Op-eds, research , thought pieces, and resources around decolonising our sector. There’s lots of ‘whys’ and plenty of ‘hows’ so pick a place to better understand the context and why we need to decolonise and shift power, with practical tools to get started.
Feel free to use my work, but please be responsible and credit me. When I’ve shared others’ work, I’ve attributed them (as above). For example, I use The Barefoot Guide’s incredible collection of artists for each post’s title images. Everything else you see here is my intellectual property and is copyrighted.
How can I support you? I create resources based on what I think is needed, hear from others, and what people tell me. So please reach out if you don’t see what you’re looking for here.
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What Makes our Work Decolonial?
The article reflects on the distinct nature of decolonial approaches in contrast to localisation and participation, emphasising the need for historical awareness and equity in addressing systemic injustices.
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Why Understanding Colonialism’s Legacy is Essential for Transformational Change
Decolonising our work is essential for transformative change in sectors shaped by colonialism. It involves understanding colonial legacies, centring local knowledge, reevaluating power dynamics, and committing to ongoing reflection, ultimately striving for equity and justice in global practices.
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The Differences Between Localisation and Decolonisation
Shifting power in social impact involves localisation, which transfers resources to local actors, and decolonisation, which dismantles systemic inequities. Both aim for equity, yet approach it differently, encouraging collaborative practices.
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Risks in Applying Decolonial Approaches
A quick overview of four of the most common risks I’ve seen organisations face in their journey to apply a decolonial lens to their work. It includes four ideas to mitigate against these risks, so you can start your journey informed by some important preconditions, and ways to do the work meaningfully.
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Decolonising Strategic Objective Setting
Decolonising organisational objectives involves inclusivity and participatory approaches, empowering local voices in decision-making. This ensures strategies reflect community needs and foster effective, sustainable initiatives.
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Hierarchies in Knowledge Production
The hierarchical structure prioritizing ‘Western’ knowledge in development undermines the value of traditional and indigenous systems. Embracing local knowledge fosters more effective, inclusive, and relevant development initiatives.
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Decolonising Knowledge Production
Decolonising knowledge production involves challenging Eurocentric dominance, centring local expertise, embracing diverse knowledge systems, and rethinking academic hierarchies to promote more inclusive and equitable development practices.
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Colonisation, Colonialism, Neocolonialism, and Coloniality
The concepts of colonisation, colonialism, neocolonialism, and coloniality are often used interchangeably, but they each carry distinct meanings and implications for our work. Understanding where they build off each other and where they diverge can help us design the best strategies to meet the right approach. Colonisation is a process where one nation or group…
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Challenging Eurocentrism
Eurocentric approaches perpetuate colonial legacies, shaping global power dynamics. Decolonisation requires understanding and dismantling these structures, fostering inclusive, participatory development rooted in diverse perspectives. Collective action is crucial for this transformative process.
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How to Validate Indicators using RADIQUAL Approaches
Validating indicators is essential to ensure thorough data collection and analysis and to maintain the high quality of your work. However, traditional approaches don’t capture the nuance and complexity of different social, economic, and cultural contexts. Here are some ideas using participatory, decolonial, intersectional, and inclusive approaches that can still enhance the relevance and effectiveness…
