Where can transformative decolonial action take root in a moment of backlash? - A collective conversation
January 2026
What this members' meeting was about
This GADN members’ meeting aimed to re-centre decolonisation within the international development sector at a time when space for this work has been increasingly constrained. As a network committed to advancing the rights of women and girls in all their diversity and working towards a transformative vision of gender equality, holding space to engage meaningfully with decolonisation is essential, as coloniality continues to shape whose lives, labour and knowledge are valued. This meeting provided an opportunity for GADN members to come together, hear from an expert panel, and discuss collectively how decolonisation is currently being approached across their work, organisations and within the wider sector. It offered a dedicated space to share experiences, challenges, and strategies for shifting the dial on this agenda amid the current challenging global and UK context. Plenary discussions and breakout spaces supported members to connect, exchange insights, and consider how the sector might move beyond localisation towards deeper, structural change. Please note that only the slides and plenary discussion were recorded; the collaborative conversations and breakout spaces were private.
Our expert speakers were:
Dr Lata Narayanaswamy, Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development at the University of Leeds; and
Priya Lukka, Economist and PhD Researcher specialising in repair-based approaches.