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Kate Bird

The Power Shift: Decolonising Development

A Social Sciences , Science and Society & Culture podcast

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About the show

The Power Shift: Decolonising Development podcast brings together activists, practitioners and thinkers to join a wide-ranging conversation on decolonisation, where they share ideas and identify tools for practical action. If you’d like to know more about decolonising development – and what it means in practice, or you would love to change the way you do your work in the development sector, then this is the right place. 

Newest episodes

Trust-Based Philanthropy. Corey Oser & Effie Ansah Interviewed

53 min

In our latest episode we delve into the transformative power of grassroots organisations and the crucial role of trust-based philanthropy in fostering meaningful change. We interviewed Corey Oser, Vice President of Programs at the Global Fund for Children and Effie Ansah from Little Fish Theatre, who share their insights and experiences in navigating the complexities of funding and community engagement. Corey begins by outlining the mission of the Global Fund for Children, which focuses on empowering child and youth-centered organisations through flexible and unrestricted funding. This innovative approach allows organisations to allocate resources based on their unique needs and priorities, ultimately fostering a sense of autonomy and trust. Corey emphasizes that flexibility is not merely a luxury but a necessity for smaller, grassroots organisations, particularly those led by women and youth. Effie Ansah, a facilitator at Little Fish Theatre, adds depth to the conversation by sharing her experiences working directly with young people in various settings. She highlights the importance of arts-based opportunities in engaging youth and facilitating honest conversations about societal issues. Effie's work exemplifies how creativity can serve as a catalyst for personal and professional growth, enabling young individuals to explore their identities and express themselves authentically. Throughout the episode, the discussion touches on the findings of a recent impact study conducted by the Global Fund for Children. This research underscores the significance of trust-based relationships between funders and grassroots organisations. The study reveals that when organisations feel trusted and valued, they are more likely to take bold steps and innovate in their approaches to community engagement. Corey and Effie both talk about the challenges and limitations faced by grassroots organisations, particularly in securing funding that aligns with their missions. They advocate for...

Empowering Local Voices in Global Development. Niharika Srivastava Interviewed

43 min

In our latest episode, we interviewed Niharika Srivastava, an international development professional from India who specialises in evaluations and research. She has moved from the corporate world to impactful work in development and with a rich background in community theatre, economics and a passion for participatory learning, Niharika shares her insights on the critical role of context in development practices. She emphasizes that effective development work cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it requires a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities present in each context. Sharing her experiences across Africa and Asia she highlights the necessity of unlearning and relearning to ensure that solutions are tailored to the specific needs of communities. Niharika advocates for use of local knowledge and experiences in creating equitable and effective programmes that truly reflect the needs of those it aims to serve. Throughout the episode she shares practical steps for professionals in the sector, urging them to engage with local communities and understand the political economy that shapes development agendas. Her insights serve as a powerful reminder that at the heart of global development lies the need for collaboration, respect, and a commitment to social justice If you’re interested to find out more about Niharika Srivastava’s  work, take a look here: LinkedInInstagramA suggested reading for the audience: Reading “Big Aid Is Over” – Kevin Starr (SSIR, 2025)A provocative essay on why the era of large-scale donor-driven aid is ending. Starr argues that governments in the Global South must own and finance solutions that are affordable, scalable, and context-specific – challenging one-size-fits-all aid models and pushing forward  localisation and sustainability. Read here. Listening Interventions from the Global South (Podcast) brings together activists, community organisers, change makers, and intellectuals from/of the Global South to...

The power of community engagement in co-creating durable solution. Florence Ringe Interviewed

49 min

In this week’s episode, we interviewed Florence Ringe Executive Director of Prince of Peace Orphans and Widows Vision(POPOW), a grassroots organization working across Kaberamaido, Kalaki, and Amolatar Districts of Teso and Lango sub-regions in North Eastern Uganda.  Florence’s talks of the importance of engaging the community in understanding the unique needs of particular communities rather than imposing external solutions that might end up not being sustainable.  Education being a critical area of focus, Florence mentions challenges faced by children in accessing quality education. Many children walk long distances to school, and the infrastructure often fails to support their educational needs, but POPOW Uganda is working to promote safe learning environments and provide essential resources to families. Florence also shares inspirational stories of transforming the lives of young men involved in criminal behavior through sports and community service. By providing opportunities for positive engagement, the young men have become protectors of their communities, demonstrating the power of change when given the right support. If you’re interested to find out more about Florence Ringe’s work, take a look here: X (Twitter)FacebookTiktokYouTubeWebsiteA suggested reading for the audience: “Every story of hope and desired change blooms through the power of giving. Your selfless acts of kindness and generosity create a huge impact in the lives of the marginalized individuals. This is who we are as POPOW. It is a powerful reminder that we all have the ability to make a difference in the rural, unprivileged communities. Choose to show someone kindness today!”

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All episodes

Trust-Based Philanthropy. Corey Oser & Effie Ansah Interviewed

53 min

In our latest episode we delve into the transformative power of grassroots organisations and the crucial role of trust-based philanthropy in fostering meaningful change. We interviewed Corey Oser, Vice President of Programs at the Global Fund for Children and Effie Ansah from Little Fish Theatre, who share their insights and experiences in navigating the complexities of funding and community engagement. Corey begins by outlining the mission of the Global Fund for Children, which focuses on empowering child and youth-centered organisations through flexible and unrestricted funding. This innovative approach allows organisations to allocate resources based on their unique needs and priorities, ultimately fostering a sense of autonomy and trust. Corey emphasizes that flexibility is not merely a luxury but a necessity for smaller, grassroots organisations, particularly those led by women and youth. Effie Ansah, a facilitator at Little Fish Theatre, adds depth to the conversation by sharing her experiences working directly with young people in various settings. She highlights the importance of arts-based opportunities in engaging youth and facilitating honest conversations about societal issues. Effie's work exemplifies how creativity can serve as a catalyst for personal and professional growth, enabling young individuals to explore their identities and express themselves authentically. Throughout the episode, the discussion touches on the findings of a recent impact study conducted by the Global Fund for Children. This research underscores the significance of trust-based relationships between funders and grassroots organisations. The study reveals that when organisations feel trusted and valued, they are more likely to take bold steps and innovate in their approaches to community engagement. Corey and Effie both talk about the challenges and limitations faced by grassroots organisations, particularly in securing funding that aligns with their missions. They advocate for...

Empowering Local Voices in Global Development. Niharika Srivastava Interviewed

43 min

In our latest episode, we interviewed Niharika Srivastava, an international development professional from India who specialises in evaluations and research. She has moved from the corporate world to impactful work in development and with a rich background in community theatre, economics and a passion for participatory learning, Niharika shares her insights on the critical role of context in development practices. She emphasizes that effective development work cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it requires a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities present in each context. Sharing her experiences across Africa and Asia she highlights the necessity of unlearning and relearning to ensure that solutions are tailored to the specific needs of communities. Niharika advocates for use of local knowledge and experiences in creating equitable and effective programmes that truly reflect the needs of those it aims to serve. Throughout the episode she shares practical steps for professionals in the sector, urging them to engage with local communities and understand the political economy that shapes development agendas. Her insights serve as a powerful reminder that at the heart of global development lies the need for collaboration, respect, and a commitment to social justice If you’re interested to find out more about Niharika Srivastava’s  work, take a look here: LinkedInInstagramA suggested reading for the audience: Reading “Big Aid Is Over” – Kevin Starr (SSIR, 2025)A provocative essay on why the era of large-scale donor-driven aid is ending. Starr argues that governments in the Global South must own and finance solutions that are affordable, scalable, and context-specific – challenging one-size-fits-all aid models and pushing forward  localisation and sustainability. Read here. Listening Interventions from the Global South (Podcast) brings together activists, community organisers, change makers, and intellectuals from/of the Global South to...

The power of community engagement in co-creating durable solution. Florence Ringe Interviewed

49 min

In this week’s episode, we interviewed Florence Ringe Executive Director of Prince of Peace Orphans and Widows Vision(POPOW), a grassroots organization working across Kaberamaido, Kalaki, and Amolatar Districts of Teso and Lango sub-regions in North Eastern Uganda.  Florence’s talks of the importance of engaging the community in understanding the unique needs of particular communities rather than imposing external solutions that might end up not being sustainable.  Education being a critical area of focus, Florence mentions challenges faced by children in accessing quality education. Many children walk long distances to school, and the infrastructure often fails to support their educational needs, but POPOW Uganda is working to promote safe learning environments and provide essential resources to families. Florence also shares inspirational stories of transforming the lives of young men involved in criminal behavior through sports and community service. By providing opportunities for positive engagement, the young men have become protectors of their communities, demonstrating the power of change when given the right support. If you’re interested to find out more about Florence Ringe’s work, take a look here: X (Twitter)FacebookTiktokYouTubeWebsiteA suggested reading for the audience: “Every story of hope and desired change blooms through the power of giving. Your selfless acts of kindness and generosity create a huge impact in the lives of the marginalized individuals. This is who we are as POPOW. It is a powerful reminder that we all have the ability to make a difference in the rural, unprivileged communities. Choose to show someone kindness today!”

Unpacking how identity manifests in racialised bodies through feminist approaches. Kenza Ben Azouz interviewed.

