Relational Capital

“In systems governed by relationships, truth is rarely neutral. It is relationally disruptive.” Introduction Across many African societies, relationships are not simply social assets. They are the operating system. Trust, loyalty, kinship, patronage and proximity often determine how decisions are made,...

“Not all decisions are signed. Many are simply nodded into existence.” November 30, (THEWILL) — In many African policy environments, formal governance structures sit atop a deeply relational foundation. On paper, reform requires memos, minutes, and majority votes. In reality,...

- “Access is not always empowerment. Sometimes, it is containment dressed as opportunity.” November 16, (THEWILL) — Across African institutions, from civil society and philanthropy to media, academia and policymaking, access is often described as a pathway to influence. Young...

‘The line between mentorship and gatekeeping is drawn not by intention, but by access.’ November 09, (THEWILL) — In African civil society, development, media, academia and even activism, mentorship is celebrated as a core value. Elders are expected to support...

“Networks can protect, or they can obscure. When power is unchecked, the very relationships meant to nurture change can shield harm.” November 02, (THEWILL) — In recent years, the world witnessed a global wave of reckoning around sexual harassment, abuse...

“The greatest obstacle to learning is what we think we already know.” The Relational Blind Spot International development institutions, donors and policy consultants often arrive in African countries with a playbook, one rooted in technocratic logic, universal metrics and formal institutional...

October 05, (THEWILL) — In Part One of this series, we explored how networks can either stall progress or scale reform, depending on how they are designed, governed, and mobilised. We looked at examples from across Africa: from Rwanda’s...

"Not every network is built to grow. Some are designed to protect power, not share it." The Double-Edged Sword of Networks In policy, advocacy and governance across Africa, networks are everything. Who you know, who knows you and who’s willing to...

- When systems forget people, people stop believing in them. August 31, (THEWILL) — We’ve all been there. A form that leads to another form, a phone call that ends in a dead-end or a waiting room-literal or digital-that seems...