Dependency Audits
Is Your Organization Reinforcing Dependency Without Realizing It?
Even organizations committed to localization can unintentionally create dependency through their organizational structures, funding models, partnerships, and programs. A Dependency Audit helps you examine those dynamics and identify where your organization can shift power toward greater local ownership and agency.
You Can’t Shift Dependency Without Examining Your Own Role in It
Organizations can be deeply committed to localization while still having structures that concentrate decision-making, resources, expertise, or authority in the Global North.
Discover the Dependency Dynamics in Your Organization
A Dependency Audit is a structured examination of the ways an organization may unintentionally create or reinforce dependency through its organizational model, partnerships, funding practices, decision-making, programs, and relationships with Global South partners.
The audit examines dependency within the partnership — not as a flaw in your partners, but as a dynamic shaped by the relationship. It looks at whether dependency exists and how your organization’s policies, practices, structures, and ways of working may have contributed to creating or reinforcing it.
What Does a Dependency Audit Look At?
Funding & Resource Flows
How funding is controlled, allocated, restricted, and ultimately affects the autonomy of Global South partners.
Organizational Model
How your structure, roles, authority, and internal decision-making shape the balance of power in your partnerships.
Partnership Practices
How agreements, expectations, communication, reporting, and accountability structures shape the relationship.
Decision-Making & Power
Who sets priorities, makes decisions, controls resources, and has the final say.
Programs & Support
Whether your programs and services strengthen local capacity and independence, or create ongoing reliance on your organization.
Organizational Policies & Practices
The policies, processes, and assumptions that may unintentionally reinforce unequal relationships.
Long-Term Dependency
Whether the relationship is building greater local ownership and organizational resilience over time—or making your partner increasingly reliant on outside support.
Knowledge & Expertise
Whose knowledge is valued, who is positioned as the expert, and how expertise is developed and shared.
We don’t simply identify whether dependency exists. We look at the systems and dynamics behind it. Our analysis helps your organization understand where dependency has developed, how your own policies and practices may have contributed to it, and where meaningful changes can begin.
How the Audit Works
Examine
We look at your organization’s structures, practices, and partnership model.
Identify
We identify patterns that may unintentionally reinforce dependency or concentrate power.
Reflect
Your team explores the underlying assumptions and systems contributing to those patterns.
Shift
You receive practical recommendations for strengthening local ownership, agency, and mutuality.
What You’ll Receive
In-Depth Dependency Audit Report
A detailed report of our findings, including the dependency dynamics identified within your organization and partnerships, the policies and practices that may be contributing to them, and areas where meaningful change may be needed.
Summary of Recommendations
A practical summary of the key recommendations emerging from the audit, giving your organization a clear starting point for making changes.
Facilitated Leadership Discussion
A facilitated discussion with your board, leadership team, or other designated group to review the findings, explore their implications, and begin identifying priorities for organizational change.
A Path Toward Localization Certification
Once your organization has had an opportunity to implement changes, you can complete Cultivate’s Localization Certification assessment. Organizations that demonstrate the required practices through the certification process receive formal recognition for their progress toward locally led organizational practice.
Designed for Organizations Ready to Look Inward
Especially organizations that:
Flexible Pricing for Your Organization
Every organization and partnership is different, so Dependency Audits are tailored to the size, structure, and scope of your organization. We work with you to determine an appropriate scope of work and pricing that fits your organization’s budget, with options designed to make the audit accessible to organizations of different sizes and resources.
Ready to Examine Your Organization’s Role in Dependency?
Whether you’re beginning your localization journey or have been working toward locally led development for years, a Dependency Audit can help you identify where your organization has opportunities to shift power and strengthen local ownership.