DEP Execution Sync Meeting: Partner Sharing - When Collaboration Goes Beyond Borders

One of the most meaningful parts of our Execution Sync Meeting was the Partner Sharing session — a space where we reflected on how collaboration truly happens across DAOs, communities, and sectors.

We were honored to hear from Mitch Menez (Sustainability & Partnerships Lead, Philippines) and Michael Bala (Manyatta Social Justice Center, Kenya), who shared powerful insights from their on-the-ground work. From building climate-resilient communities and reducing carbon emissions, to empowering local voices through social justice and education — their stories reminded us of one key truth:

✨ “𝑾𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.”

The discussion highlighted both opportunities and challenges in DAO partnerships:

• The importance of aligning timelines across countries and time zones
• The critical role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in connecting DAOs with local communities
• The need for inclusive participation, especially for those with limited digital access
• And the value of communication, trust, and long-term collaboration

As Michael shared, CSOs often serve as the bridge between communities and global initiatives, ensuring that voices from the ground are heard. Mitch echoed this by emphasizing how partnerships help ideas travel further — even beyond online spaces.

💬 The session concluded with a strong takeaway:
Partnerships shouldn’t stop at introductions. They grow through consistency, shared ownership, and mutual support.

We’re grateful to all our partners for walking this journey with us — and excited for deeper collaboration in the next phase of DEP. 🌱