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Certificate peer learning programme for the decolonization of global health
Decolonization of gobal health: A practical approach
Every day, colonial power structures shape who benefits from global health.
This âlearn-by-doingâ programme connects you with colleagues across countries and system levels to implement concrete solutions.
JOIN YOUR FIRST COURSE
The problem we see everywhere
Colonial thinking still shapes global health in ways that harm communities and waste resources:
- Some voices matter more than others. Researchers in wealthy countries are treated as experts while health workers in communities are ignored, even when they understand problems better.
- Money comes with strings attached. Funding flows from wealthy countries to poor countries with rules that benefit donors more than communities.
- Solutions are designed far from problems. Programmes fail because they are created by people who do not understand local realities.
- Knowledge flows one direction. Research and policies are made by outsiders, not with communities who need them most.
What we believe
Your experience and knowledge have value. Whether you are a community health worker in rural India, a researcher in London, or a policy maker in Ouagadougou, you understand things that others do not see.
Better solutions emerge when we learn together. When a health worker in Kenya shares solutions with a colleague in Guatemala, both learn something that helps their communities.
Change happens through action, not just ideas. Reading about decolonization is not enough. We need practical tools and implementation support to make real changes.
What makes this programme unique?
In this programme, health practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and funders learn from each other.
- Community-level insights shape academic research.
- Practitioners gain influence over policy that helps them navigate systems change.
- Global insights help reveal, spread, and scale local solutions for decolonizing global health.
Learning by doing, not lectures
You learn by working on real challenges with peers who face similar issues in different contexts. Experts guide discussions but do not lecture at you.
Action-focused projects
Every learning experience centers on developing practical tools, frameworks, or strategies your and your organization can use immediately.
Productive diversity
Learn with health professionals, researchers, managers, policy makers, and global partners from around the world. This diversity creates solutions no single group could develop alone.
What will you gain?
Real solutions to complex problems. Work on challenges you face in your daily work, not theoretical exercises.
Global learning community. Build lasting connections with peers who share your commitment to transformation.
Evidence that change is possible. See concrete examples of successful decolonization from diverse contexts and organizations.
Ongoing support network. Stay connected to peers and experts as you implement changes over time.
Who is this for?
For Global South leaders
Your knowledge gets the respect it deserves. Connect with peers globally who value your expertise and experience. Learn strategies for more equitable partnerships with international organizations.
Practical tools for your context. Develop frameworks and strategies that work in your specific setting, not generic solutions designed elsewhere.
Stronger voice in global conversations. Build connections with researchers, funders, and policy makers who want to center community voices in their work.
Implementation support. Get ongoing help to make changes in your organization, not just good ideas you cannot use.
For Global North allies
Move beyond good intentions. Learn practical approaches for transforming your organizationâs partnerships, research methods, and funding models.
Understand your blind spots. Hear directly from Global South colleagues about how current approaches cause harm, even when well-intended.
Build authentic relationships. Create genuine partnerships with peers in different contexts based on mutual learning and respect.
Lead organizational change. Develop skills and frameworks for implementing decolonization in your institution, not just your individual practice.
Health professionals and community leaders
- Community health workers who want to advocate for recognition of their expertise
- Clinical staff who see how global health policies affect their daily practice
- Public health professionals working to make health systems more responsive to community needs
- Community leaders advocating for health equity
Policy makers and programme managers
- Government health officials creating more equitable policies
- NGO leaders shifting power within their organizations
- Programme managers ensuring initiatives truly serve local communities
- Technical advisors redesigning support approaches
- Donor organizations transforming funding models
- International organizations reforming country engagement
Researchers and students
- Researchers who want to challenge colonial assumptions in their work
- Students in public health, medicine, and related fields seeking to understand power dynamics
- Implementation scientists working to bridge research and practice
- Academic leaders transforming institutional approaches
5 areas of focus
Choose the learning experience that matches your most important challenge.
