The Development Hub

We can ALL contribute to #decolonisation. But our role and what we have to offer depends on our #identity, #privilege and #positionality. This awareness is applied in Dr Romina Istratii's attempt to #decolonise #research with Project dldl/ድልድል in #Ethiopia which takes innovative approaches in its work on intimate partner violence (#IPV, #domesticviolence, #VAWG) finding ways to support male #normchange in both #Ethiopia and the UK. Listen to Dr Romina Istratii talk to Dr. Nompilo Ndlovu (Ph.D) and Kate Bird on our #podcast https://lnkd.in/eSDEwmPd And learn more about the approach that Project dldl/ድልድል takes to work with men (including community and faith leaders) to change norms around male violence. #decolonise #decolonize #antiracist #shiftthepower #eurocentric #mixedmethods #research #domesticviolence #SGBV #GBV #IPV #southsouth #circularlearning #power #positionality #agency #normchange #masculinity #misogyny #patriarchy

What works to end #violence against women and girls (#VAWG)? #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth encourages a search for answers. Research led by Dr Romina Istratii (Project dldl/ድልድል) takes an innovative approach, working with #women and #men, consulting with #faith and #CommunityLeaders and applying the results in #Ethiopia and the UK. Listen to our #podcast interview with her: https://lnkd.in/eSDEwmPd Some of the themes discussed include how the project applies: 💥 Community-Grounded Approach: The Project dldl/ድልድል in #Ethiopia aims to address #DomesticViolence by developing culturally appropriate and theologically informed interventions in #partnership with local #communities, including #religious and community leaders. 💥 #Decolonial Perspective: The project explicitly rejects #Eurocentric frameworks, focusing on #community needs and #cultural contexts in #Ethiopia and East #Africa, and encouraging #equitable knowledge exchange between Europe and Africa. 💥 #Epistemological Reflexivity: Dr Romina Istratii emphasizes the need for epistemological reflexivity, aiming to avoid extractive and reductionist #research practices by acknowledging the #historical inequalities in research and #development systems. 💥 #Interdisciplinary Focus: The project uses an #interdisciplinary approach, integrating #religious and #cultural factors in domestic violence interventions, which challenges the typically #secular frameworks used in development work. 💥 #CircularLearning & Two-Way #Knowledge Transfer: It reverses the traditional knowledge flow, bringing insights from #Ethiopia & #EastAfrica to improve programming in the UK, particularly among #religious and #ethnicminority communities. 💥 Collaboration with diverse #stakeholders: The project partners with #feminist organizations, religious institutions, businesses, and charities to develop practical, research-informed solutions. 💥 Challenging Secular Frameworks: The project critiques secular, reductionist approaches to gender-based violence (#GBV), advocating for culturally contextualized responses. 💥 Focus on #Indigenous Knowledge: understanding religious & cultural worldviews matters in designing effective interventions to halt #GBV. 💥 Applies to the UK: By engaging UK-based practitioners and policymakers with Ethiopian models, the project aims to respond sensitively to intimate partner violence (#IPV) in the UK, especially in #minority faith communities. 💥 #Decolonising Research Initiatives: Project dldl/ድልድል - rooted in the Decolonising Research Initiative at @SOAS, supporting the development of research practices that are #ethical, context-aware, and collaborative with local communities. #intersectionalfeminism #intersectional #feminist #patriarchy #domesticviolence #IPV #SGBV #GBV #violenceagainstwomenandgirls #VAWG #toxicmasculinity #masculinities #interdisciplinary #interdisciplinaryresearch #decolonise #decolonize #epistemology #shiftthepower

We are nearing the end of #DomesticViolence Awareness Month. Violence against women and girls is a #global problem. Understanding how to reduce #intimatepartner #violence is really important. #Evidence and the stories we are told matter - they influence our thinking, #policy making, #programme design and what is funded and how. So the way that #research is done matters, too. Dr Romina Istratii cares deeply about the research that she does into challenging violence against women and girls in faith-based communities. She talks in our podcast about the research she does in #Ethiopia and the barriers to #decolonial #research - including #funding practices and #regulation. Listen to our podcast at https://lnkd.in/eSDEwmPd #intersectionalfeminism #intersectional #violenceagainstwomenandgirls #intimatepartnerviolence #domesticviolence #backlash #SGBV #VAWG #ipv #decolonise #decolonize #shiftthepower #globaldev #gender #womenandgirls

Surge for Water works with community-based organisations in #Haiti, #Indonesia and #Uganda to deliver #water and #sanitation solutions to remote rural communities. Shilpa Alva from Surge for Water came on our #podcast and described how #equitable, respectful and #transparent #partnerships are crucial for high quality #project design and delivery and that genuine #local #leadership is integral to #decolonising #development practice. - Surge for Water shares good practice through #southsouth and #circularlearning - Surge for Water adds their voice to their partners' in #fundraising conversations - giving them access to a wider network - By building their partners' #fundraising capacity, they enable responsible #partnership exits, leaving behind financially #sustainable organisations #partnership #LocallyLed #localize #localise #decolonise #water #sanitation #development #HumanRights #communityled #decolonize #watsan

