Decolonising lessons learned in Zimbabwe

An article published in PLoS One documents facilitators and barriers in transitioning leadership of a voluntary medical circumcision programme from the global north to a local organisation in the global south. The authors gleaned knowledge from interviews with 16 stakeholders involved in the transition of a Zimbabwe programme funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) from a US.-based organisation to an organisation in Zimbabwe. Factors that facilitated the transition included developing a clear vision of what local ownership means, investing time to create a supportive local context, clear communication with stakeholders about the potential risks and benefits of the transition, engaging and mobilising staff, and defining short- and long-term success (Aidsmap, 31 March 2023).