This blog – and my writing in general – is starting to get more public attention, so I think it’s a good time to remind everyone of something. I’m not special. This is not false modesty or some self-esteem issue. It’s a fact, and it’s a fact that makes me happy. I like working with brilliant people. I don’t know anything that everybody else who has worked in development for ten years or so doesn’t. When other people who work in this industry read the blog, they’re not amazed by my insight or any such. Mostly, they nod in agreement. (That’s why the comments section is so friendly.)
I am the person who has the time and inclination to write down the stuff that everybody knows. I’m not ashamed of that. Codifying accepted wisdom is a useful role. It helps outsiders understand the system, and helps insiders find their common ground. It gives everyone a clear, shared view, and that can catalyze change and system improvements.
In health systems, I believe that the people already in the system – doctors, nurses, patients – already have most of the information they need to make the system better. That’s the core of continuous quality improvement. In our international aid system, I believe that the people who actually implement projects hold a lot of valuable information. I am proud to be part of bringing it out and recording it.
I’ve got the time to write this blog, and I think that writing it makes me better at what I do. It’s a constant examination of my work – the assumptions behind it and the impact it has. I benefit from that, and I think that the projects I work for also benefit. I hope that reading this is useful to other people. But don’t mistake this for something unique.
People who work in development are amazing people. They think about their work all the time, obsessively. They try to figure out how to do as little harm as possible, and they search all the time for ways to improve their impact. Most of them are smarter than me, and know more. Most of them are too busy doing their work to want to blog about it. I’m the one who likes to write. That’s all.
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photo credit: tellumo
chosen because it’s a truly awesome disclaimer
Alanna
I think you are being far too modest – but I get your point.
The fact that your writing is about real world experience in the aid world, and done so clearly and approachably (as well as the fact that it is written down at all) is extremely valuable – so don’t slow down. You do seem to know a thing or two about gloal health as well 🙂
Alanna,
I second Ian in that you’re being far too modest. I’d also have to disagree with your last paragraph.
I think there are a number of amazing development workers, but on a whole we’re subject to the same flaws as most other types of workers. Very many don’t think about their work obsessively, many don’t follow the ‘do no harm’ doctrine, and many are just concerned with getting the numbers in every day, not with constantly improving things.
Communication is a vital element to the success of any endeavor.
Remember – the Vikings discovered America, Columbus held a press conference !
Matt – maybe I’ve been exceptionally lucky with my colleagues, but I’ve had very few who were just putting in their numbers. When I was working in international education there was a lot more apathy.
Im a new reader, and I have linked to this blog for those exact reasons that you mention. you have the insight and journalistic skills to get more information out there, and I hope that my friends and family reading my blog will check you out! Keep doing what you are doing!
Alanna, what are you talking about? You are not making much sense anymore. Everyone *knows* you love the limelight. Everyone knows you think your opinion is tops. The way you write it and say it betrays that. So, please, stop protesting to the contrary.
Sounds to me like you’re starting to need a good, long fallow period. You’re starting to talk in circles, and making little sense. First that utter nonsense about “more GH students maybe is not such a good thing,” and now this.
*Please* for your and every other young and/or impressionable mind’s sake, take a break. You’re making global health bloggers look bad.
Congratulations on your UN Dispatch blogger award, by the way.
I’m sorry you feel that way, Sake. Please feel free not to read my writing, or to disagree in detail in the comments.
Not to worry. They are rarely read, but they are echoed in the echo chamber of dubious quality that is the blogosphere.
I think your blog is great, and I very much enjoy reading it – a very interesting insight into a specific field I am not familiar with. Matt made a good point though, about development workers being subject to the same flaws as other people. I know a number of them here in Afghanistan, who don’t have the most genuine of intentions to do good; but there are also thankfully many who are committed and passionate about what they do. Anyway, keep writing!
Hi Alanna – glad to have found your blog. You have a unique way of presenting information that people need to hear!
Please also visit my little corner of the net – my blog about life as an expat in Ghana. http://hollisramblings.blogspot.com
Keep it up!
Cheers
Holli in Ghana
“Codifying accepted wisdom is a useful role.”
Very much so, and your blogging is appreciated. Recording this wisdom well requires wisdom also, and you do it well.
“I believe that the people who actually implement projects hold a lot of valuable information. I am proud to be part of bringing it out and recording it.”
That’s a task very close to my own heart. I wonder about how to access and record more of that high quality information trapped in the minds of brilliant, hard-working people.
Hi, I am of of the recognizing persons nothing is new or spectacular to me- but I am meeting more and more people who are new in development (private initiatives or other so I think this is a wonderful opportunity for them to learn from others!
Thank you, i am an undergraduate college student, and this blog(i found it tonight) has already helped me to give validity to a lot of feeling i have about writing, I am a women studies major. By writing down this information you are helping me understand how to create clearer, viable plans for change, something they seem to lack in the courses. They always end the class saying remember small victories- like teaching others, and breaking out of our own psychological chains are the difference/uplifting aspect to focus on, but i think information like this needs to be available (thanks to you-and i am sure other but yours is the first one i’ve expi) and i think this needs to be taught in ocurses that advocate for social change
Having found your blog through an email sent by a friend who is raising money for Haitian relief I am impressed with your observations as to what constitutes a good NGO.Three years ago a group of former AMREF Canada directors came together to support Abraham Temu in his desire to assist the youth of Uganda to find meaningful employment,the foundation is http://www.kibofoundation.com , over 90% of our graduates have jobs before they graduate .We have recieved recognition from the busines community in Kampala i.e an ICT/Leadership award from Rotary as the best new innovative program for 2009 .We hope to establish African Partners and GIVE the program to other communities and countries .I am the vice chair and one of the former AMREF directors and would appreciate your comments about our program and any suggestions that you may have relating to possible African Partners. Thank you for your time. June Sommers