Not all lived realities can be captured quantitatively. But some successful evidence-based approaches are working to decolonise impact evaluation.

In discussions on locally led development, the focus tends to be on power dynamics, decision-making and hierarchy, mostly in relation to resource mobilisation. While this is central to the debate, it is also essential to decolonise from the start to the end of the development process, and this is the domain of monitoring and evaluation (M&E).

The current development space’s monitoring and evaluation frameworks, practices and impact evaluations are based on perspectives from donor countries and their ecosystem of privileges. What is currently not considered is the context of the local community where funding is mobilised.