Reclaiming the Frame – Session Two: The Legacy of Colonial Structures in Aid Decision-Making
In July 2025, CivLegacy Foundation and Peace Direct convened the second conversation in the six-part series, Reclaiming the Frame: Conversations on Decolonization in East Africa. This session examined how colonial-era power dynamics still shape who sets priorities in the aid system, who controls resources, and how success is defined. Participants from across the region shared lived experiences of Northern-driven agendas, funding tied to external criteria, and the persistent framing of African actors as beneficiaries rather than leaders.
Yet the discussion also surfaced bold alternatives , from turning down disempowering funds to investing in community-led structures and insisting on Southern agency in partnerships. The session reiterated a central truth: East African actors hold knowledge, power, and voice, and decolonization begins when these are centered.