33 min

In this week’s episode, we interview Kenza Ben Azouz, gender expert trained in feminist research and anthropology from Tunisia, and the newest addition to the Dev Hub team. Kenza tells us about feminist culture of care and the importance of rest in order to be able to reflect and act differently. Kenza draws on Black feminism and Global South feminist scholars to contextualise the complexities of intersectional identities. We also discuss imposter syndrome and how it manifests in racialised bodies.  Kenza also talks about her lived experience as a French Tunisian woman, and how race and identity interact in her self-perception and her activism. Kenza Ben Azouz is a gender expert trained in feminist research and anthropology from Tunisia. She has worked with various human rights and development organisations (both grassroots and international) across West and North Africa and South West Asia. Her work has mostly focused on gender-based violence, systemic racism, and structural development challenges. Kenza holds a BA in political science and philosophy from McGill University (Montreal, Canada) and a MA in social anthropology of development from SOAS University (London, UK). Kenza is also a Yoga teacher and contemporary dancer.  If you’re interested to find out more about Kenza's work, take a look here:  LinkedInRecent work: EuroMed Rights. 2024. Turning the tide – Key learnings and strategic path for navigating anti-gender backlash in the euro Mediterranean region. Human Rights Watch. 2022. “So What If He Hit You?” Addressing Domestic Violence in Tunisia.Recommended resources: Lorde, Audre. 1978. Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power.Lauter, Estella. 2006. “Audre Lorde's Refiguration of Eros,” Re-Visioning Creativity.Emergent Wisdom. Eros, Violence and the Body Without Organs (Podcast) Featuring Palestinian activist A'ida Shibli.Love and Philosophy. Paths of Power and Paradox with Minna Salami, author of sensuous knowledge.EISA Podcast. What is... Love and Care in...

Community-centred approach to humanitarian work. Rachel Kiddell-Monroe interviewed.

47 min

In this week’s episode, we talk to Rachel Kiddell-Monroe, founder of the SeeChange initiative, which seeks to take a stand in the humanitarian sector and centre communities in a decolonised approach. Rachel tells us about taking a community-centred approach to humanitarian work which is built around connection, engagement, co-design, and reflection. They have developed practical, open-source frameworks to incorporate the needs of the communities they work with. Rachel emphasises the importance of not only personal reflection, but also taking a stand and speaking up in spaces of privilege, acknowledging that there is a risk. Rachel Kiddell-Monroe is an activist, lawyer, and humanitarian who has worked for many years in leading positions for Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).She also founded the student-led group Universities Allied for Essential Medicines and is a Professor of Practice at McGill University in Montreal, Canada where she leads a course on Decoloniality and Humanitarian Action.  In 2018, Rachel founded SeeChange, a Canada-based social purpose organization that works to impact humanitarian organizations to shift to a more community-centered approach, contributing to a decolonization of the sector. SeeChange and MSF cooperated on a successful 'CommunityFirst' pilot project in which MSF teams co-created health strategies with affected communities in several countries.  SeeChange also uses this community-centered approach in its work with Inuit communities in the Canadian Arctic region, where the organization supports TB and mental health initiatives that are co-created with the community. In recognition of her work in this field, Rachel was appointed an Ashoka Fellow in 2023. If you’re interested to find out more about SeeChange, take a look here: WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitter (X)SubstackRecommended resources: SeeChange’s CommunityFirst Tools CommunityFirst FrameworkParticipatory Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Le...

Oral traditions and collective healing through language and culture. Tija Andriamananjara interviewed.

33 min

In this week’s episode, Tija speaks to us about oral traditions, reparative justice, the violence of colonisation, and how that generates intergenerational harms. We talk about the erasure of culture, the loss of language, and the role of storytelling, song, and intergenerational love and joy as part of the healing process. Tija emphasises the role of culture in addressing mental health and the intergenerational trauma of colonisation. We discuss the importance of storytelling to sustain oral history and keep the languages of colonised countries alive. Tija offers us a hopeful way forward for collective healing from the intergenerational harms of colonisation. Tija Andriamananjara is a trauma informed senior social worker from Madagascar joining us from St Paul, Minnesota (US). Her experience and background include education, child development, mental health and human services. She was a visiting educator in Madagascar at a local NGO helping children and women facing domestic violence. Her graduate studies focused on social justice and reconciliation. Her graduate practicum included working with a 3-aged group of Native American kids, youth and women. Tija published 2 children’s books with songs solely in Malagasy in late 2023 and lastly in October of this year to promote her mother tongue and familial connections through reading at home.  If you’re interested to find out more about Tija’s work, take a look here: LinkedInSoaSoa LinkedInRecent work: "Mahaliana ny Mianatra" {In Awe of Learning}"Kintana Mamiratra" {StarShine}Podcast episode about traumaRecommended resources: Decolonizing Therapy - Jennifer Mullan PsyDMy Grandmother's hands - Resmaa MenakemHealing the Soul Wound - Eduardo DuranMitaraina ny tany - Andry Andraina, 1979Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence - Judith Herman, 1992 The Ancestor Syndrome - Anne Ancelin Schutzenberger, 1998The Myth of Normal - Gabor Maté, September 2022The Wild Edge of Sorrow - Francis Weller, September 2015Healing Coll...

Decolonisation as a systemic approach. Silvester Kasozi interviewed.

43 min

In this week’s episode, we speak to Silvester Kasozi from Light for the World Uganda about the systemic approach they have implemented to decolonise the way they work. Silvester speaks about the importance of involving all departments of the organisation in their approach to decolonisation, especially driving the change locally from their country offices. We discuss the challenges in putting a system in place that responds to the needs of the organisation as a whole.  We talk about putting a strategy in place to approach decolonisation in multilayered ways and interrogate the issue from different perspectives. Silvester speaks of a vision for the development and humanitarian space which is founded on respect, equity, and the decentering of knowledge, where knowledge is valued regardless of its origin. Silvester Kasozi is a humanitarian and development practitioner, a sociologist by training, and currently the country director of Light for the World Uganda, an organisation that works to spark lasting change for disability rights and eye health in sub Saharan Africa. He's also the co chair for the organisation's Decolonisation Working Group and disability inclusion enthusiast. If you’re interested to find out more about Silvester's work, take a look here: Light for the World FacebookLight for the World Twitter / XLight for the World YouTubeLight for the World LinkedInRecommended resources: Organisational Decolonisation Action Plan | VIDEAACFID - Wielding and Yielding Power ToolkitMSF video on Anti-RacismAfrica is not a country

Addressing violence against women through community-grounded research. Dr Romina Istratii interviewed.

55 min

In this week’s episode, we talk to Dr Romina Istratii, who tells us about the DLDL project, which takes an interdisciplinary approach to looking at domestic violence and religious communities. We speak about co-created research which then feeds back into knowledge production and good practices in the West. This challenges Eurocentric norms around knowledge production by reversing the knowledge transfer as a way to shift power. Romina centres the importance of identity and positionality in situating decolonisation efforts, and points at humility and reflexivity as key principles of co-created and community-grounded research. Dr Romina Istratii is UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at the School of History, Religions and Philosophies at SOAS University of London. She is an interdisciplinary researcher, scholar and practitioner working across international development, gender studies, religion and theology, psychology and anthropology to address societal challenges with gender dimensions. She currently leads and manage a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship of £1.2 million in Ethiopia and the UK that responds to domestic violence in religious communities working through an interdisciplinary, decolonial and innovative partnerships model with government, NGOs and grassroots groups. For the past 13 years, she has worked in development-oriented research to promote epistemological reflexivity, ethical research practices and healthy partnerships and collaboration models. She have led numerous initiatives within and beyond the university, having initialised the Decolonising Research Initiative under the aegis of the SOAS Research Directorate and in 2020, and co-founded Decolonial Subversions in 2020. She is the author of the monograph Adapting Gender and Development to Local Religious Contexts: A Decolonial Approach to Domestic Violence in Ethiopia (Routledge, 2020). If you’re interested to find out more about Romina's work, take a look here: Dr Romina Istratii | LinkedInDr Romina Istrati...

Building trust and flexible partnerships driven by local actors. Shilpa Alva interviewed.

32 min

In this week’s episode, we talk to Shilpa Alva about Surge for Water’s model of partnership with community led organisations to address the global water crisis. Shilpa speaks about the importance of building trust and elevating the voice of community led organisations. Shilpa tells us about centering the social context and cultural norms of the communities they partner with to establish long term relationships. We also talk about maintaining an open dialogue with local partners and creating a flexible space for partnerships to change driven by the local partners’ vision. We speak about partnership models that make space for a responsible exit strategy that generates long-term revenue for local organisations. Shilpa is the founder and Executive Director of Surge for Water, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the cycle of poverty through access to safe water and sanitation solutions. Since its founding 15 years ago, Surge has impacted hundreds of thousands of lives across 12 countries. Shilpa’s journey didn’t start in the International Development World. After graduating from Johns Hopkins University with a Chemical Engineering degree, she joined the corporate world and earned her MBA from the University of Minnesota. After a successful corporate career, she made the choice to transition to running Surge full time. If you’re interested to find out more about Shilpa’s work, take a look here: Surge for Water websiteSurge for Water LinkedInSurge for Water InstagramSurge for Water TwitterShilpa Alva LinkedIn 

Putting Africa-centric development into practice. Leslie Mudimu interviewed.

22 min

In this week’s episode, we talk to Leslie Mudimu, a participant from Cohort 2 of our Skill Share Programme on Decolonising Development. We discuss what Afrocentric development could look like, and how decolonisation and localisation is perceived and understood in the African academic context. Leslie speaks about her experience as a Zimbabwean academic studying in South Africa, and the mobilisation that occurred around the Rhodes Must Fall movement. We speak about how the decolonising call for transformation has been taken up in the African continent, and how the localisation agenda can be implemented. Driven by a passion to understand and find solutions to Africa's developmental issues, Leslie is a Development and Systems Change Consultant. She has a multi-disciplinary background in the Humanities, particularly the Social Sciences, which enables her understanding of complex social problems. Her academic research was on the inclusion of women in transitional processes and governance in Zimbabwe. Her expertise is aligned with decolonisation and transformation efforts and the representation and inclusion of women. Beyond working in the international development space, Leslie is a Founder of a mentorship network for Humanities students in Zimbabwe and South Africa. If you’re interested to find out more about Leslie’s work, take a look here: LinkedInEmail: leslie@pamnmentors.comRecent work: Decolonising Development conversation with Dr PZJ BimhaMentorship Network WebsiteRelevant resources: Australian Council for International Development (2023) Yielding and Wielding Power Toolkit.

