This is the heart of whatever it is I am writing – my ten core principles for improving the provision of international aid and the implementation of development projects. I have decided to just keep writing while I figure out what form this document takes – white paper, article, book. For now, I offer you the skeleton. I’ll expand on each of these ten in future posts.
I realize there isn’t a whole lot to comment on, or for that matter, read, here, but I’d love any comments you have on my basics here.
1. Evidence-based development.
2. Fund people, not concepts.
3. More, smaller programs, more flexibility to change.
4. Longer funding cycles.
5. Focus on self-interest in international development.
6. Get real about donor coordination; it occurs primarily through individual relationships.
7. Recognize not all governments have the best interests of their populations at heart. You can’t have general policies for host country collaboration.
8. Tags, not categories.
9. Forget the private sector; learn from missionaries. Cultivate regional and technical expertise.
10. Kill off the development studies programs.
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photo credit: perpetualplum
Chosen because it was going to have to be either a skeleton or a big 10.
I’d be curious to know more of your thinking on #’s 2 and 10.
Hi Alanna,
Can you expand on this list. I may be lacking some background to understand your reason behind each.
Stacy
I love 1 and 3-9. Some of these, like 5 and 9, I can actually see happening. Others, like 3 and 4, seem less likely, or at least more distant. Like Jeff, I’m curious about 2 and 10. Care to go into more detail?
I’d definitely like to hear more what you mean about #10, though any mention of missionaries also seriously raises personal doubts. But do you mean, like, encouraging bright young people into actually practical career paths (economics, management, healthcare, etc.) rather than them studying more general “development”, or doing away with critically interrogating “development” altogether? And where else would you do that other than in an academic program?
I would be interested in more on #10 as well. Having completed a development studies program, my thought on them is that they make a great minor and a poor major. If you want to actually work overseas, then a harder skill is the way to go (doesn’t have to be something like medicine, learning other languages would be great). If you want to do research or be an academic, then a broad multi-disciplinary background will probably make your life more difficult (when the academic establishment says that they prize multi-disciplinary work, they are mostly lying). Anyways, I am interested in your thoughts Alanna.
I think #5 needs some clarification. Development driven by national self-interest on the part of the donor country is how so much got ‘effed up in Afghanistan. Obviously national self-interest isn’t going away –and I’d be naive to think it is– but, in the case of the US and USAID, I’d like to see it evolve, develop more patience, and stop being so myopically security-oriented.
Alanna,
I agree with Jeff. Would you be open to elaborating on your tenth point? It seems counter-intuitive and I’m not sure I follow, but it still resonates.
#9 is dead-on and I’ve kindof got data to prove it. Local language skills (and I don’t mean French in Francophone Africa). ten years’ worth of contacts, & an understanding of local dynamics are worth far more than a business plan or (#10) an MA in development.
Posting a skeleton is a good way to create intrigue. I look forward to the details.
#2 I heard of a study done decades ago for the US government on how best to fund innovation. The recommendation was: find the best people, give them money, and let them do what they want (like the MacArthur Fellowship does now). The recommendation was ignored, which I think is unfortunate.
#9 I’m fairly sure your definition of “Private sector” isn’t include Grameen Bank and other microfinance institutions. I assume you’re not talking about the indigenous private sector either – Paul Polak would no doubt take you to task if you are. Learn from missionaries? As long as there’s awareness of both good and bad, yes.
#10 They’re really that bad? Surely we want people to understand development, and that would mean improving ways of learning about it, including improving studies programs rather than scrapping them?
Definitely interested in #10.
I love this skeleton concept and look forward to reading more of you, in any format you decide.
She’s pumping out each one individually, in expanded form. Just wait!
B
Brendan’s right; I’ll write about each one of these. I’m having a hard time getting all my thoughts organized, but they’re coming, I promise.
Intriguing list. Can’t wait to hear more details.
On #9 I read your explanation and mostly agree (except for some talented people this might go against #5) – but then it made me think that there is still room to talk about the role of the private sector somewhere. A thriving local private sector is key to development – yet often well intentioned aid programmes can undermine it rather than nurture it.
Ian, that’s a great point. I used to have a #11, making markets work, but decided I need more time to learn about the role of the private sector before I commit to writing about it.
[…] 10 ways to make development work better: 1. Evidence-based development 2. Fund people, not concepts 3. More, smaller programs, more flexibility to change. 4. Longer funding cycles. 5. Focus on self-interest in international development. 6. Get real about donor coordination; it occurs primarily through individual relationships. 7. Recognize not all governments have the best interests of their populations at heart. You can’t have general policies for host country collaboration. 8. Tags, not categories. 9. Forget the private sector; learn from missionaries. Cultivate regional and technical expertise. 10. Kill off the development studies programs. […]
[…] lot of ideas, and quite a few tools at her disposal. She tweets and blogs unflinching truths about international development. Through her work in health, she’s observed what does and doesn’t work in efforts to make the […]
As a student in International Development, I both agree and disagree with #10, but I’ll be fascinated to read what you have to say on the subject.
Also, I posted about your thread on what we can learn from missionary work. http://www.reachfwd.wordpress.com