the aid chain, and specifically on the dynamics of their own accountability. The analysis distinguishes between two partnership types. The first uses a pragmatic approach, which ultimately limits the channels for CBOs to be included and heard, resulting in them having to ‘make noise’ to ensure they are heard. The second creates more possibilities to listen, engages in constructive dialogues with partner CBOs, and includes the ideas and expertise of CBOs in development strategies; hence, CBOs feel heard and are positive about these partnerships. Improved listening practices facilitate opportunities to reconfigure the position of the different actors in development partnerships and can benefit both the positions of CBOs in the aid chain and the programmatic outcomes of fundermediaries.
Client
Lise is an Assistant Professor in the Sociology Department at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She is interested in inclusive knowledge production, and uses co-creative research methodologies to study gender, (sex) work, community organizing, and the international development aid system.
Lise Woensdregt, Assistant Professor in the Sociology Department at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
I loved working with RIVA, since Till and Fiammetta helped me to translate my research findings into comics that spoke to my interlocutors, who felt they accurately depicted their lives and experiences. I also notice that the comics continue have a continued impact. I am currently designing a new research project with them, and they have already suggested that we should use comics as a way to disseminate the research findings!
Artist
Till was born on Valentines Day 1991 in Berlin, Germany. Since then he spent a lot of time drawing comics and studied first at the University of Arts in Berlin, then at the University of the West of England in Bristol. He is the author of 4 books which have been translated into a number of different languages. My first two books Tuff Ladies: 24 Remarkable Women of History and Dur*e*s à cuire present the lives of 110 interesting historical figures whilst his second book “Something in the Water” is a scientific adventure story that he wrote and drew for ERC Comics. The story deals with crystallography and the origins of life. His fourth book is a coming of age story capturing the everyday life of a German teenager. He won the first prize at the Ligatura Pitching and the second prize at the Fumetto Comics competition.