Operationalising equitable compensation through principles of fairness and transparency. Kim Kucinskas and Ishbel McWha-Hermann interviewed.

50 min

In this week’s episode, we speak to Kim Kucinskas and Dr. Ishbel McWha-Hermann about equity in compensation and fair reward in international development organisations. We talk about the Equitable Compensation Playbook, which organisations can use as a benchmark to reflect on their approaches to compensation, as well as Project Fair. Kim and Ishbel tell us about equitable compensation as being rooted in challenging Western ideologies around pay. The discourse around decolonisation and shifting power is also being integrated into conversations around compensation and power and value. We dive into the specifics of operationalising change in equitable compensation and pay in INGOs in the development and humanitarian sectors. Kim Kucinskas is the Technical Director, Organizational Transformation at Humentum, a global nonprofit that unlocks the strategic power of operating models for social good organizations. She helps individuals and organizations who are on a journey towards greater equity identify,  understand, and operationalize transformation. Kim’s priority is to support individuals to be more effective in their work and organizations to be prepared for the future. To achieve results, she creates connections between strategy and practical operations by building networks, facilitates co-creation, and supports organizations through consultancies. This is the case with the TIME (Transforming INGO Models for Equity) initiative, a case study in action of power shift where Kim acts as Project Director. In another example of connecting the dots between strategy and practical solutions, Kim led an 18-months long compensation working group of nonprofit compensation practitioners, which resulted in the co-created Equitable Compensation Playbook. Dr. Ishbel McWha-Hermann is an Associate Professor in international HRM at the University of Edinburgh Business School, Scotland. She uses psychological research to enhance social justice and fair reward in organisations, particu...

Enacting an individual and collective Pledge for Change. Kate Moger and Sidhee Patel interviewed.

28 min

In this week’s episode, we talk to Kate Moger and Sidhee Patel from Adeso’s Pledge for Change initiative. The three pledges focus on equitable partnerships, authentic storytelling, and influencing wider change. The Pledge consists of a community of 13 INGOs who commit to working towards the shared objectives. They talk about the importance of making public commitments to change both individually as leaders and collectively on behalf of organisations.  We discuss the abundance mindset when it comes to situating new initiatives and projects in the international development space, and the importance of contributing resources and knowledge. Kate Moger is Global Director of Pledge for Change. Prior to joining Adeso in July 2023, Kate spent over two decades working in humanitarian contexts, most recently as IRC’s Regional Vice President for the Great Lakes and Central Africa, supporting Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania. Previously she was IRC’s Deputy Regional Director for West and Central Africa and Country Director in Mali. Between 2003 and 2013, Kate held a variety of leadership roles with Save the Children in South Sudan, DRC, and Cote d’Ivoire, having begun her humanitarian work in protection services with refugee and asylum-seeking children in the UK. She gained development and peacebuilding experience with Sense International and International Alert, before which she taught English in Japan, and established a start-up travel agency in Russia. Sidhee Patel works as a Program Officer for the Pledge for Change 2030 Initiative. She previously worked in administrative support, but she is now actively learning and navigating the humanitarian and development program sector. Sidhee has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and has recently completed the 1st cohort of the Development Hub's Skill Share Program: Decolonizing Development and Humanitarian Action. She is dedicated to social justice and...

Co-design, care and solidarity in social impact research projects. Jess Oddy interviewed.

37 min

In this week’s episode, we talk to Jessica Oddy, founder and director of Design for Social Impact Lab (DFSI) about applying an equity-centred intersectional lens to social impact projects. We talk about the importance of co-design centred around care and solidarity throughout the entire project cycle. Jess talks about having a systems thinking approach which engages with a community’s history and context in order to develop a project. A systems thinking approach facilitates mutual learning, where all actors stand to gain knowledge and insight from a project. We talk about re-centering research around the people who have lived experience of structural inequity, and ensuring they are centred as experts. Jess is the founder and director of Design for Social Impact Lab (DFSI), a social enterprise that supports organisations and practitioners design equity-centred programmes, policies, research and learning through training and coaching.  Jess started her career as a teacher, before spending 13 years as an education in emergencies practitioner. She recently completed her PhD, focusing on colonial legacies in youth education. She is a guest lecturer at the University of East London's MA Social Research for Social Action, where she teaches critical participatory research approaches and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Bristol, focusing on anti-racism in education. If you’re interested to find out more about Jess’ work, take a look here: LinkedinWebsiteAcademic researchResearch Design for Social Impact course launches 24th of May. Click here to sign up. We offer purchase parity payment/location based pricing, so please use the location-based code if needed.Design for Social Impact mission and values Free Guide to embedding Anti-Oppressive principles in your research design for social impactRelevant resources: Marchais, G., Bazuzi, P., & Amani Lameke, A. (2020). ‘The data is gold, and we are the gold-diggers’: whiteness, race and contemporary academic research in ea...

Ubuntu and African Humanist Leadership approaches. Faye Ekong interviewed.

35 min

In this week’s episode, we talk to Faye Ekong about management approaches to leadership which are rooted in African experience. Faye tells us about the absence of African approaches represented in mainstream management and leadership. Faye Ekong introduces us to African Humanism, which embodies dignity, social harmony, coexistence and community. We talk about the importance of understanding historical, social, and cultural contexts within organisational policy, instead of importing a prescriptive Western model. We also discuss the discriminatory assumptions around compensation and legitimacy for service providers from the Majority World (or Global South).  Faye highlights approaches which are grounded in humility, inquiry before judgement, and courage over comfort. Faye is the managing director of RWA. She has over 15 years’ experience in human resource management, organisational design, learning and development, coaching and employee engagement programs including at the executive level. She has worked with a range of global stakeholders such as government agencies, private sector corporations, and non-profit entities in Africa, Europe, Asia and North America. She is certified by the Society of Human Resource Management as a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM - SCP) Motto: “Growth begins at the end of our comfort zone!” If you’re interested to find out more about Faye Ekong’s work, take a look here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faye-ekong/Faye Ekong – Ravelworks Africa Ravelworks AfricaRecent work: Embracing Ubuntu Leadership: Insights From Africa’s Informal Sector | HumentumRelevant resources: Mungi Ngomane (2019) Everyday Ubuntu, Transworld Digital.GLOBE Project - The GLOBE researchers developed the Culturally Endorsed Leadership Theory (CLT) that posits the importance of leadership being anchored in the social and cultural markers and nuances of a given context.Johann Broodryk (2005) Ubuntu Management Philosophy, Knowres Pub.Lerutla, M. and Steyn,...

Circular cooperation, dignity, and listening: reframing international aid. Jonathan Glennie interviewed.

36 min

In this week’s episode, we talk to Jonathan Glennie, co-founder of Global Nation, about the insufficiency of global aid as a response to current global affairs. Jonathan introduces the idea of ‘global public investment’ in order to address aid reliance through a new form of accountability. We also talk about circular cooperation as a system in which all entities involved respond to the possibility of learning from each other. Jonathan speaks about the importance of dignity, listening, and ownership in aid projects, which are often overlooked in favour of material impact and development indicators. He advocates for “development with dignity”. Jonathan Glennie is a writer, researcher, campaigner and consultant on sustainable development, inequality and poverty. He recently co-founded a new thinktank, Global Nation, which recently published a report on global solidarity. His work examines the changing nature of international cooperation, as dominant paradigms and global economic relationships evolve.  Jonathan has held senior positions in several international organisations, including Ipsos, Save the Children, ODI and Christian Aid and helped set up The Guardian‘s Global Development website, for which he was a regular columnist. As a consultant, he has worked with governments, international agencies and civil society organisations as they renew their strategies for a new era. Jonathan’s latest book, The Future of Aid: Global Public Investment, was published by Routledge in 2021. He lives with his family in Colombia. If you’re interested to find out more about Jonathan’s work, take a look here: LinkedInTwitterGlobal NationRecent work: Global Nation (2023) Global Solidarity Report 2023.Global Public Investment Network (2023) Time for Global Public Investment.Glennie, J. (2020) The Future of Aid, Routledge.Glennie, J. (2010) The Trouble with Aid, Zed Books.Relevant links: Damluji, H. (2021) The Responsible Globalist, Penguin Books.Sen, A. (2000) Development as Freedom, K...

Donor-funded development research: ethics and epistemic violence. Yacine Ait Larbi interviewed.

43 min

In this week’s episode, we speak to Yacine Ait Larbi about the critique he and Sarah Edgcumbe present in a two-part blog on paid-for development research. They outline the competing expectations of consulting companies who often value quick and relevant research outputs over research that is in-depth, reliable, well-grounded and ethical, due - in part - to time and resource pressures.  We speak about development research being interest-driven rather than values-driven, and the consequences this has on ‘local’ research teams, the communities in which research is conducted and the way in which research findings are disseminated.  Yacine talks about the clash of cultures between donor research agendas and community needs, where donor research often reproduces power dynamics and enacts epistemic violence. Yacine Ait Larbi is a Ph.D. Candidate and a member of the Political Sociology program group at the AISSR of the University of Amsterdam. With over five years of experience in migration research, he has collaborated with international organisations like IOM and engaged in short consultancies. His research spans return and reintegration, forced displacement, and labour migration in various regions including France, North Africa, and the East and Horn of Africa. Yacine is passionate about discussions on decolonization, post-colonial migration, and social transformation. Additionally, Yacine provides part-time operational and logistical support for project management at ODI. Over the past year and a half, he has contributed to projects totaling £3.9 million in funding by organisations such as SIDA Mali, AFD, GIZ, and the African Development Bank. Find out more about Yacine’s work, here: Yacine’s research profileTwitterLinkedInRelevant resources: Larbi, Y., and Edgcumbe, S. (2023a) Development for profit: The commercialisation of research? Blog. New Thinking. Larbi, Y., and Edgcumbe, S. (2023b) Development for Profit: Rethinking Research Practice. Blog. New Thinking.

