The commons of the future

For the last 70 years, the NGO playbook has remained largely unchanged, but the world around us has shifted. How do we move beyond outdated models to truly empower the people we serve?

Joining me today are two pioneers pushing the envelope on that exact question: Eric Kaduru, leading digital and financial inclusion initiatives at CARE, and Darius Golkar—also known as Drew—the force behind Common Lands.

In this episode, we move past the buzzwords. We aren’t just talking about ‘innovation’; we’re talking about building a global Commons for identity, trust, and inclusion. We dig into why NGOs shouldn't be trying to build their own tech, but instead, acting as the 'evangelists' that bridge the gap between powerful tools and local community needs. We also tackle the hard questions: Why is the legal system failing the bottom billion, and how can we use decentralized infrastructure to let communities 'self-assemble' their own truth?

If you’ve ever wondered how to integrate cutting-edge tech like blockchain into humanitarian work without losing the human touch, or why the most effective solutions are often found right where you’re working, this is the episode for you.

Join us as we explore the art of the possible. Let’s get into it."-----Key Themes Included:

• The Humanitarian Reckoning: Addressing the need to move past post-WWII development models.
• The "Commons" Approach: Defining the concept of a shared, community-owned infrastructure.
• Tech as a Bridge, Not a Box: Why NGOs should prioritize sensitizing communities and using existing local tools rather than becoming bespoke software developers.
• The Reality of Inclusion: Addressing property rights, contracting, and how technology—when used correctly—can help the 'forgotten class' participate in the global economy.

Would you like me to refine the tone of this intro to be more casual, or perhaps create a social media blurb to promote this episode?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/erickaduru/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgolkar/

https://commonlands.org/

https://care.org/