The Junior Researchers' Institute is an immersive experience for young scholars exploring Africa's future. This year's theme, "Humanitarian Relationships and the Reinvention of Africa's Futures," inspired profound discussions on reimagining Africa's path through a decolonial lens.
For more than a dozen years, Critical Investigations into Humanitarianism in Africa (CIHA) has produced a blog (www.cihablog.com), run workshops, and shared online courses. All these undertakings have been guided by our mission statement, which is: "to transform the phenomenon of aid to Africa into egalitarian and respectful relationships that challenge unequal power relations, paternalism and victimization."
Our research and commentaries lean both on critical visions but also on religious ones so as to explore the connections that exist between issues of faith, governance, gender, and race in colonial and post-colonial contexts. Using critical thinking and open exchanges, we strive for equality, justice and, ultimately, respect for others' desires, beliefs and practices (CIHA Mission Statement).
Our research and work with numerous African scholars and NGOs representatives, have reinforced our agreement with current calls across the African continent, Europe and beyond, to "decolonize" humanitarianism and aid in general.
But what might "decolonization" mean? And how to ensure that decolonization does not reproduce the pitfalls of previous attempts to equalize relations between powerful external aid organizations and African states and societies?
The Junior Researchers' Institute is an immersive experience for young scholars exploring Africa's future. This year's theme, "Humanitarian Relationships and the Reinvention of Africa's Futures," inspired profound discussions on reimagining Africa's path through a decolonial lens.