Driving organisational change starts with conversations. Ajoy Datta interviewed.

33 min

In this week’s episode, Ajoy Datta talks to us about organisational change, leadership development, and policy, advocacy and influencing. Ajoy tells us about promoting change within an organisation with a focus on difference and diversity. He focuses on an “unconventional” approach which highlights the complexity in working relationships and makes space for emotions.  Working alongside people to unlock their knowledge and transform their conversations is part of the action learning approach for organisational change that Ajoy speaks about. When thinking about decoloniality, this approach means interrogating the ways in which coloniality is being reproduced in daily life. Ajoy is a freelance consultant specialising in two areas: The first is organisational change and leadership development: Here he works with leaders, teams, organisations and networks taking an approach which combines psychodynamics, systems and complexity.  The second is policy advocacy or influencing. Here he informs, designs and evaluates work to influence policy and practice drawing on studies of the policy process, political economy approaches and outcome mapping. If you’re interested to find out more about Ajoy’s work, take a look here: Personal website: www.ajoydatta.com (soon to be updated)Linkedin and TwitterShorter articles about organisations, policy influencing, partnerships can be found on the following platforms:Substack | Medium | OTT Longer form publications can be found on ResearchgateRelevant resources: Chris Mowles has blogs on medium and wordpressUniversity of Hertfordshire's Complexity and Management CentreVideo showing a murmuration of starlings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dedVszDI9aE Doing DevelopmentDifferently and Thinking and Working PoliticallyTheory as Liberatory practice by Bell Hooks: https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/yjfem4&div=6&id=&page= Systems psychodynamics thinking: https://tavistockconsulting.co.uk/approach-systems-psychodynamic-thi...

Reimagining the role of the INGO through community building and shared learning. Nancy Kankam Kusi (WACSI) interviewed.

25 min

In this week’s episode, we speak to Nancy Kankam Kusi from West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) about their focus on advocacy, influencing, and facilitating an enabling environment for civil society organisations across West Africa and beyond. Nancy talks to us about the importance of knowledge sharing on issues of decolonisation and localisation, and how WACSI facilitates spaces for fruitful discussions across the sector. The Decolonising Advisory Community at WACSI provides support to organisations in the Global South in decolonising their practice. They focus on community building and shared learning in order to come up with collective strategies to reimagine the role of INGOs and influence policy in the long term. Nancy Kankam Kusi is Program Officer of Knowledge Management at the West African Civil Society Institute in Ghana. Nancy also leads a diverse team of civil society actors to initiate and implement international development programs that promote community philanthropy, shifting power and resources to the grassroots, localising and decolonising development initiatives in the Global South. She's also a member of the RINGO Project and the initiator of the Decolonising Advisory Community. If you’re interested to find out more about Nancy’s work, take a look here: Nancy Kankam Kusi LinkedInYou can connect and join the Decolonising Advisory Community Platform hereWatch the launch of the Decolonising Advisory Community platform hereGet to know about the work of WACSI hereConnect with her via email on info@wacsi.org and on all social media handle Read more about RINGO hereRINGO innovationRINGO Funders action podRINGO INGO board action podRelevant resources: Pledge for Change (Adeso)Participatory Grant-Making: Transform Trade in Alliance MagazineUganda National NGO ForumA Red Cross Red Crescent guide to community engagement and accountabilityGlobal Fund for Community FoundationsDecolonisation of aid in francophone sub-SaharanLocalisation agenda

Insights from feminist organising for decolonisation initiatives. Alba Murcia and Kate Bird in conversation.

15 min

In this week’s episode, Alba Murcia and Kate Bird (The Development Hub) explore the findings from their research paper on feminist organising and decolonial initiatives. We talk about the work that feminist organising has developed in terms of understanding power and positionality, adopting an intersectional approach, and embracing diverse knowledges and value systems. The paper features thematic case studies which focus on  bodily autonomy, land rights, and territorial integrity across the Majority World. We also highlight feminist organisations which are engaging in anti-racist and decolonial strategies, such as Womankind Worldwide, CREA and IWRAW AP. We discuss the importance of valuing diverse voices, questioning whose voice is in the room, and working at the community level to articulate power.  Alba Murcia is a Consultant at the Development Hub. She is interested in the intersection of decolonial feminism and resistance in Latin America, with a particular focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights and LGBTQ+ rights. Kate Bird is Director of The Development Hub, Professor of Practice at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Surrey, Senior Research Associate with ODI and Associate with the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network. She brings over 25 years experience to her work designing and leading multidisciplinary research, training and advisory work. If you’re interested to find out more about their work, take a look here: Alba Murcia LinkedInKate Bird LinkedInThe Development Hub LinkedInThe Development HubRecent work: The Development Hub (2023) Challenging global power asymmetries: Insights from feminist organising for decolonisation initiatives

Reflecting on personal journeys and lessons learned at The Development Hub. Nompilo Ndlovu and Kate Bird in conversation.

27 min

In this week’s episode, Nompilo Ndlovu and Kate Bird, co-conveners of The Development Hub’s Skill Share Programme, reflect on their journeys so far within The Development Hub.  We discuss the lessons learned from the 5-day immersion programme, and highlight the depth of discussions and diversity of shared experiences throughout the sessions. We also reflect on the reasons behind the majority of participants being women from the minority world, and how to address this disparity for future programmes. We talk about the launch of the Skill Share Programme, which begins next Monday February 19th, and will provide participants with 6 weeks of structured content on personal transformation, working together across international teams, partnerships and organisational change, and finally, ecosystem transformation. Stay tuned for the following run of the programme! Kate Bird is Director of The Development Hub, Professor of Practice at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Surrey, Senior Research Associate with ODI and Associate with the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network. She brings over 25 years experience to her work designing and leading multidisciplinary research, training and advisory work. Dr. Nompilo Ndlovu  is a Senior Associate at The Development Hub. She is a gender expert and specialist in marginalisation, exclusion and intersecting inequalities. She is an oral historian with over 10 years’ experience applying gender frameworks to her work with communities in South Africa, and elsewhere in Africa. Her Ph.D. (Historical Studies) focused on mass violence, memory and local transitional justice initiatives in post-colonial Zimbabwe. Her wider research interests include socio-economic-political relations (with a focus on exclusion and marginalisation), conflict, peace, trauma, restorative justice and leadership. If you’re interested to find out more about their work, take a look here: Kate Bird LinkedInNompilo Ndlovu LinkedInThe Developme...

Decolonising consultancy: building a rooted network of ethical values-driven consultants. Kate Newman (INTRAC) interviewed.

44 min

In this week’s episode, we talk to Kate Newman, INTRAC CEO, about the organisation’s shift in order to respond to the changes happening in the international development sector. She talks of realising that rather than exclusively responding to each organisation’s needs, they realised they could be more impactful by taking on an ecosystem approach. INTRAC’s goal is to build a network of ethical values-driven  consultants, where local context and lived experience is prioritised. This strengthens civil society and promotes locally-led development, as well as empowering consultants within their work. Kate also speaks about understanding decolonisation as a verb, as well as a commitment to processes of critical reflection, learning and unlearning. Kate has worked in international development for over 25 years, as part of local civil society in Mexico, for large international NGOs (ActionAid and Christian Aid), as an independent consultant and an academic; she joined INTRAC as CEO in April 2022.  Throughout all these roles she has championed the importance of participatory and rights-based approaches; focused on understanding and shifting power, listening to, and learning from the knowledge, insights, perspectives and aspirations of people living in poverty, collaborating to ensure these knowledges are influential for development policy and practice.  She describes herself as a feminist and anti-racist and works to ensure her leadership approach builds from these commitments. If you’re interested to find out more about Kate’s work, take a look here: FacebookTwitter / XINTRAC LinkedInKate’s LinkedInRelevant resources: Kate’s INTRAC staff profileA reflection on 2023 from the Chief ExecutiveDecolonising consultancy: framing the discussionBlog on ethical and values driven consultancyDecolonising consultancy – panel event

Decoloniality as a way of being, and why language matters. Allan Moolman interviewed.

42 min

In this week’s episode, we talk to Allan Moolman, a South Africa-based staff member of a leading INGO, who tells us about his organisation's development of a decolonial partnership strategy. We focus on the power relations present in language, resource allocation, and local decision-making. The decolonial partnership strategy questions the internal power structures present within its organisational structure and procedures, as well as externally looks at relationships with the partners who locally deliver projects. Allan Moolman understands decolonial practice as “a way of being in the world”, rather than a goal to complete and move on. He emphasises the importance of community, building space to engage new ideas, and questioning language hierarchies in development projects. Allan is currently the Interim Head of Partnerships for Oxfam GB with the responsibility for the implementation of the Oxfam GB decolonial Partnerships Strategy. He has worked for Oxfam since 2007 in a number of roles including that of Country Director in South Africa (his country of origin) and as Head of Programme is Tanzania. Prior to joining Oxfam, Allan worked in a number of local non-governmental and community based organisations in South Africa. Allan’s work in programme design, management and strategy has always included a strong emphasis on power and the need to transform power relations at the interpersonal, organisational and sectoral level. He holds no formal qualifications in development. If you’re interested to find out more about Allan’s work, take a look here: LinkedInX (Twitter)Relevant resources: Duvisac, S. (2022) Decolonize! what does it mean?, Oxfam.Green, D. (2020) How to decolonise International Development: some practical suggestions, Oxfam: From Poverty to Power.Oxfam GB (2023) Inclusive Language Guide, Oxfam Policy & Practice.MST Brazil (Landless Worker’s Movements):  https://www.mstbrazil.org/content/what-mst

Tackling extreme poverty through locally led development at BRAC. Asif Saleh interviewed.

