Beyond the Master Servant Dynamic: Degan Ali on Localization and Decolonization

In this powerful episode of the LocalLink Hub podcast, Degan Ali, executive director of Adesso and co-founder of NEAR Network, provides a profound critique of power dynamics in international aid. Drawing from her personal experiences as a Somali-American humanitarian leader, Ali dissects the complex issues of localization and decolonization in the aid sector.

Ali distinguishes between localization—moving money and leadership roles to local actors—and decolonization, which challenges the fundamental structures that create aid dependency. She argues for a radical reimagining of international NGOs, suggesting they should:

- Deeply reflect on their future relevance
- Invest in building local organizational capacity
- Create truly equitable partnerships
- Reduce their direct operational presence
- Share funding and decision-making transparently

The conversation explores the significant barriers global south organizations face, including limited resources, short-term project funding, and language limitations. Ali advocates for local organizations to gain financial sovereignty and for global south governments to set stronger conditions for international aid.

Her vision for the next decade includes local organizations becoming more united, international NGOs integrating localization principles into their core DNA, and ultimately sunsetting initiatives like the Pledge for Change by 2030 because equitable practices have become standard.

A must-listen for anyone interested in humanitarian aid, global development, and systemic change.