Refugees International

International development blogs

By Alanna Shaikh | | 0 Comments |

My Google alerts have been good to me. I have been heartened to discover more and more blogs which touch on international development in interesting ways. You may have seen my blog roll expanding; I’m trying to create something like a comprehensive list. Check it out and explore.

Here are a few highlights:

NGO blogs

Oxfam and Refugees International both have great organization blogs, which showcase deep topical knowledge and passionate writing. Medecins sans Frontieres has a whole compendium of personal accounts by aid workers. Project HOPE has a blog all about (and by) their field volunteers, which would be a great resource for someone who wanted the nitty-gritty about medical volunteering.

Individual blogs

Vasco Pyjama has amazing, amazing posts about life abroad doing international development work. She is the real thing; full of insight on the work she does and with a wry and engaging voice. Chris Blattman is a famous development economist (insofar as there is such a thing) and one of my personal heroes. The Road to the Horizon, by Peter Casier, is dense with interesting information, personal observations, and lovely storytelling.

Refugees International on aid workers and security

By Alanna Shaikh | | 0 Comments |

Refugees International is always willing to make a controversial point, and I respect them for it. They’ve got a great blog called world:bridge (side note – it’s an excellent example of an NGO using blogging to establish itself as an authority and engage people as partners and donors) which today features an insightful discussion of aid work in conflict areas. I don’t agree with everything they have to say, but they’ve got some excellent points and are thinking at a level of complexity about this topic that most people don’t bother with.