43 min

In this week’s episode, Asif Saleh speaks about BRAC as an INGO based in Bangladesh, which delves into understanding the underlying structural causes of poverty. Their work has focused on addressing the most pressing issues in a way that generates long-term stability. Asif talks about circular learning and flows of knowledge which disrupt Global South/Global North dynamics. BRAC emphasises the scalability of models so that they can be applied to a variety of contexts focused on keeping costs low and engaging the community. We discuss the need to build capacity of Southern-based organisations, especially for climate change adaptation.  Asif Saleh is the Executive Director of BRAC. He brings a multi-sectoral experience in senior leadership roles in private, public, and non-government arenas, with a proven track record of effectively managing development programming, operational and financial sustainability, and building effective partnerships. Prior to joining BRAC, he was a policy specialist for the Prime Minister’s Office’s Access to Information (A2i) programme. He spent 12 years in Goldman Sachs in different fin-tech roles and institutional client sales in New York and London, ending his term there as an Executive Director. He has also worked in Glaxo Wellcome, IBM and Nortel. He is a non-resident fellow at the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C. Mr Saleh chairs BRAC IT Services Limited, co-chairs BRAC Net, and is on the Board of BRAC Bank, bKash and edotco Bangladesh Ltd. He was recognised for his work by Asia Society’s Asia 21 programme in 2008, the Bangladeshi American Foundation in 2007, and was selected as an Asia 21 Fellow in 2012. He was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2013. Mr Saleh holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and an MBA from the Stern School of Business, New York University. If you’re interested to find out more about Asif’s work, take a look here: BRAC:  FacebookXYoutubeInstagramLinkedIn...

Disrupting colonial legacies through reparations and community healing. Edgar Villanueva interviewed.

40 min

In this week’s episode, Edgar Villanueva tells us about his book Decolonising Wealth, which was written in an effort to disrupt the flow of capital and to liberate resources for marginalised communities. Edgar tells us about how indigenous worldviews can contribute to community healing and to repairing the harms caused by the philanthropic sector. We also talk about a framework called Repair to Philanthropy, where money reparations work to re-dress the harms inflicted on communities. Edgar links the indigenous and Black struggles for racial and economic justice, and includes them in his approach to healing and reparations. Edgar Villanueva (Lumbee) is an award-winning author, activist, and expert on issues of race, wealth, and philanthropy. Villanueva is the CEO of Decolonizing Wealth Project and Liberated Capital and author of the bestselling book Decolonizing Wealth (2018, 2021). He advises a range of organizations including national and global philanthropies, Fortune 500 companies, and entertainment groups on social impact strategies to advance racial equity from within and through their investment strategies. Villanueva holds a BSPH and MHA from the Gillings Global School of Public Health at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe and resides in New York City. Publications including the New York Times, NPR, Teen Vogue, Vox, and Forbes magazine have featured Edgar and his work. Edgar has contributed to the Washington Post, the Advocate, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and more; he also shares more thoughts on racial justice, decolonization, and healing on his Medium page. If you’re interested to find out more about Edgar’s work, take a look here: https://decolonizingwealth.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edgarv/Twitter: @villanuevaedgar & @decolonizwealthRecent work: Reparations campaigns get boost from new philanthropic funding, AP NewsRelevant resources: Decolonizing Wealth Toolkit: https:...

Participatory grant-making & co-leadership at ADD International. Fredrick Ouko and Mary Ann Clements interviewed.

51 min

In this week’s episode, Fredrick Ouko and Mary Ann Clements discuss ADD International’s organisational structure, especially their roles as co-CEOs and how representation matters. They tell us about modelling the team leadership in line with the lived experiences they want to represent and advocate for. Through participatory grantmaking, they challenge the “colonisation of resources”, through which international funding goes mainly towards INGOs, rather than organisations of people with disabilities. Fredrick and Mary Ann reflect on their personal roles as co-CEOs of ADD, and how their particular identities affect their working relationship. They also tell us about being conscious of ADD’s role as a ‘facilitator’ of participatory grant-making, rather than an ‘implementer’ of programs. Fredrick Ouko is the Co-Chief Executive & Transformation Officer at ADD International. He is co-leading their work to become a participatory grant maker. Fredrick has worked to advance disability rights for the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa, and Light for the World Netherlands. He founded Action Network for the Disabled, a national disabled people’s organization in Kenya, and Riziki Source, a social enterprise using tech to improve employment access for disabled people. He is an Atlantic Fellow, was elected an Ashoka Fellow in 2012, and was shortlisted in 2016/2017 for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovations. Mary Ann Clements is the Co-Chief Executive & Transformation Officer at ADD International. She is a Feminist Writer, Facilitator, Activist & Coach committed to building a better world together without replicating patterns of injustice. Mary Ann co-convenes the Healing Solidarity, and her Embodying Change Coaching practice which centres a genuine solidarity that is focused on healing injustice.Previously, Mary Ann has worked as Executive Director at Able Child Africa, Regional Representative Basic Needs (East Africa), Chair of Lambeth Women’s Aid, and Assessor at...

USAID’s localization agenda: money, power and partnerships. Sarah Rose interviewed.

36 min

In this week’s episode, Sarah Rose introduces us to USAID’s approach to localisation as one of the biggest funding partners amongst bilateral donors. Sarah emphasises the importance of gathering the entire global development community in order to rethink roles and reform practices for localisation to be effective. Sarah talks us through USAID’s journey towards localisation, their time-bound measurable goals, and how to integrate localisation into every aspect of USAID’s work portfolio. USAID is working to tackle barriers to funding, by integrating multiple languages, reducing reporting burdens and risk assessment requirements.  We talk about how USAID can think about strengthening their own capacity as an organisation to adapt to localisation efforts and integrate learnings from the Global South or majority world. Sarah emphasises the importance of establishing a “community of practice” amongst USAID to share guidance and support. Sarah Rose is the Senior Advisor for Localization in the Office of the USAID Administrator. Prior to coming to USAID, she was a policy fellow at the Center for Global Development, where her research focused on US development policy and aid effectiveness, including localization. Previously, Sarah was a monitoring and evaluation specialist in the health office of the USAID Mission in Mozambique. She also worked at the Millennium Challenge Corporation in the Department of Policy and Evaluation. If you’re interested to find out more about Sarah’s work, take a look here: LinkedInTwitterUSAID's localization webpageRelevant resources: USAID's inclusive development webpageMoving Toward a Model of Locally Led Development: FY 2022 Localization Progress ReportUSAID (2022) Localisation at USAID: The Vision and Approach. Washington DC: USAID. USAID's Local Capacity Strengthening PolicyWorkWithUSAID.org

Systems change in the philanthropy sector. Heather Grady & Tanya Beer interviewed.

37 min

In this week’s episode, Heather Grady from Rockefeller Philanthropic Advisors (RPA) and Tanya Beer, an independent consultant, present the Shifting Systems Initiative Evaluation. The evaluation explores what systems change means to the philanthropic and funding sector, and evaluates the contribution of the Shifting Systems Initiative to the sector. Our discussion examines systems change practically, and explores alternative entry points such as ‘doing the inner work’, working together, implementing intersectional systems thinking, and trusting in order to cede control and take risks. Heather and Tanya bring up the fact that thinking about race and systems change is often given low priority and is grossly underfunded. This limits effective action, confirming the perception that systems change and anti-racist action are an inefficient use of philanthropic organisations’ time and resources. We discuss how to move past this blockage into identifying entry points for practical action. Heather proposes longer-term, more adaptive and responsive funding as a solution that would benefit both the grantees and the funders, who can free up resources and time. Tanya suggests adapting the risk framework so that a lack of systems of change is perceived as the real risk. Heather Grady is Vice President at Rockefeller Philanthropic Advisors, RPA, and leads the practice area of Environment and Climate Change. She co-founded and leads the Shifting Systems Initiative as part of her work with RPA. Tanya Beer is an independent consultant. She focuses on strategic learning facilitation for organisations and collaboratives. She's co-author of the evaluation of the Shifting Systems Initiative. Before going freelance, Tanya was Associate Director of the Center for Evaluation Innovation, which pushes evaluation practices in new directions and into areas that are hard to measure, such as advocacy, communications and systems change. If you’re interested to find out more about their work,...

Africa Rising: strong Africa-based Think Tanks with an Africa-centric development agenda. Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi interviewed.

44 min

In this week’s episode, Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi from African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET) de-centres the focus on racism and colonialism, and instead brings attention to the range of power dynamics present in the development and humanitarian ecosystems, including gender, class, and the historical origins of certain organisations. Mavis discusses the institutional sustainability of Global South-based organisations where they are often not considered the first choice by either Global North organisations or Africa-based governments and national partners, despite their considerable capacity. She describes the transformative approach ACET is implementing, through which African institutions work together to grow capacity in tendering and contract delivery, thereby strengthening the network of Think Tanks across the continent. By doing this, they are demonstrating agency and flipping the narrative on the decolonisation and localisation agenda, which has been historically driven by the Global North. Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi is Executive Vice President of African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET). Mavis oversees ACET’s strategy and leadership, and is responsible for ensuring the organisation is respected as a robust pan-African economic policy institute.  Mavis has built a distinguished career over 25 years in international development. Born in Ghana, she is a political economist by training and a private sector development specialist. She previously worked at the UK Department for International Development (DFID), where she led the creation and implementation of DFID’s first private sector development strategies in a number of countries. More recently, she worked as the Director of Program Policy at Save the Children. In 2016, she joined a newly established NGO, the Power of Nutrition, as its Director of Investments, overseeing rapid growth across a dozen African and Asian countries. She holds an MPhil from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of...

Shifting power through participatory applied learning and co-decision-making. Maya Hasan interviewed.

