Critical Enabling Factors for Decolonisation in Christian Development Organisations

Abstract

The rise of the “Black Lives Matter” movement in 2020 brought to the fore issues such as racism, oppression, and colonisation within international development practice. In spite of organisations citing commitments to decolonisation, day-to-day tools and ways of working are arguably not always fit for such purposes. Against this backdrop, this article outlines four critical enabling factors (CEFs) for decolonisation relevant for Christian Development Organisations (CDOs): lament, epistemic justice, diverse and inclusive representation, and the embrace of non-neutrality. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but represents a starting point for organisations that want to embark on the journey towards decolonising their practice.