You should read it every day. No, seriously. Every day. I point the way to a lot of interesting things, some of which have obvious connections to international development and some of which don’t. If you read this blog long enough, it should, I hope, give you by reading (and more importantly me by writing) a better understanding of the issues that impact international aid and development, and ways to make development programming work better.
I adore #14 from this list: “Don’t even look at your own industry for ideas – look everywhere else. If you take it from your own industry, you’re a copycat. If you go to a different industry, they’ll tell you how they did it – and you’re the innovator in your industry.” I try to do that all the time – look from place to place for ideas that can be applied in a new way. It’s what this blog is about.
You should not seek change lightly. International development programs should be efficient, effective, and evidence based. They should be implemented by professionals who know what they are doing. They are not easy to run. They are genuine, difficult work, done to make this world a better place to be. International assistance deserves and requires serious thought.
This blog is my attempt at that serious thought. I read in a wide range of disciplines including health, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, marketing, anthropology, business, finance, and psychology, and I synthesize that information to find its connection to international development.
UN Dispatch