Applying a Power Analysis to Everything We Do: A Qualitative Inquiry to Decolonize the Global Health and Development Project Cycle (R4S Project activity CC3)

This qualitative study was conducted with 20 key informants from 15 different organizations across the Global North (GN) and Global South (GS). Fifteen participants were from the GS, and 5 were from the GN. Key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted from August 2021 to March 2022 via online platform or phone call. Participants in the KIIs were asked to share their experiences and perspectives related to the decolonization of the Global Health and Development (GHD) field. Prior to coding the data, an analytical framework was adopted to identify challenges and strategies related to colonial legacies and decolonization respectively. A codebook was developed and informed by the analytic framework, and included deductive codes for both challenges and strategies related to colonialism and decolonization throughout the GHD project life cycle. The life cycle phases used for analysis were conceptualization and contracting, program planning and implementation, and program evaluation and dissemination. This study was made possible by the American People through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), provided to FHI 360 through Cooperative Agreement 7200AA19CA00041 to implement Research for Scalable Solutions. Partners on this work included Evidence for Sustainable Human Development Systems in Africa, Makerere University School of Public Health in Uganda, Population Services International, and Save the Children.