Accountability to whom? Keep asking.
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.
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.
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.
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.
James Oonyu, the Founder and Director of Liregu Christian Grace Ministries, a faith-based community development organization based in Lira, Uganda, explains the capacity challenges his organization faces, as well as the very real challenges he faces in working with aid funders.
Ultimately, people just need more recognition for the good work that they do. (Part 3 of 3)
Under-resourced and under-recognized local organizations face immense challenges on the ground. Yet we as outsiders most often choose to express frustration or impatience if an organization does not appear to be responding to our expectations. (Part 2 of 3)
In order to build authentic relationships with grassroots organizations, these qualities, attitudes and abilities will really make a difference. (Part 1 of 3)
We don’t talk about our hearts nearly enough in international aid. But this Valentine’s Day seems like a good time to do so. Sharing an excerpt from “The Love That Does Justice: Spiritual Activism in Dialogue With Social Science,” edited By Michael A. Edwards & Stephen G. Post
Sharing sixteen elements of an organization that change as it gets stronger. By Phil Bartle, PhD.
“Development work had become more about systems and structures than the actual lived realities of people,” argues Mette Müller, founder of Best Self Experience. Can important concepts like ’empathy’, ‘understanding’ and ‘compassion’ enter the way we deliver aid?