This blog originally appeared on Groundviews. Resilient is a word frequently used by human rights activists and the development sector, to describe persons affected by war and violence. In Sri Lanka, the mothers of the disappeared are praised for their resilience when they continue their struggle for justice despite intimidation and harassment. Women headed households labouring to eke out a living are spoken of admiringly for their resilience. The people of Kepapilavu in Mullaitivu are called resilient for refusing to abandon their demands for the return of their lands, which are occupied by the military. The ability of people, who have endured...

  In the face of COVID-19, 17 community foundations from across Romania came together to raise funds for vital public health services and vulnerable groups. They helped to secure and direct more than €1.8 million in essential medical equipment and emergency aid to vulnerable groups. At the outset of the pandemic, none had previous experience in medical procurement or health infrastructure, nor in being part of such a large-scale response. What the Romanian experience demonstrates is that large-scale results are often best achieved through strong cross-sector coordination, rather than from the isolated intervention of individual organizations. The GFCF invited George Gurescu of...