Decoloniality as a way of being, and why language matters. Allan Moolman interviewed.
Description
In this week’s episode, we talk to Allan Moolman, a South Africa-based staff member of a leading INGO, who tells us about his organisation's development of a decolonial partnership strategy. We focus on the power relations present in language, resource allocation, and local decision-making.
The decolonial partnership strategy questions the internal power structures present within its organisational structure and procedures, as well as externally looks at relationships with the partners who locally deliver projects.
Allan Moolman understands decolonial practice as “a way of being in the world”, rather than a goal to complete and move on. He emphasises the importance of community, building space to engage new ideas, and questioning language hierarchies in development projects.
Allan is currently the Interim Head of Partnerships for Oxfam GB with the responsibility for the implementation of the Oxfam GB decolonial Partnerships Strategy. He has worked for Oxfam since 2007 in a number of roles including that of Country Director in South Africa (his country of origin) and as Head of Programme is Tanzania. Prior to joining Oxfam, Allan worked in a number of local non-governmental and community based organisations in South Africa. Allan’s work in programme design, management and strategy has always included a strong emphasis on power and the need to transform power relations at the interpersonal, organisational and sectoral level. He holds no formal qualifications in development.
If you’re interested to find out more about Allan’s work, take a look here:
Relevant resources:
- Duvisac, S. (2022) Decolonize! what does it mean?, Oxfam.
- Green, D. (2020) How to decolonise International Development: some practical suggestions, Oxfam: From Poverty to Power.
- Oxfam GB (2023) Inclusive Language Guide, Oxfam Policy & Practice.
- MST Brazil (Landless Worker’s Movements): https://www.mstbrazil.org/content/what-mst
United States
