Decolonizing Approaches to Public Trust

The Infrastructure of Trust by S. Chung, PhD — Dialogue between Board Chair, Executive Director, and Indigenous Director Executive Director: We’ve built systems—policies, reports, KPIs—yet it still feels like control, not coherence. Why? Board Chair: Fear of failure builds reports. Insecurity builds hierarchy. Few build what truly holds everything together: trust. Indigenous Advisor: And trust is not policy. It’s breath between people. You can’t measure it—but you can feel it when it breaks. Executive Director: Trust sounds like…so soft. Board Chair: It isn’t. It’s structure. When trust holds, people risk truth. When it cracks, strategy dies in polite silence. Indigenous Advisor: In our ways, trust is ceremony—rebuilt through listening until words and actions walk together. Actions for Trust and Listening 1. Budget for Listening — Create pay systems for Elders, meals, and circles. 2. Listening Minutes — End meetings with one truth heard, one not. 3. Relational Reporting — Replace one KPI with a story of restored relationship. 4. Reverse Consultations — Ask partners to grade how we listen. 5. Land-Based Orientation — Begin projects with a land walk. 6. Trust Metrics — Track how fast truth moves from voice to action. 7. Courage Reviews — Ask: When did you tell an uncomfortable truth this year? 8. Silence Logs — The issues avoided are your data. Executive Director: So trust becomes the system? Indigenous Advisor: Yes. When listening changes the plan, you’ve begun to decolonize. With gratitude to Ktunaxa land, colleagues, and to all allies who work through relationship and listening.

🧩 Planning Public Health Interventions and Outcomes without the public? In classrooms, we’re taught to plan meticulously—needs assessments, logic models, stakeholder matrices, and theory of change. But reality in the field often tells a different story. Many public health interventions are planned for the public, not with the public. 📍We develop programmes in capital cities, then deploy them in communities we've never truly listened to. Maybe a few questionnaires sent here and there. 📍We frame behaviour change strategies without understanding cultural logic or community constraints. 📍We monitor uptake without questioning whether the services meet people's actual needs. This disconnect is not new. Paulo Freire once said, “The oppressors develop the educational tools to maintain their control, and the oppressed must participate in their own liberation.” That truth applies just as powerfully to public health: sustainable outcomes demand participation. 📚 Thought leaders in global health—like Paul Farmer, Renee Behrens, and institutions championing participatory development—have long advocated for a shift from top-down to community-led approaches (not on paper). The evidence is clear: community engagement isn’t an add-on; it’s the foundation. ✅ Co-design, not imposition. ✅ Local knowledge as intelligence, not anecdote. ✅ Trust and ownership, not compliance. Some of the most impactful interventions I’ve witnessed stemmed from genuine collaboration—when local voices were heard before a single form was filled, and community actors led implementation. > What if community input was the starting point, not the afterthought? > What if we redesigned “expert-led” to mean “expert-supported”? It's time we bridged the gap between taught frameworks and lived realities. Let’s rethink how we plan—and more importantly, who we involve when we plan. #PublicHealth #CommunityEngagement #GlobalHealth #HealthEquity #OneHealth #ParticipatoryDevelopment #HumanCenteredDesign #SocialJustice #SustainableImpact #DecolonizingGlobalHealth

📘 “Decolonising Evaluation – Whose Values Count?” A #must #read #report This insightful report challenges the dominance of donor-led evaluations and calls for inclusive, values-based, and African-led evaluation practices that truly reflect community realities. - Most evaluations respond to donor requirements, not community priorities. - Evaluation designs often reflect external interests, reinforcing colonial power hierarchies. -ToRs usually demand high academic qualifications and international experience. -This excludes local experts, persons with disabilities, and those with rich experiential knowledge. -Evaluation criteria must value lived experience as legitimate expertise. - “International” consultants often lead and earn more, while “local” experts support with less pay. - Locals provide context, networks, and trust, yet remain under-recognized. - The UN and donor systems reinforce this inequality. - Why must African evaluators use EU or World Bank CV formats? - There is need for an African CV format that values indigenous knowledge, local leadership, and social impact. - Calls for values-based, inclusive, and participatory evaluations. - Shifts focus from academic qualifications to expertise by experience. - Promotes community-led and reflective evaluation spaces. - Persons with disabilities may lack formal credentials but possess unique expertise from lived experience. - Decolonising evaluation demands inclusive approaches that give voice to all experts, regardless of background. - Evaluators must practice continuous reflection on their own assumptions. - Requires adequate resources, time, and flexibility for genuine collaboration. - Evaluators should act as facilitators of shared learning, not data extractors. - Real change means shifting power to communities and letting them define success. - We must rethink what counts as knowledge and who gets to define it. - Decolonising evaluation is about justice, dignity, and shared power in development learning. Let’s move from donor control to community-led evaluation and African thought leadership. Christian Aid Christian Aid Zimbabwe African Development Bank Group Zimbabwe Evaluation Association The Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa African Evaluation Association - AfrEA Aimee Reeves Alexander Thomas Hauschild Brenald Chinyowa Barlet Colly Jaji Benjamin Davis Dr. Chikondi Mpokosa Ed.D Industrial Psychology Consultants (Pvt) Ltd KEO International Consultants Trinity Consultants | Built Environment AFRY Management Consulting Australian Disability Network #DecolonisingEvaluation #InclusiveDevelopment #EvaluationJustice #AfricanVoices #PowerShift #Localisation #DisabilityInclusion #ParticipatoryEvaluation #DevelopmentEthics #ChristianAid #KnowledgeEquity #AfricanCVFormat #TransformingAid #ExpertsByExperience #EvaluationReform #CommunityLedDevelopment #ShiftingPower

