Naming the Elephant in the Room - Summary of the training
A group of early-career researchers at Bielefeld University and the University of Education Freiburg ran an online training entitled “Developing a decolonial lens in the German global health research context”.
Training objectives
- To build a foundational understanding of coloniality and decolonial approaches in global health research,
- To create a space for reflection and discussion on coloniality/decolonisation of global health, and
- To build skills and capacities to develop a decolonial lens and allyship practice in global health research and institutional settings, generally and in Germany.
Training participants included 50 researchers from diverse disciplines and institutions in the field of global health in Germany and beyond. More than 70 people applied to participate, demonstrating the significant importance of and interest in this social justice agenda. Running from November 2022 to March 2023, the training consisted of three blocks in workshop format. Valuable and diverse inputs and perspectives were provided by the nearly 20 guest speakers who participated, from countries including Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda, and from academic, governmental, non-governmental and multilateral institutions in the global health and development fields. Between the blocks, small group exchanges took place with six mentors to facilitate deeper reflection on and engagement with concepts and issues.
Block 1 | Introduction to decolonizing global health research | 2 – 4 Nov 2022
The training kicked off with an inspiring keynote lecture by Prof. Agnes Binagwaho, former Rwandan Minister of Health and current Vice Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity. Participants explored how colonial continuities remain deeply pervasive in global health and academia, with insights from Ceporah Mearns, Themrise Khan, Dr. Angela Schuster, Muneera A. Rasheed and Emma Rhule. The German context was critically examined and key challenges identified, including lack of awareness and structural and bureaucratic dynamics. The need for systematic change was highlighted, requiring capacity-building and resources, which are strongly linked to funding, decision-making and representation and inclusion. A key take-away was that long-term thinking and reflection is essential, individual and institutional change is incremental and everyone can play a role.
Block 2 | Applying a decolonisation in global health research | 19 – 20 Jan 2023
Focusing on “the how”, the second workshop looked at tools, initiatives and experiences for addressing and applying decolonisation lenses and approaches. Dr. Hannah Strohmeier, Dr. Caroline Mtaita, and Poornima Thapa provided insights on implementing change in the German, Indian and African contexts. Journal editors Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi and Dr. Sabine Kleinert discussed the efforts and challenges of ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion in academic publishing. A key theme was that reflections about power, privilege and identity are indispensable and that shifting power must be an active goal from the onset to the end of projects. Gaps between rhetoric and reality must be bridged, in particular in terms of research being intersectional and participatory, acknowledging the lived experiences of the people involved and the importance of locality and conditionality.
Block 3 | Taking stock, consolidating networks and alliance and translating knowledge into action | 23 – 24 March 2023
Aiming to foster sustained change, the third workshop addressed how to translate knowledge into action. In her keynote, Shehnaz Munshi emphasized the power of collectives and action by every individual. The artistic project KUIR Poetry ran a session that provided participants with insights into the powerful ways in which artistic and creative work can investigate and express anti-colonial thoughts and intersectionalities, and foster reflection on positionalities. The training closed with a symposium, attended by approximately 65 participants, to present and reflect on the training, lessons learned and initiatives being taken forward by participants. It included a roundtable with Prof. Dr. Melanie Böckmann, Huzeifa Bodal, Prof. Dr. Walter Bruchhausen, Anne Jurema and Dr. med. Hans-Friedemann Kinkel to hear about and explore linkages with other initiatives in the German global health landscape.
Looking forward
Training participants were supported to develop their own ideas and projects related to decolonizing global health research in Germany, which they plan to take forward in the coming months. These include:
- Mapping systematic challenges to advancing decolonisation approach in German research
- Tackling resistance and push back against decolonial approaches in your work and institutions
- Integrating decolonial content into teaching
- Integrating decolonial perspectives and approaches in research project design
- Research project to explore decolonial and equity considerations in German research grants