33 min

In this week’s episode, Maya Hasan, founder of the Fearless Project, talks us through her Shifting Power Accelerator program. Maya approaches decolonisation from her personal experience as a ‘third culture’ individual straddling multiple identities and growing up and working across the Global South and Global North, which have facilitated her integration of an intersectional approach into her work. She introduces her training program, which takes on a participatory applied learning approach which adopts feedback into the design of the program. Through the training program, Maya attempts to challenge the hierarchical notion of a set of values or technical expertise being valued more than lived experience of a local community. Throughout the conversation, we discuss alternative funding mechanisms which put individuals from the communities being funded at the centre of decision-making panels for grants. We also delve into interpersonal relationships and how we can go about decolonizing emotions. Maya Hasan is the founder of Fearless Project, an online education start-up for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is also the facilitator of Shifting Power Accelerator, an experiential, cohort-based online course on decolonizing aid, empowering local leaders, and fostering equitable partnerships. In her 20-year career, Maya has worked across a number of roles in NGOs including partnerships, grants and research supporting civil society development in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, CAR, DRC, Myanmar, and South Sudan. Maya is Pakistani and American. She is a proud multicultural, non-binary woman, trauma survivor, and person with invisible disabilities. She speaks 10 languages and lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico. If you’re interested to find out more about Maya, take a look here: LinkedInTwitterRecommended resources: Power Fostering Equitable North-South Civil Society Partnerships: Voices from the South (By Rights CoLab, WASCI, and the RINGO Project)Power Awareness Tool by (By Parto...

Challenging structural racism in the peacebuilding and humanitarian sector. Dylan Mathews interviewed.

41 min

In this week’s episode, Dylan Mathews talks us through Peace Direct’s journey as a Global North-based peacebuilding organisation. He reflects on the pivotal moment in which Peace Direct spoke to local partners and began to actively question how structural racism is embedded into the sector. Dylan contends that there is a need for both organisations and individuals in the Global North to acknowledge that they may have benefitted from the development sector and that they have “done harm in the process of trying to help”. We discuss the fact that the majority of humanitarian funding (97%) goes to organisations in the Global North, and how this has consistently eroded the growth and capability of civil society organisations in the Global South.  Dylan Mathews is CEO of Peace Direct having joined the organisation in 2015. His commitment to supporting local organisations in the global south spans almost twenty years, during which time he has worked for a range of peacebuilding, international development and humanitarian organisations. While working for the peacebuilding think tank Oxford Research Group, he authored ‘War Prevention Works’ which profiled the role of non-state actors in conflict prevention and resolution – a publication that helped launch Peace Direct in 2004. He is the editor of ‘Working with Conflict 2’ a practical toolkit for local peacebuilders, published in 2020. Dylan is the Vice Chair of the Alliance for Peacebuilding, a global peacebuilding network based in Washington DC. If you’re interested to find out more about Dylan’s work, take a look here: LinkedInTwitterRecent work: Mathews, Dylan (2023) Three years on from George Floyd’s murder. What have we learned? BondMathews, Dylan (2022) The tragedy of Ukraine and the urgency of peacebuilding, Bond.Relevant resources and references: Time to Decolonise AidRace, Power, PeacebuildingNine  roles that intermediaries can play in international cooperationA blog reflecting on Peace Direct's journey since publis...

Bridging the personal and professional in anti-racism and decolonisation. Lena Bheeroo interviewed.

46 min

Lena Bheeroo (Bond) introduces us to Bond’s Anti-racism and Decolonising Framework and the wider work she’s done in tackling racism across organisations in the development sector. Lena highlights the importance of bringing in people working at all organisational levels as part of a collective effort. Lena outlines how Bond’s framework maps out the process of addressing racism from a personal and professional perspective, and aims to demonstrate the interdependence of organisational structure, and therefore the need for a holistic approach. She opens up about the personal and professional costs that come with speaking up about situations of racial discrimination or injustice within organisations, and highlights how processes of decolonisation and anti-racism must involve everyone. Lena Bheeroo is an organiser, campaigner and speaker on anti-racism, addressing discrimination and creating inclusive cultures. Lena leads the anti-racism work at Bond for the UK sector and the wider decolonising sector work, working with members and global partners, initiatives and movements exploring power, privilege, and oppression. She is a co-author of the Bond Racism, power and truth: Experience of people of colour in international development report. Lena works with Board, CEOs and Senior Management to understand issues around racism, power and privilege in the international development sector. Lena is an organiser with the campaign movement CharitySoWhite which seeks to route out racism from the UK charity sector and have the charity sector lead on addressing racism. Lena is also on the working group of The Racial Equity Index, a collective of Black, Indigenous, people of colour working in international development, advocating for greater racial equity and racial justice in the sector through the creation of a racial equity accountability mechanism. If you’re interested to find out more about Lena’s work, take a look here: TwitterLinkedInRelevant resources: Anti-racism and Decolon...

Disrupting the development sector from the Global South. Priyanthi Fernando interviewed.

30 min

In this week’s episode, Priyanthi Fernando (IWRAW Asia Pacific) tells us about her ‘disruptive’ approach to the development sector by continuously asserting Global South perspectives to the work being carried out. We discuss the embedded double standards when activists and practitioners from the Global South get invited to attend events organised by elites from the Global North - but how practitioners from the Global North very rarely attend events organised and hosted in the Global South. She tells us about IWRAW’s Global South Women’s Forum, which centred the voices of women from the Global South and provided an open space for them to talk about their needs without donor constraints. Priyanthi reflects on what it means to ‘listen’ in order to design interventions which respond to real needs.  Priyanthi highlights the importance of IWRAW’s global agenda which is not only anti-racist and decolonial, but also anti-patriarchal and anti-neoliberal.  Priyanthi Fernando  is the outgoing Executive Director of the International Women’s Rights Action Watch, Asia Pacific (IWRAW AP).  IWRAW AP is a feminist organisation based in Kuala Lumpur, initiated and led by women from the Global South, and working towards the protection and fulfilment of the human rights of all women everywhere.   Priyanthi has always been passionate about issues of social justice and about fighting structural inequalities relating to gender, access to technologies, and the framing of knowledge.  In over three decades of working in countries as diverse as Bangladesh or Yemen, and engaging with the bilateral, multilateral and INGOs as well as with community groups, Priyanthi has  continued to aim at disrupting those structures, systems and institutions that continue to perpetuate inequality and discrimination. If you’re interested to find out more about Priyanthi’s work, take a look here: LinkedInMs. Priyanthi Fernando | Department of Economic and Social AffairsRelevant resources: Crewe, Emma and Harris...

Power, money and accountability in international development.

5 min

In this week’s episode, Dev Hub founder Kate Bird talks to us about power, money and accountability in international development. Kate delves into what it means to hold and exercise power and links the control of money to decision-making power. Recalling John Gaventa’s ‘visible’ and ‘hidden’ power, Kate delves into power as being dynamic, contextual and historical, and why this is relevant in the international development context. This episode is a prompt review of what is meant when power is discussed across international development, and how we can begin to address power imbalances and promote a power shift. Kate is Director of The Development Hub, Professor of Practice at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Surrey, Senior Research Associate with ODI and Associate with the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network. She brings over 25 years experience to her work designing and leading multidisciplinary research, training and advisory work. If you’re interested to find out more about Kate’s work, you can take a look at the Development Hub website. Recommended resources: John Gaventa4 Types of Power

Why trust, bravery, and democracy matter when challenging racism at the organisational level. Arbie Baguios interviewed.

41 min

In this week’s episode, Arbie Baguios talks us through the Anti-Racist and Decolonial Framework he has developed with Start Network, which finds that racism and colonialism are based on structural superiority. Arbie dives into how to actually tackle racism and coloniality as a systemic or structural issue and tells us about how he supports organisations in helping them recognise how they produce racist and colonial outcomes through their systems at the organisational level. Arbie emphasises that trust, bravery, and democracy are necessary and essential values when attempting any kind of organisational change towards anti-racism and decolonisation. We discuss double standards when it comes to INGOs ‘failing’ and how to reframe notions of capacity to provide space for both learning and failure. Arbie Baguios is the founder of Aid Re-imagined, an initiative that advocates for a more effective and just aid system. Previously he worked for humanitarian organisations including ActionAid, Save the Children, the Red Cross and UNICEF. Currently he is a doctoral researcher at the London School of Economics. If you’re interested to find out more about Arbie’s work, take a look here: LinkedInTwitterRelevant resources: Anti-Racist and Decolonial Framework - Start NetworkAid Re-ImaginedAid Re-Imagined Model Working PaperEmpire of Humanity: A History of Humanitarianism, Michael Barnett

South-South learning and influencing the global feminist discourse. Piyumi Samaraweera (CREA World) interviewed.

38 min

In this week’s episode, we speak to CREA’s Piyumi Samaraweera about CREA’s position as one of few organisations led in and by the Global South. Piyumi describes how CREA approaches its intersectional feminist values to generate South-South learning through its Institutes across India, South Asia and East Africa. This conversation allows us to move away from the conventional centering of the Global North, and understand discourses about development and decolonisation from a Global South-led organisation. Piyumi also highlights CREA’s approach to working where their work will be valued, as well as learning from the work of others.  Finally, Piyumi ends with a call to de-centre hierarchies of knowledge which value knowledge from the Global North, and instead to place vernacular languages at the centre of development and decolonisation learning. Piyumi Samaraweera is Programmes Director, Feminist Leadership and Movements at CREA World (CREA). CREA is a feminist international human rights organisation based in the Global South and led by women from the Global South. CREA’s work draws upon the inherent value of a rights-based approach to sexuality and gender equality. Based in London, Piyumi’s role supports CREA as it promotes, protects, and advances human rights and the sexual rights of all people by building leadership capacities of activists and allies; strengthening organisations and social movements; creating and increasing access to new information, knowledge, and resources; and enabling supportive social and policy environments. As a Sri Lankan-British feminist, and as someone who has lived, studied, and worked across Asia, the US, and the UK, Piyumi enjoys work that has a global outlook and is connected to women’s rights. The proud granddaughter of Sri Lanka’s first woman Mayor, Piyumi has a love for the arts and has starred as a lead in “Aksharaya”, a feature-length film that premiered at the San Sebastian film festival in 2005. If you’re interested to find out m...