What if “best practices” are actually just colonial patterns in disguise? A few years ago, I was brought into a project where the client had done everything “by the book.” - Industry-recognized frameworks - A polished engagement strategy - Multiple planning sessions and risk assessments They were proud of their approach. And honestly? At that stage in my own work, I thought it looked solid too. But something didn’t sit right...Communities weren’t engaged. Trust wasn’t landing. And the outcomes? They looked impressive on paper, but felt empty in practice. It took me time (and some hard truths) to realize what was really going on: - The frameworks weren’t broken. - The plans weren’t poorly designed. - The problem was the assumption that these “best practices” were neutral, but they weren’t. They were just colonial patterns in disguise. Systems that prioritized control over connection. Processes that looked inclusive but operated from a place of extraction. Strategies that valued pace and polish over presence and participation. Since then, I’ve changed how I work, and how I help clients shift, too. Instead of relying on what’s been done before, we co-create what’s needed now. We ground in values, not just metrics. We focus on relationships, not just results. We experiment with ways of knowing and being that reflect Indigenous worldviews - not just colonial legacy systems. And the outcomes? They’re more human. More impactful. More real. If your organization is still stuck in “best practice” thinking, here’s your invitation: What are you willing to question in order to build something better? #Decolonization #IndigenousLeadership #SystemsChange #Reconciliation #RelationalLeadership

Happy to announce the publication of my paper, "𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 (𝐀𝐉𝐒) 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚," 𝘪𝘯 𝘝𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘦 13, 𝘐𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 3 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭! For too long, Kenya's inherited colonial legal structures have created a significant 'justice gap,' leaving many marginalized by systems that are complex, costly, geographically inaccessible, and culturally alienating. My research argues that merely reforming these existing institutions isn't enough. True access to justice necessitates a bolder step: 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 (𝐀𝐉𝐒). These systems are far more than mere 'alternatives.' They are 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬, prioritizing reconciliation, compensation, and the restoration of social harmony, making them culturally legitimate, accessible, and restorative avenues for resolving disputes. In the African context, these are 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆 tools for justice, aligning perfectly with core values of peace, truth, and harmony, rather than being a 'second-best' option. This is not merely a theoretical discussion but 𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍, 𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒚𝒂’𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒄. My paper asserts that revitalizing AJS is 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, challenging inherited hierarchies and empowering local knowledge systems, as strongly supported by Kenya's Constitution under Article 159(2)(c). While navigating challenges like ensuring human rights compliance and managing power dynamics is crucial, this dialogue is indispensable for forging a more inclusive future for justice. 𝘐 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘒𝘦𝘯𝘺𝘢. #DecolonizingJustice #AppropriateJustice #AccessToJustice #KenyaLaw #IndigenousJustice #LegalReform #ADR #ConflictResolution #FutureOfJustice #ContinuousConversation Prof. Kariuki Muigua Ph.D,FCIArb,Ch.Arb,OGW, David Njoroge, LLM, FCIArb, CPM, CS Njuguna & Njuguna Co. Advocates Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Ciarb) James Njuguna University of Embu Law Review The Young Arbiters Society - UON Chapter Young Arbiters Kusol Chapter Alternative Justice Women In ADR The Dispute Resolution Hub

The prevailing aid architecture continues to frame communities in the Global South as dependent recipients rather than as autonomous agents of change. This framing is not incidental—it is produced by an aid system that has historically privileged external expertise and procedural compliance over lived experience, self-determination, and local knowledge. While the rhetoric of "partnership" is widespread, the operational realities—funding modalities, programmatic restrictions, rigid logframes—often tell a different story. INGOs, including those operating in the Global South, can unknowingly replicate colonial power dynamics when they centre donor preferences over community priorities. This is not about a lack of capacity. It is about structural constraints. From my own experience working with grassroots partners, I’ve heard deeply troubling stories—of projects restructured to suit donor timelines, of knowledge dismissed in favour of imported "expertise," and of local actors reduced to implementers of externally imposed visions. Some of these partners are now walking away from funders who continue to operate from a colonial mindset. Dependency is not innate—it is manufactured through systems that disempower. If we are serious about decolonising aid, we must: - Reconfigure who holds power in setting agendas and making decisions - Build funding systems rooted in trust, equity, flexibility, and long-term commitment - Centre knowledge, leadership, and vision from within communities themselves - Hold a mirror to INGOs in the Global South who may unknowingly perpetuate paternalistic practices This is not a moment for reform alone—it is a moment for reimagination. For funders and INGO leaders committed to transformation, the work begins with humility, deep listening, and structural change. If you want to learn more about what it truly means to be locally led, tune in to the RISE podcast, where my co-host Wade Griffith and I unpack these issues with practitioners, thinkers, and leaders from across the globe. 🎙️ Available now on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ej-_vWwz #DecolonisingAid #RebalanceThePower #Localisation #DevelopmentJustice #INGOs #FundingEquity #Locallyleddeveopment #Communityled #Charity #Philanthropy #Aid #RISEPodcast