Reflections from SIDA’s Leaders Knowledge Exchange Forum (LKEF)
A blog from MD Rahman, SIDA member, LKEF member and Diaspora Group member.
Recently, I attended the Leaders Knowledge Exchange Forum, a new space hosted by Scotland’s International Development (SIDA) that brings senior leaders together to reflect, challenge, and share learning on issues shaping their leadership practice. In a sector often driven by urgency and outputs, this forum offers something essential: time and space for honest, critical dialogue.
During the forum, I shared insights from communities about the inequalities present in our sectors and organizations—inequalities that often go unnoticed but greatly influence real-world outcomes. These discussions are important because leadership choices are not made in a vacuum; they are part of systems, structures, and power relations that can either uphold or challenge inequality.
While I was reflecting on inequality within our organisations, Joanne Irvine (Design for Social Good) invited us to think deeply about power dynamics and the shift towards more participatory, community-based ways of working. She challenged the ingrained top-down relationships that persist—from donors to organisations, and from organisations to communities—and the paternalism that still quietly shapes much of our practice.
Emma Wood (STEKAskills) shared a powerful example of co-produced critical dialogue in Malawi, designed to address power imbalances and create braver spaces for people experiencing poverty to speak directly to those in positions of authority. Importantly, Emma encouraged leaders to bring their own examples of inclusive practice to future forums, reinforcing that learning in this space is collective, not performative.
Why this matters for leaders
When we talk about inequality, we often locate it “out there”—in communities, policies, or distant systems. What the forum highlighted is that inequality is also produced internally, through everyday practices:
- who gets invited into decision-making spaces
- whose knowledge is treated as expertise
- which voices are labelled “constructive” and which are seen as “difficult”
These dynamics are rarely about intention. They are about practice—about comfort, familiarity, and unchallenged norms.
In my experience working with communities, public institutions, and third-sector groups, I frequently observe that trust, access, and credibility are unevenly distributed. Communities are often asked to trust institutions right away, while the institutions tend to be cautious, risk-averse, and slow to reciprocate trust. Potentially, Leadership forums can serve as essential platforms that foster honest conversations and promote critical reflection. They are crucial because they provide spaces where inequalities can be acknowledged and challenged. These forums are not optional; they are vital for meaningful progress.
A space for responsibility and courage
What makes the Leaders Knowledge Exchange Forum valuable is that it does not offer easy answers. Instead, it invites leaders to sit with difficult questions:
- Who are these services really designed for?
- Who may be unintentionally excluded?
- Whose knowledge do we legitimise—and why?
- What assumptions are we making about trust, capacity, or risk?
This is not about blame. It is about responsibility and courage—the courage to acknowledge where our systems fall short, and the responsibility to lead differently.
If we are serious about reducing inequality globally, we must be equally serious about examining how inequality operates within our own sectors, organisations, and leadership practices. The Leaders Knowledge Exchange Forum offers a vital starting point for that work—and a reminder that meaningful change begins with honest reflection.
MD Rezaur Rahman, Leaders Knowledge Exchange Forum member and Member of Diaspora Group for Global Citizenship, SIDA.
The Leaders Knowledge Exchange Forum, started in October 2025, is a space where senior leaders come together to discuss and share about a topic which is vital to their leadership role. Our next forum meeting is coming up on 26th May 1-2.15pm online. For more information or to join the forum, see our Leaders Knowledge Exchange Forum page or contact our Knowledge Exchange Officer: kelly@intdevalliance.scot.
