S03 Ep 02: Dawit

In this episode of Living Decoloniality, we sit down with Dawit Taddele Dessie. Dawit considers himself a person who works to promote sustainable change. Currently, his interest is mainly focused on the intersection between technology and development. Dawit shares insights on how he is engaging in reshaping philanthropy in East Africa. We'll dive into his work at Project Tech for Development, the role of tech-enabled solutions in nonprofit work, and his vision for decolonizing philanthropy through long-term sustainability, data-driven insights, and strategic partnerships. He emphasizes that true decolonization must begin with a shift in mindset, transforming the way we think before we can reshape systems and institutions
Sources:

• 3 ways to decolonize philanthropy right now, Geoffrey Thige, Jailan Adly
• Funders must reckon with the true motivations of philanthropy if they want to decolonise, Laura Somoggi and Shivani Gupta
• https://www.wildeganzen.org/
• https://kcdf.or.ke/
• Opinion: To truly walk the talk is to decolonize philanthropy

Dawit Taddele Dessie is a seasoned changemaker with over 15 years of experience driving transformative impact across diverse sectors. Currently, he is at the forefront of integrating technology into development through his role at Project Tech for Development, where he builds scalable and sustainable solutions, strengthens nonprofit tech capacity, and leverages open-source technology for the public good. Simultaneously, he serves as a strategic advisor to the East Africa Philanthropy Network, architecting an integrated ecosystem centered around three key pillars:

• Endowment/Pool Fund: Fostering long-term organizational sustainability through strategic fundraising and partnerships.
• Tech-Enabled Data Mapping Platform: Creating a comprehensive data-driven landscape of the East African philanthropic ecosystem.
• Technology Integration and Custom Tech Products: Empowering network members with innovative technology solutions to maximize impact.

A skilled collaborator, Dawit excels at building bridges between diverse stakeholders to drive systemic change. With a keen ability to identify opportunities and translate vision into action. Passionate about harnessing collective intelligence, he seeks collaborative partnerships to build a more equitable and sustainable future.

The transcript is here