In August last year, many were surprised when Wellcome — one of the world’s biggest foundations — published the results of an external evaluation deeming the organization racist.
“Not only has Wellcome failed to meet its original commitments to implement anti-racism practice, due to a series of harmful action and inaction, institutional racism has been allowed to fester within the organisation,” it read.
By publishing the evaluation, Wellcome did what few other organizations have done so far: they took a step towards recognizing the problem. Most anti-racism evaluations are protected under non-disclosure agreements and only made public if organizations themselves choose to share it. Yet open and honest conversations are key for the long-anticipated “decolonization” of global development and its reckoning with racism.
About the author
Natalie Donback
Natalie Donback is a freelance journalist and editor based in Barcelona, where she covers climate change, global health, and the impact of technology on communities. Previously, she was an editor and reporter at Devex, covering aid and the humanitarian sector. She holds a bachelor’s degree in development studies from Lund University and a master’s in journalism from the University of Barcelona and Columbia Journalism School.
