Leaders from four African organizations sat down to give their “real”, though too-often-unheard insights on site visits from the perspective of the ones being visited.

Nobody believed that writing a book together could happen, but forty community leaders produced 27 stories about their work in development and empowerment in just 4 hours. Independent consultant Lucia Nass shares her story from Myanmar.

It still shocks me a little when a colleague will look at me and ask, “Now, what do you mean by ‘downward accountability’?”, as if I’ve uttered an oxymoron.

To celebrate Mother’s Day, I’m sharing a chapter from Ruth Stark’s book, How to Work in Someone Else’s Country, which she wrote for her daughter, Taryn, also an aid professional.

How-matters.org’s Friday feature! Sharing “Paper Over People” by yours truly.

The estimated 595,000 aid workers around the world (ALNAP, 2010) are rarely called to examine the bureaucratic rigidities that govern their day-to-day work. By supporting each other to create more trust, equity and mutual accountability with those we serve in the developing world, system-wide reform becomes more possible.

When people ask me why this farm-girl-turned-aid-worker has devoted herself to placing community-driven development initiatives at the forefront of aid, here’s why.

“Let go and let God.” It’s a mantra of the self-help group, Alcoholics Anonymous. After attending three conferences related to international aid in the last week, I’m wondering if it’s time for us to adopt the same approach.

How-matters.org’s Friday feature! Sharing “Because I Am a Girl, I Must Study” by Kamla Bhasin

What’s needed from aid workers, philanthropists, social entrepreneurs and do-gooders to put local champions at the forefront of aid? Jennifer Lentfer of how-matters.org shares her advice.