What Womankind Worldwide’s anti-racism pledge can teach us about decolonising INGOs. Disha Sughand interviewed.

26 min

In this episode, Disha Sughand from Womankind Worldwide talks us through her organisation’s anti-racism pledge and what this means for decolonisation. Disha delves into the ways in which anti-racism and localisation should be approached from a reflective and thoughtful place. Disha emphasises interrogating processes across an organisation’s structure in order to think through how they can be simplified or made more flexible. We also discuss the principles and values present in Womankind and other feminist organisations that can contribute to furthering decolonisation and anti-racism objectives. Particularly, we draw on self-reflection as a tool within feminist organising that can be applied to decolonisation. As practical advice, Disha suggests not only seeking allies and support within your organisation, but also externalising the work to individuals or organisations that are specialised in anti-racism and decolonisation. At the same time, it is essential to allocate budgets and prioritise the work rather than classify it as ‘optional’. This episode shines a light on what can be learned from feminist organising in order to enact a power shift towards decolonisation and anti-racism. Disha is the Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Womankind Worldwide where she leads the resourcing of feminist movements and women’s rights organisations. She has over 22 years of experience in fundraising and marketing for UK and international social justice causes, including over 12 years at Womankind. She is a Clore Fellow and was part of the first cohort working in the women and girls sector. She is also Co-Chair of the Gender and Development Network. Womankind Worldwide is an international women’s rights organisation and funder, working with women’s rights groups and feminist movements across the world to end gender inequality. We take collective action alongside women’s rights organisations, feminist movements, and activists in Eastern and Southern Africa and South Asia....

Localising funding through circular accountability, flexibility and mutual trust. Steve Murigi interviewed.

41 min

In this week’s episode, we invite Steve Murigi back on to the podcast to have a more in-depth conversation about localising funding. Steve identifies localisation as the principal mechanism through which to shift power, and provides us with practical tools to ensure that localisation is effective. He states that localising priority setting and development strategy (what is done with development funding) is even more important than who holds the money. Steve also warns that localisation risks becoming ‘a box to tick’ for Global North institutions rather than being defined and driven by Global South organisations. We discuss the challenges that come with such a transformative approach, which Steve categorises as structural, administrative and ideological challenges. The conversation then shifts towards what localisation needs to look like in terms of accountability, flexibility, and agency for those working in the Global South. Steve’s perspective is wide-ranging and he calls upon not only development organisations in the Global North, but also on the mechanisms and organisations involved in funding, including government agencies. Our conversation is highly practical and hands-on, and it allows us to get closer to understanding localised funding as a mechanism to decolonise international development. Steve is the Chief Executive Officer at PCI (Primary Care International), leading the organisation’s work to strengthen the delivery of primary care globally through innovative and cost-effective models. He is a public health leader and advocate of inclusive, adaptive, localised, and people-centred development practices, with extensive experience in international development across Africa and Europe. Prior to joining PCI, Steve was the Head of Programs and Strategic Partnerships at Amref Health Africa UK. Over the years, he has worked across senior communication, advocacy, partnerships, and programme disciplines to drive organisational growth. If you’re interested to fi...

Rebalancing power in international development, including through localisation and how best to fund development action. Steve Murigi interviewed.

57 min

In this week’s episode, Steve Murigi explores the power dynamics in international development practice which are inherently racialised and often go unchallenged, particularly in the leadership of field projects in the Global South. Steve speaks about the need to reframe decolonization as a mindset in order to move away from the ‘us vs them’ mentality. The conversation then shifted towards the issue of localization of funding in international development; Steve emphasised that localization needs to be carried out with accessibility and unconditionality in mind. Otherwise, it risks causing more harm than good by perpetuating paternalistic assumptions about the capabilities of organisations in the Global South. We discuss the relationship between localisation and decolonisation, and finally emphasise the importance of language and the way that ‘development aid’ is framed. With great clarity, Steve talks us through his experience working in development, his thoughts on the third sector, and how we can begin to change the conversation towards a positive shift in power dynamics for everyone. Steve is the Chief Executive Officer at PCI (Primary Care International), leading the organisation’s work to strengthen the delivery of primary care globally through innovative and cost-effective models. He is a public health leader and advocate of inclusive, adaptive, localised, and people-centred development practices, with extensive experience in international development across Africa and Europe. Prior to joining PCI, Steve was the Head of Programs and Strategic Partnerships at Amref Health Africa UK. Over the years, he has worked across senior communication, advocacy, partnerships, and programme disciplines to drive organisational growth. If you’re interested to find out more about Steve’s work, take a look here: LinkedInTwitterThe PCI AcademyRecent work: Rethinking global healthworker education: the value of multi-directional learningA strong primary health workforce as a cruc...

Decolonising Development - What have we learned so far? Prof Kate Bird and Charmaine McCaulay reflect on the Power Shift podcast series.

34 min

In Episode #9 of the Power Shift: Decolonising Development, Prof Kate Bird and Charmaine McCaulay, founders of this podcast series, reflect on what they have learned from the past eight episodes. Kate speaks on White fragility and ‘best White-ism’ within the development industry, and how she’s engaged in self-reflection regarding her role in the industry as a White woman. Charmaine brings up the hesitation from previous guests on the podcast to engage in self-reflection and speak to their personal experiences with racism and colonial relations of power, which clashes with her background in psychotherapy. Kate and Charmaine discuss the potential benefits of encouraging self-reflection and vulnerability within the practice of international development, in order to decolonize current practices of power and privilege. Prof Kate Bird is Director of The Development Hub, Professor of Practice at the University of Surrey; Senior Associate at ODI and Associate with the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network. Charmaine leads on The Development Hub’s anti-racism and decolonisation work. She is the founder and Director of Kokoro, a company specialising in anti-racism training, therapy, mentoring and coaching and brings with her over 25 years experience as a trainer and expert in addressing racism. If you’re interested to find out more about Kate’s or Charmaine’s work, you can take a look at the Development Hub website. Resource recommendations: Episode #4 of Power Shift: Decolonising Development with Andries du ToitEpisode #7 of Power Shift: Decolonising Development with Eyob GebremariamFigure: Persecutor, Victim, Adult Triangle4 Types of PowerPowercube: Understanding power for social changeKarpman Drama Triangle

Anti-racism, critical reflexivity and international development in practice. Dr. Kamna Patel interviewed.

50 min

Episode #8 of The Power Shift: Decolonising Development explores the processes of racialisation inherent in international development, with a focus on critical reflexivity and praxis. Kamna Patel explores this from their personal and professional perspective of living and working in the UK, evidencing how politics of difference and processes of Othering have constructed the basis for international development practice. Kamna proposes critical reflexivity as a tool to enact anti-racism practices within the industry of international development, and advocates for enacting change through everyday actions which work towards changing the discourse surround anti-racism and decolonisation. Kamna Patel is an Associate Professor of Development Studies at University College London with a research focus on race and racialisation and the development sector, critical reflexivity and praxis, and land and housing tenure in southern cities. For the past 18 months, she has been Principal Advisor on Race and Diversity at the INGO Christian Aid shaping an anti-racist agenda and leading the efforts of the organisation to become anti-racist. With a scholar identity as a reflexive practitioner, Kamna is committed to cycles of theorisation, research and practice in her work having directly engaged with different parts of the sector including universities, INGOs/NGOs and development consultancy over nearly 20 years.  If you’re interested to find out more about Kamna’s work, take a look here: Twitter @kamnatweetsThe Barlett Development Planning Unit – University College London (UCL)Recent work: Race and a decolonial turn in development studies: Third World Quarterly (2020)Being Cosmopolitan: Marketing Development Studies in the Neoliberal University (2022)The value of development researchers: structural racism, universities and UK Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) (2022)Resource recommendations: Frantz FanonWalter RodneyPriyamvada Gopa, Anticolonial Resistance and British Dissent

The dark side of 'development' and 'progress'. Dr Eyob Balcha Gebremariam interviewed.

41 min

In Episode #7 of The Power Shift: Decolonising Development, Dr Eyob Balcha Gebremariam, scholar activist specialising in decolonial African development, joins Kate Bird and Charmaine McCauley to discuss the politics of knowledge production, Eurocentrism, the metaphysical Empire and pluriversality. Eyob leaves listeners an important message about epistemic diversity and the power of acknowledging multiple histories and the dark underside of civilisation and development. Eyob Balcha Gebremariam is an Ethiopian scholar-activist. His areas of research, teaching and activism are the politics of knowledge production in, on and about Africa, decolonial knowledge production, African political economy, and the politics of development. Eyob has a doctoral degree in Development Policy and Management from the University of Manchester. He is a Research Associate at the Perivoli Africa Research Centre (PARC) at the University of Bristol and an adjunct professor of African Studies at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), John Hopkins University. He was a Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he convened and taught postgraduate courses on African Development and African Political Economy. Eyob received the 2022 Thandika Mkandawire Prize for Outstanding Scholarship in African Political Economy. If you’re interested to find out more about Eyob’s work, take a look here: LinkedInPerivoli Africa Research CentreExamples of Eyob’s work: Reflections from teaching African Development using decolonial perspectives at LSE (blog Kate mentions at the beginning of the episode that prompted her to learn from Eyob)Coloniality, Development and Science (Eyob’s recently released blog mentioned at the beginning of the episode)The Primacy of Epistemic JusticeJobs as geopolitical frontier in AfricaCentring African research actors' perspectives in research partnershipsThe Carrot and Stick of Ethiopian ‘Democratic Developmentalism’: ideological, legal and p...

Feminism, decolonisation and learnings from Indigenous knowledge systems. Emilie Tant interviewed.

