This study and toolkit were commissioned by Ngo-federatie and 11.11.11, in collaboration with the working group “Dekoloniseren, Evenwaardige Partnerschappen en Ontkokering”. The research was carried out by UHasselt and LEVL, and is accompanied by a practical toolkit developed by LEVL.

The toolkit and the report complement each other: the report provides the analysis, and the toolkit offers the tools for action.

Research Report: sector analysis on anti-racism

The study examines how structural racism manifests within the sector and evaluates which current measures are effective. It also identifies where important gaps persist, both at organisational and systemic levels.  Based on these findings, the study formulates clear recommendations on how the sector can further strengthen its anti‑racism efforts.

The study explores the following findings in detail and provides specific recommendations for each topic:

1. Experiences with Racism among BIPOC employees in the NGO sector
2. Conceptual Interpretations and Perceptions in the NGO Sector: On Diversity, Decolonization and Anti-Racism
3. Internal Barriers Undermining Anti-Racism Efforts within the NGO Sector
4. Structural Challenges Impacting Anti-Racism Efforts in the Belgian NGO Sector

Toolkit: practical tools for Anti-racism 

Building on the study’s insights, the accompanying toolkit offers practical, accessible and evidence‑based tools that enable NGOs to reinforce their anti‑racism work in a feasible and sustainable way. It supports organisations in translating commitments into concrete, long‑term change.

The toolkit addresses questions such as: What does anti‑racism look like in the daily operations of an NGO? How do you change not only your communication, but also your recruitment processes, governance structures, and ways of engaging partners and stakeholders? And how can small organisations with limited resources and tight staffing do this effectively?

What’s in the toolkit?

The toolkit consists of three parts and nine thematic sets, with annexes you can use immediately:

• Part A – Introduction & Orientation: navigation guide, self‑assessment, and visual roadmap
• Part B – Foundational Framework: concepts on structural racism, power, intersectionality, and participatory engagement
• Part C – From Recommendations to Action: nine sets of recommendations, covering topics such as micro‑aggressions, recruitment, complaint mechanisms, leadership, funding, and advocacy

The annexes include, among others: a recruitment procedure template, a self‑identification form, a diversity scan, and a guide for performance and development conversations.

For every organisation – Regardless of scale

The toolkit is extensive – intentionally so. It reflects the complexity of structural racism. But it is also modular: you do not need to do everything at once. You set your own pace and scope.

Four segments offer a clear starting point for every organisation, whatever its size or resources:

1. Diagnosis: Organise one team conversation on power and exclusion. No budget needed – only honesty.
2. Structural involvement: Ensure that BIPOC staff and affected communities have meaningful influence.
3. Concrete action: Evaluate one existing procedure – recruitment, complaints, or decision‑making – against the criteria in the toolkit.
4. Monitoring: Set three measurable goals and review them after six months.

Binnen de werkgroep keken we in de spiegel. We bundelden inzichten, interessante bronnen, interviews en vormingen tot de inspiratiegids ‘Dekoloniseren. Nu!’.

We dagen met deze publicatie iedereen uit om met een dekoloniale bril naar de eigen werking te kijken en de discussie te voeren. Geen one size fits all, geen stappenplan of checklist, maar stof tot nadenken, tot discussie en actie. Doe je mee?

Lexicon

Deze woordenlijst met termen over dekolonisatie hoort bij de Inspiratiegids ‘Dekoloniseren.Nu!’. Het is ter inspiratie voor Belgische actoren van internationale rechtvaardigheid.

• Interactieve versie (klik om te bezoeken)
• PDF versie

In opdracht van ngo-federatie en 11.11.11 werd in 2020 een onderzoek verricht door de UGent rond welke implicaties dekolonisering heeft voor de Vlaamse sector van ontwikkelingssamenwerking.