This International Women’s Day, we must recognize that colonial dynamics and ideologies remain entrenched in modern international NGO practices, including how we design their interventions, distribution of resources, communications, fundraising, and organizational structures.
Discussions about unequal power dynamics in the international aid system have entered the mainstream in recent years, prompting some international NGOs — especially in high-income nations — to recognize and acknowledge how their colonial legacies continue to frame operations and exacerbate power imbalances.
Language and imagery — often with a view to fundraise — regularly others the human beings depicted and positions the viewer as a savior. This ultimately defines marginalized communities by trauma and reinforces negative stereotypes, ultimately removing their agency and any understanding of the complex realities they face. More importantly, it stunts our ability to transform the contexts in which members of these communities live so they can achieve their potential — and stalls progress on so many pressing global issues.
About the author
Maliha Khan@MalihaKhanWD
Dr. Maliha Khan has dedicated over 30 years to advancing gender equality, starting her career in Pakistan by advocating for girls’ and women's inclusion in male-dominated development projects. She has held leadership roles in program design, implementation, and evaluation at organizations such as Care and Oxfam, and was previously head of programs at Malala Fund before joining Women Deliver. Committed to addressing the sector’s colonial and racist legacies, Khan strives for systemic change. She holds a doctorate from the State University of New York and a master's degree from Quaid-i-Azam University, with a background in academia as a former associate professor. Her experiences reinforce her belief in the necessity of representing the most vulnerable girls and women to achieve meaningful global change.
