How does DFID work with non-state power holders (armed groups, faith organizations, traditional chiefs) in messy places? Interview with Wilf Mwamba

July 31, 2018
One of the highlights of the recent conference on accountability and empowerment in fragile/conflict states (see Friday’s post) was hanging out with a true ‘development entrepreneur’, