What Womankind Worldwide’s anti-racism pledge can teach us about decolonising INGOs. Disha Sughand interviewed.

In this episode, Disha Sughand from Womankind Worldwide talks us through her organisation’s anti-racism pledge and what this means for decolonisation. Disha delves into the ways in which anti-racism and localisation should be approached from a reflective and thoughtful place. Disha emphasises interrogating processes across an organisation’s structure in order to think through how they can be simplified or made more flexible.We also discuss the principles and values present in Womankind and other feminist organisations that can contribute to furthering decolonisation and anti-racism objectives. Particularly, we draw on self-reflection as a tool within feminist organising that can be applied to decolonisation.As practical advice, Disha suggests not only seeking allies and support within your organisation, but also externalising the work to individuals or organisations that are specialised in anti-racism and decolonisation. At the same time, it is essential to allocate budgets and prioritise the work rather than classify it as ‘optional’. This episode shines a light on what can be learned from feminist organising in order to enact a power shift towards decolonisation and anti-racism.Disha is the Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Womankind Worldwide where she leads the resourcing of feminist movements and women’s rights organisations. She has over 22 years of experience in fundraising and marketing for UK and international social justice causes, including over 12 years at Womankind. She is a Clore Fellow and was part of the first cohort working in the women and girls sector. She is also Co-Chair of the Gender and Development Network.Womankind Worldwide is an international women’s rights organisation and funder, working with women’s rights groups and feminist movements across the world to end gender inequality. We take collective action alongside women’s rights organisations, feminist movements, and activists in Eastern and Southern Africa and South Asia. We support them to challenge inequality, at home, in communities and the workplace. We fund and strengthen these movements and advocate for change alongside them.If you’re interested to find out more about Disha’s work, take a look here:LinkedInTwitterGADNRecommended resources:Womankind Worldwide's commitment to anti-racismOur Feminist Future | Strategy 2030 (womankind.org.uk)North is due a change in direction - Womankind WorldwideWomankind COVID-19 resilience fund: what one year has taught us about flexible fundingHer Voice Fund: resourcing advocacy, accelerating women’s rights - Womankind WorldwideNurturing the Beating Heart of Feminist Movements: Lessons Drawn from Womankind’s Movement Strengthening Fund (MSF) - Womankind Worldwide