The Journey towards an Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive Evaluation System

By Yulye Jessica Romo Ramos / part of our “Share your Decolonising Story” project

Over the last couple of years, the evaluation sector has come under pressure to acknowledge the Euro-Western hegemony over knowledge, evaluation and learning practice[i]. Current structures, behaviours, mindsets and mental models have led to institutional and systemic racism and discrimination of non-white people and other minoritised groups[ii]. This perpetuates a system that places weak or no value in non-Euro-Western knowledge, values and voices and results in non-representative practitioners and evidence, which threatens the legitimacy of evaluation as such.

Continue reading “The Journey towards an Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive Evaluation System”

Trump’s Second Term and the Global South: Prospects and Perils

By Stephan Klingebiel, Max-Otto Baumann and Andy Sumner

Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January will have far-reaching implications, not only for the democratic system in the United States but also for global cooperation, particularly impacting the Global South. Here, we offer three reflections on what a Trump second term might mean for these countries.

Continue reading “Trump’s Second Term and the Global South: Prospects and Perils”

Reflecting on our Lens: Decolonising Imagery within International Development

By James Andrews / part of our “Share your Decolonising Story” project

When selecting a photo to bring colour to the blog you’ve spent hours copy-editing, have you considered whether it disrupts the colonial gaze, or might it—perhaps inadvertently—reinforce these entrenched power structures? When arranging an interview for your lively development podcast, are you giving a platform to a Western academic who has conducted research ‘in the field,’ or would it be more impactful to interview someone who has spent their entire life living and working in that ‘field’? How do you create multimedia content that not only attracts donor funding but also remains sensitive to the unique circumstances of the individuals whose stories you aim to tell, while being aware of your own cultural, class and gender biases?

Continue reading “Reflecting on our Lens: Decolonising Imagery within International Development”

Cocoa Prices Triple, But Do Farmers Feel the Gains?

By Bernhard Tröster, Felix Maile, Cornelia Staritz and Sophie van Huellen

In 2021, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire introduced a $400/tonnes Living Income Differential (LID) on cocoa bean exports, widely regarded as a key mechanism to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers. However, this premium was dwarfed by recent price surges at the global derivative markets, which serve as a benchmark for the sales of West African cocoa beans. Yet, farmers have seen a relatively minor increase in the price they receive.

Continue reading “Cocoa Prices Triple, But Do Farmers Feel the Gains?”

Colonialism’s Blind Spot in Climate Change Solutions: Why Feminist Approaches Are Falling Short

By Bernadette P. Resurrección

Efforts to integrate gender equality into climate change solutions have gained momentum in recent years. However, despite this progress, many of these initiatives are missing a crucial element—colonialism. This glaring oversight leaves today’s climate policies struggling to deliver truly feminist, just, and transformative results.

Continue reading “Colonialism’s Blind Spot in Climate Change Solutions: Why Feminist Approaches Are Falling Short”