Call for Submissions - The Clash

Decolonise MSF is a young and growing grassroots network. We are united by a commitment to abolish all forms of discrimination at the organisation and to empower labour in the service of this goal. Our movement supports survivors of abuse and discrimination, shares educational resources, provides a channel for testimonies and the sharing of experiences, and coordinates calls for action for a better MSF in the future - for staff, communities, and patients alike.

As a movement, we see an urgent need for radical rethinking, exchange, and humility to decolonise aid. The CLASH, hosted by Decolonise MSF, aims to be a platform that centers the voices, experiences, reflections and ideas of indigenous, biracial, people of colour and allies as disrupters of racism and oppression in the aid world.

We seek contributions from people across disciplines and backgrounds. You might be someone who has received humanitarian assistance. You may be a current or former MSF staff. You might be a practitioner from another organisation or expert in another area. We believe all these perspectives matter and want to elevate voices that have been historically excluded.

What areas are we interested in learning more about?

How does structural racism and its connections to sexism, ageism, classism and other forms of discrimination appear in aid? Based on your experiences, how are existing power dynamics and hierarchy maintained in our language, beliefs, values, behaviours, policies and structures? Do these dynamics look different in your discipline or part of the world?

How have you individually coped with or tried to change discrimination and abuse in aid? How did it affect you, your team or your organisation? What worked and what was less successful? What were the intended and unintended consequences?

What challenges and opportunities face those who try to disrupt the status quo and situations of discrimination and abuse? What are our hopes, fears, and worries? How can we better support and learn from one another?

What discriminatory biases and practices should disrupters be aware of in themselves when promoting awareness and change? How do we avoid replicating oppression? How have you tried to confront your own biases and learn? What did it feel like? What advice would you give to others?

What collective actions have you taken to raise awareness and bring change around you? What successes and difficulties have you encountered? What are possible areas and actions that need further exploration?

How is our present aid system shaped by its past? Are there lessons from the history of the aid sector and social justice movements as we try to create change now? Are there champions for change in the sector from the past and present we can learn from?

What does decolonisation mean to you? What would decolonised aid look and feel like? What are the values, culture, practices and structures of a system free from abuse and discrimination?

This list is not exhaustive and is meant to give a flavour of themes we’d like to hear more on. Specific calls for other topics will also follow in the future. We are interested in alternative ways to think about change and its complexity.

What can you submit?

Your human account and views, in your format.

This might be an analytical piece reflecting on your personal experience and ideas. It could be an interview or conversation with someone you want to learn more from. It could be one of the many stories we are sure you have.

Written contributions are welcome and we also invite other mediums that equally demonstrate experience and expertise--such as art, photography, poetry, audio, and videos.

We are open to contributions in all languages. Let us know and we will work together to arrange a translated version in English to feature alongside the original.

We will consider publishing contributions anonymously or with a pen name, in collaboration with the contributor. We are highly aware of the negative consequences that can occur when people speak out. We commit to providing follow up to our contributors and documenting if any bullying, harassment or retaliation takes place after they share their experiences.

Interested? Have an idea? Have more questions? Reach us at decolonizemsf@gmail.com.

07.19.21