{"id":28272,"date":"2023-10-02T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aea365.org\/blog\/?p=28272"},"modified":"2023-09-27T11:00:58","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T15:00:58","slug":"decolonization-in-evaluation-week-dismantling-the-white-gaze-in-program-evaluation-by-shama-dossa-sadaf-shallwani","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aea365.org\/blog\/decolonization-in-evaluation-week-dismantling-the-white-gaze-in-program-evaluation-by-shama-dossa-sadaf-shallwani\/","title":{"rendered":"Decolonization in Evaluation Week: Dismantling the White Gaze in Program Evaluation by Shama Dossa & Sadaf Shallwani"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Shama<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hello everyone! We are Shama Dossa<\/strong> and Sadaf Shallwani<\/strong>, hybrid Global South\/North women of colour who have been working in research and evaluation in the fields of global development and philanthropy for the last couple of decades. Shama is the Feminist Manager for Learning and Evaluation at Fenomenal Funds<\/a>, and Sadaf is the Director of Programs and Learning at Firelight Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, we have been using the concept of the \u2018White gaze\u2019 to analyze the role of evaluation in international development. This blog post draws a chapter we co-authored on \u201cEvaluation and the White gaze in international development\u201d (see Rad Resources below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018White gaze\u2019 is the idea that subjects draw on a particular (White) lens to observe, analyze, and intervene in the lives of Brown and Black as \u201cobjects\u201d\u2014whose agency is minimized. The White gaze is not just about passive observation, but rather is active, intentional, and has a lasting impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evaluation in global development centers the White subject as the do-er, the Saviour, and the neutral expert. While couched in the discourse of \u2018accountability\u2019 and \u2018evidence-based\u2019 decision-making, evaluation implicitly serves as a technocratic tool for White surveillance and intervention on Brown and Black lives in the Global South.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decolonizing evaluation<\/a> requires engaging with imperialism and colonialism at multiple levels and in multiple ways. It also requires a critical reflexive analysis of the assumptions, motivations, and values which underpin evaluation practices. Thus, our analysis is interwoven with our own critical reflexive practice as evaluators and women of color in global development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the reflections that have emerged from our analysis include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n