#Trust and #respect are needed to build effective #partnerships. Shilpa Alva (Surge for Water) describes how Surge for Water build long-term #partnerships with the organisations they work with in #Haiti #Uganda and #Indonesia to deliver #water and #sanitation projects in #remote #rural #communities. Listen to her describe how they build robust and effective partnerships - and how they work to exit these relationships responsibly, leaving behind financially sustainable organisations. https://lnkd.in/eSDEwmPd #partnership #trust #respect #dignity #equity #socialjustice #humanrights #watsan #wash #ingo #civilsociety #basicneeds #globaldev #decolonise #decolonize #localise #localize

🚀 Peace Direct's new podcast has launched! We are excited to listen to the series, The Problem with Partnerships. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts and listen closely for MCLD Global Secretary Gunjan Veda's voice ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e-fK7bB2 Learn more about the series: https://lnkd.in/e-fK7bB2

“Recognising there’s only one way to go forward here and that is to trust, to respect, to really minimise our power” - these are the steps that Shilpa Alva sees as essential to #decolonise #development. Listen to the full interview at: https://lnkd.in/eSDEwmPd #decolonize #decolonise #localise #localize #WASH #water #sanitation #WATSAN #communityled #locallyled #communitybaseddevelopment #partnerships #respect #dignity #equity #socialjustice #humanrights

'Partnerships' in #GlobalDev and #humanitarian action are often highly dysfunctional. They don't have to be. Building and maintaining successful working relationships despite #inequalities in #power, money and access is tricky. But this can be done! Shilpa Alva talks to Dr. Nompilo Ndlovu (Ph.D) and Kate Bird about Surge for Water's #partnership model. Surge for Water work with #CommunityBasedOrganisations in #haiti #uganda and #indonesia to extend clean #water and #sanitation to #remote #rural #communities and they recognise that their partners know local needs and the route to locally relevant solutions better than they do. Surge engages in self-reflection & asking questions about #leadership, #language & #implementation to avoid replicating #colonial relationships. Listen to our #podcast to understand more about their approach: https://lnkd.in/eSDEwmPd #localise #localize #decolonise #decolonize #equity #socialjustice #humanrights #rightstowater #basicneeds #water #sanitation #wash #washyourhands #communitydevelopment #locallyled #decentralised

What is good practice in civil society partnerships? Surge for Water seeks to be #transparent and #respectful, putting country #partners in the driving seat in #ProjectDesign and #ProjectManagement. This is at the core of their #decolonised approach. Shilpa Alva talks to Dr. Nompilo Ndlovu (Ph.D) and Kate Bird and describes why their approach to partnership is at the core of the way they work. Listen to our #podcast for more! #localise #localize #decolonise #decolonize #partnership #INGO #civilsociety #ShiftThePower #waterandsanitation #LocallyLed #equity #socialjustice #southsouthlearning #circularlearning #ethical #WASH

October is #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth. Over 30% of women globally experience Domestic or Intimate Partner Violence. #IPV isn't inevitable. The norms that enable or excuse #MaleViolence can be challenged and changed. Working with women and men to shift #patriarchal norms and toxic masculinity can work. Long term, building women's economic autonomy is also important. 📢 Calling out toxic behaviour whenever you see it is an important part of norm change. Speak out against #sexist jokes, language, or behaviours that perpetuate harmful gender #stereotypes and normalise #violence. 🤝 Promote respectful and equal treatment of all genders - this helps challenge the cultural norms that support IPV. ⛔ Encourage open discussions about #consent, equality, and mutual respect in #relationships, both in personal conversations and within your community. Help promote the idea that healthy relationships are built on mutual support, equality, and non-violence. 🥹Support and believe #survivors - if someone confides in you about experiencing IPV, listen without judgment, and believe their story. Offering support and validating their experience can help break the cycle of silence and #stigma around IPV. 🫸 Engage in bystander intervention - be proactive in situations where you witness or suspect violence or #abusive behavior. You can safely intervene by distracting, delegating, or directly confronting harmful behavior, depending on the situation. 📚 Educate yourself and others - continuously educate yourself about IPV and its root causes, such as #power imbalances and toxic masculinity. Share this knowledge within your community, social circles, and online to raise awareness and advocate for change. #IPV #GBV #SGBV #feminism #intersectionalfeminism #womensmovement #sexualviolence #supportsurvivors #endIPV #GenderEquality #AfricaAbuse #AsiaAbuse #GlobalDev #GenderEquality #toxicmasculinity #masculinities #normchange #culturalchange CARE International UK CARE Rwanda ActionAid UK, Plan International, CREA Womankind Worldwide Gender and Development Network, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, International Women's Development Agency (IWDA), Global Fund for Women, Women for Women International #socialchange #civilsociety #equity