Degan has worked as a global leader in community-centered development for 20+ years.

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Degan is a trailblazer in the movement to decolonize development aid and rethink humanitarianism

As the Founder and Principal of DA Global, Degan Ali is working to reform the global aid ecosystem through a series of services supporting organizations and individuals in heeding this important call. The result is transformational change at a personal and structural level.

WORKING WITH DEGAN

Consulting & Coaching

Decolonize your organization through strategy development, operation & partner evaluations, communication assessments and coaching.

Speaking

Be inspired and informed through keynote talks from someone at the forefront of international change.

Courses

Learn practical ways to decolonize your daily work — whether you are a student, aid worker or funder.

Degan has courageously led much of the practical thinking and advocacy that has uncovered the racist and colonial practices in humanitarian aid. She is a powerful speaker and gifted teacher who reaches out to people with reason, evidence and humour. Degan is strategic and persuasive, and she has a very clear view of how to decolonize aid and make it work better for everyone.

Hugo Slim

Sr Research Fellow at Oxford University & former Policy Director at ICRC

Degan is one of the most important figures in the humanitarian sector. She has led critical conversations about how we modernise and decolonise, establishing herself as voice that is uniquely credible amongst both the highest levels of policymaking and in the frontlines of humanitarian action. And, importantly, she isn’t just a commentator – she is a practitioner who draws on years of organisational experience.

Danny Sriskandarajah

CEO Oxfam Great Britain

Degan is a force of nature, a clear thinker who speaks truth to power and is determined to redress injustice where she sees it. She has been playing a decisive role in highlighting the ills and hypocrisies of the current international aid system and in creating networks and approaches that offer an alternative to the status quo. And she is a pleasure to work with!

Sara Pantuliano

CEO Overseas Development Institute UK

Degan is a true inspiration to me. The sector needs urgent reshaping and it is through the challenges that Degan poses to us, her deep reflections, and her courageous voice, that the issues that need to be urgently addressed become visible and clear. Degan not only calls out power dynamics, she also proposes specific solutions for dignified and locally-led humanitarian response and development. Whoever has interacted with Degan will know about the deep mark she leaves in every interaction with her. Am deeply grateful for Degan’s leadership, commitment and passion, and for the journey that lies ahead of us, which I wholeheartedly join.

Sofia Sprechmann Sineiro

Secretary General CARE International

DEGAN’S VALUES:

Courage to speak
truth to power.

Decolonization is not easy work. There is discomfort on the way to meaningful change. Degan commits to being courageous in her work — and asks her colleagues to make that commitment, too.

Empathy to lead with
awareness & sensitivity.

To create change, we must put ourselves in others’ shoes. As a result, empathy is essential when communicating the stories of those we are serving.

Humility to learn
from others.

Even as a recognized international expert, Degan continuously learns from others, and actively creates space for others to also lead.

Patience to act with
perseverance & tolerance.

Systemic change takes time and many people’s participation. Degan works with people where they’re at, and in their own time.

The Camel Caravan conference, Opening Speech

"We are not here to just do things the easy way. We have to be able to rise to the challenge."

— Degan Ali

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