Exploring understandings and approaches to decolonisation in the field of violence against women and girls: Towards conceptual clarity and actionable strategies for funding, programming and research

Despite recognition that decolonisation is important, there remains a lack of conceptual clarity on what exactly decolonising might involve. Our qualitative study explores how colonialism and decolonisation are conceptualised within the field of violence against women and girls (VAWG), and identifies practical strategies to decolonise funding, programming and research. Our findings draw from 17 semi-structured interviews, eight focus group discussions (FGDs) and five feedback workshops (n = 83) with practitioners, researchers and donors supporting VAWG prevention and response. We identified participants through existing professional networks and used snowball sampling to recruit participants from all world regions. Interviews and FGDs were conducted in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. We used a reflexive thematic approach for analysis. There was confusion and disagreement about what the term 'decolonisation' means. To address this, VAWG actors must identify the legacy and impact of colonialism for the field, and clarify the roles of Northern and Southern actors in decolonising. Our findings highlight that the area where most work is still needed is around VAWG programming, where coloniality may be embedded into programme design and implementation, requiring more concerted actions to decolonise. Funding was also identified as a key area where structural reform is needed. Research, however, was an area where there appeared to be much higher awareness and action related to decolonising, linked to momentum around dismantling research-based power hierarchies outside of the VAWG field. This research contributes to articulating the main barriers to decolonising and identifies practical actions for funding, programming and research within the VAWG field and beyond.