Communication justice must be at heart of decolonizing international development

The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) calls for a fundamental reassessment of the international development model, which it describes as a colonial project. Amidst declining foreign aid from the United States and Europe, WACC advocates for a 'post-aid world' centered on communication justice, democratic data ownership, and the prioritization of national actors and Indigenous knowledge over Northern agendas.

• International development funding is declining, specifically noting massive foreign aid cuts by the United States and a shifting political climate in Europe that threatens civil society organizations.
• The current international development model, established after WWII and embodied by institutions like the World Bank, is criticized for structural issues including donor-driven agendas and unjustified salary disparities between Northern and Southern employees.
• Efforts to decolonize aid include prioritizing national actors in funding and policy, alleviating the debt burden of developing countries, and establishing funds in countries such as Guatemala, Sudan, and Somalia that center feminist and Indigenous knowledge.
• WACC asserts that communication justice is essential for decolonizing development, specifically advocating for democratic data ownership, the democratization of media power, and a transparent knowledge regime.

APA

Miller, T. R. (2025). Communication justice must be at heart of decolonizing international development. World Association for Christian Communication. https://waccglobal.org/communication-justice-must-be-at-heart-of-decolonizing-international-development/

Chicago

Miller, Terri R. Communication justice must be at heart of decolonizing international development. World Association for Christian Communication, 2025. https://waccglobal.org/communication-justice-must-be-at-heart-of-decolonizing-international-development/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Miller |first1=Terri R. |title=Communication justice must be at heart of decolonizing international development |publisher=World Association for Christian Communication |date=21 May 2025 |url=https://waccglobal.org/communication-justice-must-be-at-heart-of-decolonizing-international-development/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{miller2025communication, author = {Miller, Terri R.}, title = {{Communication justice must be at heart of decolonizing international development}}, publisher = {World Association for Christian Communication}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://waccglobal.org/communication-justice-must-be-at-heart-of-decolonizing-international-development/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }