The limits of planning

by Guest Author on January 26, 2012

Planning ahead in development is important, but over-planning can sometimes take away from a need to be flexible and resourceful. We are honoured to have this post from Sarah Grant, the founder of Color Me In!, an NGO that supports entrepreneurs and environmental preservation in Zambia through micro-loans and planting trees.

{ 0 comments }

The development workers’ guide to talking to other people about development

by Weh Yeoh on January 25, 2012

Being a worker in development is difficult. Sure, it can take you amazing places in the world and may even provide you with carte blanche to publicly shame Madonna or Bono, but there are unenviable parts too. One of them, is speaking to folk who don’t work in development (otherwise known as “citizens”) about your job. In this post, we try and make that painful task a little easier for you.

{ 5 comments }

Don’t tell them you’re a healer! – Spirituality in the development discourse

by Mette Muller

Spirituality is not an often discussed topic in development. Despite resistance from a lot of people, Mette Muller, who writes over at http://www.bestselfexperience.com, is setting out to change this.

January 19, 2012 Feature Article 0 comments Keep Reading

As long as the razor wire exists: Voices of refugees

by Susannah Waters

Increasing rates of self-harm and a string of suicides reveal a troubling picture of Australian immigration detention centres. Deteriorating conditions are taking their toll on asylum seekers, yet the Australian government is persisting with its policy of mandatory detention. Susannah Waters speaks to some people at the heart of the issue, and discovers the extent to which asylum seekers are dehumanised by the system.

January 18, 2012 From the Field 1 comment Keep Reading

The problem of donating to disaster relief efforts (and how NGOs can start to solve it)

by Allison Smith

It is inevitable that a major disaster will lead to an outpouring of donations in response. However, is this the best way for NGOs to utilise donor money? In her first post for whydev, Allison Smith explores why giving to NGOs post disaster can be problematic, and what NGOs can do to solve this problem.

January 11, 2012 Feature Article 6 comments Keep Reading

Poor families simply do not love one another

by Brendan Rigby

A dangerous theme and assertion appears to be emerging from Nicolas Kristof’s writings; that ‘poor families’ simply do not love each other as much as non-poor. What is disturbing about such an influential and prolific writer holding this hidden perception is that he may not be the only one. In this post, the first for 2012, Brendan explores poverty, love and a polarising journalist.

January 10, 2012 Opinion 12 comments Keep Reading

Thank you, happy holidays, and we’ll see you in 2012!

by Weh Yeoh

2011 has been our best year ever at whydev! We’d like to thank everybody who has helped us through the year, and give a sneak preview of what to expect in 2012.

December 24, 2011 Feature Article 4 comments Keep Reading

Hey, aid worker! Enough already about your New Year’s resolutions.

by Shana Montesol Johnson

‘Tis the season to make New Year’s Resolutions. Yet if you’re planning to tell your friends and family about your goals for next year – don’t. Shana Montesol Johnson of developmentcrossroads.com explains why “shutting up” about your goals can actually help you accomplish them.

December 22, 2011 Opinion 1 comment Keep Reading

Why mindfulness is essential for development workers

by Weh Yeoh

We live in increasingly busy lives where the value of multi-tasking and filtering complex priorities is seen as more and more important. How then, as development workers, can we keep our focus on the task at hand? As Weh Yeoh explains, mindfulness just might be the ticket to achieving this.

December 15, 2011 Opinion 14 comments Keep Reading

How to stay in love with your job in aid and development

by Elie Calhoun

Your relationship with your job is just like your other relationships in life – it involves work. It’s also possible that you will fall in and out of love with this relationship too. How then, do we best continue to be in love with our jobs? In this post, Elie Calhoun from Expatbackup.com, explores this idea further.

December 14, 2011 Opinion 1 comment Keep Reading

The decline effect: a storm on the horizon for RCTs?

by Brendan Rigby

A recent article in The New Yorker expressed concern about recent research demonstrating a considerable decline effect when it came to replicating experiments. It is suggested that what is at stake is the very foundation and validity of the scientific method. In this post, Brendan looks at these findings from the perspective of Randomised Control Trials (RCTs) in development, and suggests that the decline effect could have very serious and unseen implications for the future of evidence-based interventions.

December 9, 2011 Feature Article 6 comments Keep Reading

Back to the Future

by Bonnie Koenig

Bonnie Koenig has over 20 years of experience working with non-governmental organisations on strategic thinking and international programs. In this post, she talks about the major changes in the international environment that she has noticed since the 1980s.

December 8, 2011 Opinion 12 comments Keep Reading

Why International Day of People with Disabilities deserves a star in everyone’s calendar

by Guest Author

International Day of People with Disabilities, on the 3rd of December every year, rounds out a year of International Days (IDs) for many different causes. Given that so many of these causes are worthwhile, what makes this day so deserving of a star in your calendar? In her first post for whydev, Lucy Daniel of CBM Australia details why this particular day is so important.

November 30, 2011 Opinion 4 comments Keep Reading

China’s aid transparency woes.

by Philippa Brant

Current negotiations are underway to improve aid effectiveness and establish a global partnership at the High Level Forum in Busan. There is increasing pressure on China to improve the transparency of its foreign aid program and conform to global norms. Yet, China is refusing to budge and many commentators are trying to understand why. Philippa Brant offers some insight, reflecting on the often overlooked domestic context of China’s aid policy.

November 30, 2011 Opinion 0 comments Keep Reading

How should we best describe Australia’s first inhabitants?

by Guest Author

Often the choice of language used to describe groups is a matter of personal preference rather than correct grammar. In his first post for whydev, Luke Pearson explains the originals of common terms used to describe Indigenous Australians and offers his view as to how best describe Australia’s first inhabitants.

November 25, 2011 Opinion 1 comment Keep Reading

← Previous Entries