As the Managing Director of Ethical Good, I've had the privilege throughout my career of collaborating with a variety of international development charities. A central focus has been the pressing need to decolonise aid and development. While we've made strides, there remains a considerable journey ahead, especially in the ways we measure impact. Too frequently, we rely on metrics that lack relevance for the communities we aim to serve.
Last week, Ethical Good hosted a thought-provoking event with Colin Habberton, an expert in impact measurement. Through challenging discussions, attendees were encouraged to reconsider conventional approaches, underscoring that “understanding development in line with a decolonisation agenda means positioning diverse local issues within a global, decolonised framework for economic development, rather than attempting to ‘fix’ people or institutions in isolated, local settings.” (Decolonising Economic Development: The Role of the Development Sector, BOND 2024)
The humanitarian aid and development sector urgently needs to transcend its narrow, often Western-centric perspective and appreciate the interconnectedness of global systems. Here are some of the questions and ideas we explored during the session, which may resonate with you and your organisation as you strive to decolonise your approach to international development:
Community Ownership: Decolonisation entails putting communities at the forefront. How can we ensure that community participants set the development agenda?
Challenging Power Dynamics: We must move beyond patriarchal and historically colonialist approaches. As Colin pointed out, “...losing that patronising, patriarchal stance where organisations in minority countries assume expertise over the issues in fixing what the people in majority-world countries require.”
Inclusive Measurement: How can we ensure stakeholders have a say in what and how we measure impact?
Meaningful Metrics: Too often, metrics add an administrative burden without being meaningful to the community. “Too frequently, what ends up being measured has no real importance but imposes an administrative burden on those needing to provide that data, simply to complete a report that doesn’t actually align with the transformative goals of the community.”
Collaboration is Key: We must ask communities, “What matters to you?” and align our metrics accordingly. “When it comes to metrics, ‘What matters to you?’ is a question we need to be asking those with whom we’re partnering; only then can we compare it with what matters to us, ensuring alignment, and jointly determining how best to measure it.”
Shifting Perspectives
Moving from a top-down approach to a locally led, participatory one demands awareness of power dynamics and a commitment to avoiding colonial practices, even in our measurement and reporting. Crucially, we must remember that “...poverty and exclusion are not imperfections in the development process to be fixed; they are outcomes of the way the development process is structured, and it is the structural process of uneven development that needs addressing…” (Decolonising Economic Development: The Role of the Development Sector, BOND 2024).
This requires a fundamental shift in perspective. It’s about addressing systemic inequalities, not merely treating symptoms.
Umuntu, ngumuntu, ngabantu (Shona)
This Shona proverb, meaning “I am because we are,” powerfully captures humanity’s interconnectedness. In decolonising our approach, we begin to see others around the globe in their full, equitable humanity, acknowledging our shared challenges and collective responsibility for building a just world.
Every organisation, regardless of its size or scope, must actively work to decolonise its approach, including its impact measurement practices. So, where can change begin?
Educate Yourself: Learn about colonial history and its continuing impact.
Reflect on Your Privilege: How can you use your position, and that of your organisation, to better support marginalised communities?
Include Community Voices: Ensure that those most affected by your work are leading voices in your impact measurement.
Use Relevant Metrics: Select metrics that reflect community values and priorities, ideally shaped through co-creation with community participants.
Be Transparent: Share your impact measurement practices and lessons learned, remaining open to scrutiny and feedback.
Ethical Good is Here to Help
We support organisations in decolonising their impact measurement through training, consultancy, and resources. Get in touch to learn more.
Having open and honest conversations about the challenges of decolonising aid and development is essential. We must be prepared to question our own assumptions and biases and make the difficult but necessary changes. And we need to accept that we may make mistakes along the way.
Through intentional change, collaborative work, and genuine partnerships, we can contribute to a fairer and more equitable world for all.
If you are interested in this topic and want to learn more, you can access the full recording of the session on our YouTube channel.
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