The Power Shift: Decolonising Development

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

  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!”

  --------  

  49:29
• Unpacking how identity manifests in racialised bodies through feminist approaches. Kenza Ben Azouz interviewed.

  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 International Relations? with feminist anthropologist Professor Roxani Kristalli Tuck, Eve, and K. Wayne Yang. 2012. Decolonisation is not a metaphor. Decolonization: Indigeneity, Education & Society Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 1-40.Peace Direct. 2023. The Nine Roles that Intermediaries can Play in International Cooperation.

  --------  

  33:56
• Community-centred approach to humanitarian work. Rachel Kiddell-Monroe interviewed.

  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 ToolsCommunityFirst FrameworkParticipatory Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (PMEAL) ToolkitVideo about CommunityFirst pilot project with MSFSeeChange’s Decoloniality Resources SeeChange’s Decoloniality CharterD-DEI Resource Garden

  --------  

  47:26
• Oral traditions and collective healing through language and culture. Tija Andriamananjara interviewed.

  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 Collective Trauma - Thomas Hübl and Julie Jordan Avritt, November 2020Nonviolent Communication - Marshall Rosenberg , 2003

  --------  

  33:12
• Decolonisation as a systemic approach. Silvester Kasozi interviewed.

  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

  --------  

  43:22

More Science podcasts

Trending Science podcasts

About The Power Shift: Decolonising Development

The Power Shift: Decolonising Development: Podcasts in Family