36 min

In Episode #6 of The Power Shift: Decolonising Development, Emilie Tant, who leads work in strategic communications and policy around gender, discusses the links between feminism, decolonisation and climate change. Drawing on their experience of living, working and organising in Santiago (Chile), Emilie reflects on how feminist movements in the majority world are often 10 to 20 years ahead in thinking, compared to international development organisations. Emilie discusses Indigenous concepts such as cuerpo territorio and el buen vivir and reflects on how these value and knowledge systems have the power to flip traditional understanding of development goals. Emilie reflects on legitimacy and ego as a White European person working in decolonisation and talks about the importance of using power and privilege to advance decolonisation efforts. Emilie Tant (pronouns she/they) contributes to elevating research on gender norms and how intersectional social movements drive deeper social change. They have now returned to the UK following nearly three years in Chile, where Emilie was active in the feminist movement and became engaged with the decolonial agenda. Emilie speaks Spanish, holds a Masters in International Relations, and has published on a number of media platforms, including the New Internationalist, the Guardian and gal-dem. If you’re interested to find out more about Emilie’s work, take a look here: LinkedIn How to partner with feminist movements for transformative changeWhat would an inclusive and fair COP26 have looked like?'The people are with you': With new president Gabriel Boric, real hope returns to ChileWe must all mobilise to stop Israel’s crimesResource Recommendations: Novara FM: Identity Politics Hijacked w/ Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò | Novara MediaPlanet B: Tina Ngata on Decolonising Oceans | Novara MediaWe need to talk about whiteness - with Dr Foluke  Ifejola AdebisiAl Jazeera - A fight for survival among Chile’s indigenous people: Mapuche people say Chile...

Zimbabwe, history and how decolonisation must include localisation and listening. Dr Nompilo Ndlovu interviewed.

1 hr 1 min

In Episode #5 of The Power Shift: Decolonising Development, Dr Nompilo Ndlovu describes how Zimbabwe's written history so often distorts the reality as understood by Black Zimbabweans and recorded in poems, songs and oral histories. She explores how Eurocentric understandings of Zimbabwe have been consolidated in written histories of the country, which trump lived experience. She describes how the hierarchy of whose voice matters means that Black oral histories are obscured by the White, written history in international spaces. She describes the many issues that need to be taken seriously if development research is to be decolonised, how Black labour was ‘constructed’ by White colonialists, through ‘experiments’, the destruction of Black farms and livelihoods and used to justify oppressive working conditions, and how the experiences of South Africa and Zimbabwe (as former White settler colonies) generate a set of useful lessons for other countries. Nompilo counters the view that the exceptionalism of the 'settler economies' of former British colonies, South Africa and Zimbabwe have nothing to teach other countries, providing examples of what Africa can learn from Ethiopia (and her relationship with Italy), Ghana (and early independence) and South Africa (and Bantu education) versus Zimbabwe (and the 'Cambridge' system).  This is a rich and varied conversation that leaves the viewer wanting more - more stories of Gukurahundi, talking chickens and the impact of the Eurocentric 'White gaze'. Nompilo speaks eloquently about the importance of listening, local knowledge and nuance – and identifies a set of practical steps for viewers to implement for progressive change. Dr Nompilo Ndlovu is a gender expert and specialist in marginalisation, exclusion and intersecting inequalities. She oral historian with over 10 years’ experience applying gender frameworks to her work with communities in South Africa, and elsewhere in Africa. Her Ph.D. (Historical Studies) focused on mas...

Land reform, decolonisation, equity and race in South Africa. Prof Andries du Toit interviewed.

49 min

The demand for land reform in South Africa is linked to the unmended repercussions of South Africa's brutal history of a settler economy and apartheid and is seen by some as linked to nationalism, national identity and righting the wrongs of the past. Episode #4 of The Power Shift: Decolonising Development explores the land debate in South Africa and its links to national identity, nationalism and the long run and brutal impact of apartheid. Andries talks about the different positions being taken on the land debate and identifies a possible alternative approach. He sees this alternative as one which might give South Africa the chance to build a future without denying the past, which is a danger of some of the polarised positions being taken in the land debate currently.  In a wide-ranging conversation, Andries covers nation building, the trap of ‘best whiteism’, the need for social solidarity and local action, and how White people engaging in anti-racist and decolonisation spaces need to work on themselves and take personal responsibility. He ends by providing listeners and viewers with simple and doable advice which we can all implement in our daily lives – swapping ‘we’ for ‘I’ when talking about the progressive changes that we would like to see in the world. This ensures that we are ‘showing up’ honestly, rather than assuming membership of an unarticulated collective. Prof Andries du Toit is Director of PLAAS (Institute for Politics, Land and Agrarian Studies at the University of the Western Cape), South Africa’s leading research institute exploring land, chronic poverty, structural inequality and the rural economy. If you’re interested to find out more about Andries’s work, take a look here: LinkedIn, PLAAS Recommended resources: Best White and other Anxious Delusions (Rebecca Davis)Yako, St J Page. 1972. The Contraction and Enclosure of the Land in Kavanagh, Robert, and Z S Qangule, The Making of a Servant & Other Poems Translated from Xhosa. Ophir. (Read th...

Coloniality in the environmental and climate change sector. Dr Amiera Sawas interviewed.

42 min

In Episode #3 of The Power Shift: Decolonising Development, Amiera Sawas, Chief Research and Engagement Officer of Climate Outreach discusses links between racism, orientalism and coloniality in the environmental and climate change sector. Amiera describes how people of colour are commonly excluded from leadership roles and how the priorities of communities at the ‘front line’ of the climate crisis are poorly represented. She makes important connections between personal behaviour, organisational performance and limited climate mitigation in the worst affected communities. Amiera discusses COP27, how people of colour experienced the event - and much more.  Amiera Sawas is the Chief Research and Engagement Officer of Climate Outreach. She has diverse experience in climate, environment and development research and programming work, across the private, non-governmental and academic sectors. Amiera has worked in South Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Africa. She prioritises feminist leadership qualities and community engagement for climate action. Amiera is passionate about setting an inclusive vision for our collective future. If you’re interested to find out more about Amiera’s work, take a look here: LinkedIn, Twitter @amiera_tales, Climate Outreach or at her Published research Recommended resources: Me and White Supremacy (Layla F Saad)

Introducing The Power Shift: Decolonising Development. Kate Bird in conversation.

16 min

In this episode Charmaine McCaulay, lead facilitator of the ground-breaking training programme 'Racism in Real Time' interviews Prof Kate Bird, Senior Research Associate with ODI and Director of The Development Hub. This episode explores what in Kate's background made her want to work on decolonisation and her hopes for the podcast series. Kate explores the legitimacy of an elite white woman, with position power, engaging in decolonisation and discusses the extractive nature of much of the research conducted in the majority world. Kate explains why she thinks that ideas matter (and taking action is even more important). Finally, Charmaine and Kate comment on how some in the media have described engaging in decolonisation as 'woke' and how this can encourage people to see it as a 'new front' in the culture wars. They discuss how this encourages people to 'take sides' and to fight and disagree rather than focus their attention on finding ways to move forwards constructively. Kate is the Director of The Development Hub, Professor of Practice at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Surrey, Senior Research Associate with ODI and Associate with the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network. She brings over 25 years of experience to her work designing and leading multidisciplinary research, training and advisory work. Charmaine McCaulay is a Senior Associate at The Development Hub. She is the founder and Director of Kokoro Therapy, a company specialising in anti-racism training, therapy, mentoring and coaching. Charmaine has over 25 years of experience as a trainer and expert in addressing racism. She has partnered with Kate Bird from The Development Hubto launch this podcast in decolonising development called ‘The Power Shift: Decolonising Development’ and is co-creating a training programme in decolonising development, which will launch in 2023. If you’re interested to find out more about Kate's work take a look here: LinkedIn, The Development H...

Introducing The Power Shift: Decolonising Development. Charmaine McCaulay in conversation.

27 min

In this first episode of 'The Power Shift: Decolonising Development' co-hosts Charmaine McCaulay, Director of Kokoro Therapy and lead facilitator of the ground-breaking ‘Racism in Real Time’ training programme, and Prof Kate Bird, Senior Research Associate, ODI and Director of The Development Hub, talk about what drew them to work together on the decolonisation agenda. Charmaine outlines the process used in the Racism in Real Time training programme to enable white and BIPOC folks to communicate as equals. She outlines how decolonising the self is key to a process of organisational or institutional decolonising and how it is the foundation of decolonising development. Charmaine also talks about how hierarchies of structural power and privilege are layered to create intersecting inequality - with race, class and gender locking together to create oppression and inequality. Her person-centred approach provides interesting insights into where practical steps to decolonisation can begin - and she suggests that the first thing that everyone interested in progressive change can do, is to breathe. Charmaine McCaulay is a Senior Associate at The Development Hub. She is the founder and Director of Kokoro Therapy, a company specialising in anti-racism training, therapy, mentoring and coaching. Charmaine has over 25 years of experience as a trainer and expert in addressing racism. She has partnered with Kate Bird from The Development Hub to launch this podcast in decolonising development called ‘The Power Shift: Decolonising Development’ and is co-creating a training programme in decolonising development, which will launch in 2023. If you’re interested to find out more about Charmaine’s work, take a look here: Kokoro Therapy, The Development Hub

Prof Kate Bird introduces The Power Shift: Decolonising Development.

1 min

Prof Kate Bird introduces The Development Hub's new podcast series The Power Shift: Decolonising Development, and outlines key themes including what development is, how development is funded, whose knowledge counts and how the majority world is regarded (the white gaze). The series will bring together practitioners, activists and thinkers to share ideas around how the development sector can decolonise and identify practical ideas for progressive change. Kate is the Director of The Development Hub, Professor of Practice at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Surrey, Senior Research Associate with ODI and Associate with the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network. She brings over 25 years of experience to her work designing and leading multidisciplinary research, training and advisory work. If you’re interested to find out more about Kate’s work, take a look here: LinkedIn, The Development Hub, ODI

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