1. Foundations: Power analysis and reflexive practice
Learn to identify colonial power structures in your work and develop strategies to transform them. Perfect for: Anyone new to decolonization who wants practical tools for change
2. Partnerships: Transforming global-local relationships
Restructure partnerships between organizations in wealthy and poor countries for greater equity. Perfect for: People managing international partnerships or collaborations
3. Knowledge: Decolonizing evidence and expertise
Transform how knowledge is created, shared, and valued to center diverse forms of expertise. Perfect for: Researchers, policy makers, and programme managers
4. Resources: Equitable financing and resource allocation
Change how money and resources flow to reduce harmful dependencies and build local strength. Perfect for: Funders, donors, and organizations managing budgets
5. Leadership: Building decolonized governance and accountability
Create new models of shared leadership and mutual accountability. Perfect for: Organizational leaders and governance reformers
Join a global community.
Ready to transform how global health works?
Join thousands of practitioners who are creating more equitable approaches to health partnerships, research, funding, and leadership.
What happens when you join:
- Register your interest: Share your name and email. Think about the change you want to contribute to.
- Join your first course: Get information about upcoming learning opportunities and enroll now.
- Connect with peers: Once you complete your first course, you will be invited to join our global community of Alumni leaders.
- Take action: At every stage of the programme, you will work on developing and implementing practical solutions for real challenges in your work.
Why should you care about decolonization of global health?
Every day, colonial power structures shape who benefits from global health. Communities are excluded from decisions affecting their health. Research extracts knowledge without benefit to participants. Funding flows with conditions that serve donors more than recipients. Policies are designed by outsiders who do not understand local realities.
Ready to move beyond talking about decolonization to actually making it happen? Join health workers, researchers, policy makers, and community leaders from over 80 countries who are creating practical solutions for more equitable global health.
Connecting the dots
Listen to Dr Luchuo E. Bain, your Guide for the âIntroduction to decolonization of global health in practiceâ course
The short course âIntroduction to decolonization of global health in practiceâ is your first step in a complete curriculum designed to transform you into an effective decolonization leader.
Advanced modules include practical implementation support, partnership transformation, resource allocation strategies, and advocacy skills.
Our approach follows the World Health Organizationâs recommendations
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified key actions needed to create fair health systems that work for everyone. Our approach directly supports these recommendations.
We bring diverse voices together.
WHO calls for meaningful participation from all communities in health decisions. TGLFâs approach creates a space where community members lead conversations with frontline workers, researchers, and policy makers as equal partners, breaking down traditional power differences.
We support action, not just talk.
WHO emphasizes that equity requires moving from awareness to concrete action. TGLFâs approach gives you practical tools to find bias in your work and clear steps to fix these problems.
We focus on root causes.
WHO emphasizes looking beyond immediate health problems to address the deeper social causes of poor health. Our approach helps you identify how social systems create unfair treatment in health, not just its symptoms.Â
We focus on people, not just diseases.
WHO recommends designing health systems around people's needs rather than diseases alone. TGLFâs approach helps you see the whole person with their unique set of needs based on gender, ability, ethnicity, age, and other factors.
About The Geneva Learning Foundation
Our commitment to equity in action
The Geneva Learning Foundation is a Swiss non-profit. We research, develop, and implement new ways to transform how knowledge is created, shared, and applied. In global health, we connect health workers across 137 countries through digital networks that recognize local expertise as essential for effective action.
TGLF believes that those closest to challenges hold the most valuable solutions. Our peer learning approach:
- Values knowledge from all sourcesâwhether from community health workers or researchers
- Creates spaces where diverse voices lead as equals, challenging traditional power hierarchies
- Makes learning accessible across contexts, regardless of geography or resources
- Demonstrates that including more diverse perspectives leads to better health outcomes
We don't just talk about decolonizationâwe design systems where it happens, connecting local action to global impact through networks of practitioners who both teach and learn.