Decolonizing German and European cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean

Rethinking power structures in the field of international aid
Decolonising German and European cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean
Rethinking power structures in the field of international aid
Meeting organized by the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) with the support of GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH)
Meeting organized by the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) with the support of GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH)
Analysis and experiences in the territories / Analysis and experiences in the regions
– Karina Bidaseca , Coordinator of the Tricontinental South-South Program of the project “Decolonising German Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean” / CLACSO / Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH / Coordinator of the Tricontinental South-South Program for the project “Decolonising German Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean” / CLACSO / Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Adriana Anacona Muñoz , an Indigenous Yanakuna woman from Colombia; PhD in History and Art from the Universidad del Valle, Colombia
– Juan David Macuace Torres (Macu) , Afro-queer activist and MA student in social anthropology, Colombia
– Leila de Souza Netto , from Colectivo Mulheres de Pedra de Brasil / From the Collective Women of Pedra in Brazil
– Guadalupe Cárdenas Zitle , Director of the Mercedes Olivera Feminist Collective in Mexico
– Cecilia López Pérez , K'inal Antsetik , an indigenous woman, a Tsotsil speaker, and a women's rights advocate , Mexico
– Inés Castro Apreza , feminist political scientist; researcher at the University of Sciences and Arts of Chiapas, Mexico
– Janneth Lozano Bustos , Community organizer and human rights defender, Director of the Corporation for the Support of Grassroots Communities in Colombia (CODACOP)
– Marcela Lorenzo Pérez : President of the Xango Argentina Association
1. Recognize epistemic justice as a guiding principle
2. Redesigning financing and access mechanisms
3. Transforming the monitoring logic: from control to co-responsibility
4. Incorporate the spiritual and cultural dimension as a central element of development
5. Prioritize the development of skills and autonomy.
6. Guarantee co-creation and horizontal decision-making
7. Promote a diplomacy of cooperation based on historical reparations
8. Promoting an ethic of relationships and respect for Human Rights: from intervention to connection
9. Promote an intersectional gender approach and respect for the rights of women and LGBTQI+ people
10. Regain control of the narrative on development from the worldview of the communities themselves and exercise their autonomy with respect to European agencies
The 10 Principles of Good Practice for Decolonising German and European International Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean
1. Recognizing epistemic justice as a guiding principle
2. Redesigning funding and access mechanisms
3. Transforming the monitoring logic: from control to co-responsibility
4. Incorporating the spiritual and cultural dimensions as a core element of development
5. Prioritizing capacity building and autonomy
6. Guaranteeing co-creation and horizontal decision-making
7. Promoting a cooperation diplomacy based on historical reparations
8. Fostering an ethics of relationships and respect for human rights: from intervention to connection
9. Promoting an intersectional gender approach and respect for the rights of women and LGBTQI+ people
10. Regaining control of the narrative on development from the worldview of the communities themselves and exercising their autonomy with respect to European agencies
Credits
CLACSO with the support of GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH) / CLACSO, with the support of GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH)
Research team / Research team
Karina A. BidasecaProject Leader (CLACSO/University of Buenos Aires/UNSAM/CONICET, Argentina) / Project Leader (CLACSO/University of Buenos Aires/UNSAM/CONICET, Argentina)
Adriana Anacona Muñoz, Yanakuna indigenous woman, Doctor in History and Art, Professor at Universidad del Valle, Colombia
Claudia miranda (UNIRIO, Brazil)
Inés Castro Apreza (Faculty of Humanities, UNICACH, Mexico)
CLACSO Executive Secretariat / CLACSO Executive Secretariat
Pablo Vommaro, Executive Director / Chief Executive
Laura GastónDirector of Administration / Director of Administration
Gloria Amézquita PuntielAcademic Director / Academic Director
Gustavo LemaDirector of Communication and Information / Director of Communications and Information
Fernanda Pampín, Director of Editorial Production / Director of Editorial Production
Alejandro Gambina, Director of Training and Postgraduate Network / Director of Training and Postgraduate Network
Magdalena RauchResearch Coordinator / Research Coordinator
Nora Goren, Coordinator of the Articulation and Strengthening Area / Coordinator of the Coordination and Capacity-Building Unit
Natalia Laski &Sofia Torres, support for the project / Support for the Project
Guido Fontán &Eric DomergueProduction and editing / production and editing
Illustrations / Illustrations
Nadia MayolIllustrations and infographics / Illustrations and infographics
Ludmila LustmanInitial image / Opening image
Participating organizations and institutions
Argentina : Uniafro (Research and Extension Program on Afro-descendants and Afro-diasporic Studies) & NuSUR (South-South Nucleus of Postcolonial Studies, Performances, Afrodiasporic Identities and Feminisms) Interdisciplinary School of Higher Social Studies, National University of San Martín), Xangô Group.
Brazil : Mulheres da Pedra; House of Pretas; Women of Salgueiro; Cores da Floresta; Black Mulheres Decidem; Gênesis Environmental Education Center.
Colombia : Corporation for Support to Popular Communities (Codacop); National Coordination of Indigenous Women of Colombia (CONAMIC); National Roundtable of Black, Afro-Colombian, Raizal and Palenquera Women; Caribbean Network - Cabuya Backpack of the Kamkuamo People; Juan David - MACU - Sexual and Gender Diversity Activist.
Mexico : University of Sciences and Arts of Chiapas, K'inal Antsetik, AC (Land of Women); Jolom Mayaetik (Mayan Weavings); Center for Training and Capacity Building for Women (Cefocam); Sakil Nichim Antsetik (Women of White Flowers), Mercedes Olivera Feminist Collective (Cofemo); Melel Xojobal; Economic and Social Development of Indigenous Mexicans (Desmi)
Buenos Aires, April 30, 2026 / Buenos Aires, April 30, 2026
Virtual meeting “Decolonizing German Cooperation in America” (webinar March 26, 2026)