Our interviewees in episodes 5 and 6 discuss the critical issue of what needs to be done to decolonise the aid sector.
In the first part of the conversation on decolonising aid, our guests, Lata Narayanaswamy and VR Raman, represent academia, practice, lived experiences, and leadership in the aid sector. In our conversation, they interrogate whether it is possible to talk about decolonising the aid sector, when aid is largely based on the continuation of a colonial mindset and colonial practices. Unless we really address the power relations between donors and recipients, can we even consider that it is possible to decolonise aid?
Prof. Lata Narayanaswamy
Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development, School of Politics and International Studies (POLIS), University of Leeds, UK
Since 2001 Dr. Narayanaswamy has worked as a research practitioner, consultant and now an academic working at the nexus between development theory and practice. Her research critically reflects on gendered/intersectional and post/decolonial dynamics of development knowledge and its perceived contribution to addressing global development challenges. She is currently involved in applied, interdisciplinary research related to gender/feminism/intersectionality as these relate to climate change, water security and decolonising development.
https://www.polis.leeds.ac.uk/people/staff/narayanaswamy
https://www.linkedin.com/in/latanarayanaswamy/
V R Raman
VR Raman is a public policy practitioner with over three decades of experience in multiple development sectors across India and globally where he has worn different hats of activist, administrator and an academician. He currently leads the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability as well as the Public Health Resource Network in India. Globally he works with the Sanitation Learning Hub, Global People’s Health Movement and International Water Association.