For too long, international development has been dominated by colonial languages. It’s time for international NGOs to walk the talk on localization by meaningfully embracing local languages.
That means prioritizing the preferred language of local staff members, partner organizations, and communities. But this isn’t easy to achieve when organizations work in areas of high linguistic and cultural diversity, especially in the context of tight budgets.
Nonetheless, if organizations are serious about shifting power in the development sector, they can’t shrug off local languages as being too complicated. In a recent Devex interview, Moses Isooba, the executive director of the Uganda National NGO Forum, discussed the importance of language in maintaining power hierarchies in the aid system. To quote, “Development is something that’s done in English, Spanish, and French. Yet, language sets the terms of relational engagement. If we are going to have the systems change that we want, we need to start by changing the language, reinventing the language, and removing these old hints of colonialism, in line with the decolonization agenda.” This includes weaning ourselves off development jargon that those outside the sector find bewildering, incomprehensible, or remote from the realities of their lives.
About the author
Translation Glossary Project
The Translation Glossary Project has evolved into a multiyear initiative involving the participation of the following people who have contributed to co-producing the content of the glossary and testing its effectiveness: Naomi Awali, Mary Balala, Abraham Danton Banda, Clemencia Bunya, Alick Bwanali, MacDonald Chande, Michael Chasukwa, Robert Chifundo, Maltrida Chikoko, Cynthia Chikoya, Cyprian Chimbiya, Peter Chipala, Grace Chipili, Angela Crack, Chiliro Gondwe, Cynthia Kachingue, Salome Kalidzinje, Malijani J. Kambauwa, Chifundo Kamulete, Joseph Kapoto, Wisdom Katola, Ellen Katoleza, Brian Kuntindi, Eneles Makalichi, Hope Maluwa, Egreton Masiwa, Maxwell Mawera, Hannah Mchenga, Wonderful Mkhutche, Sarah Mngualuko, Leonard Mnjuzi, Happy Mthulula, Chisomo Ndiwo, Evelyne Nkolokosa, Madalitso Nkosi, Victor I. Nyirenda, Harry Phiri, Nyatuwe Phiri, Sellina Phiri, Hastings Saka, Magret Shaibu, Lawrence Tchuka, Milca Tebulo, Dick Upile Thom.
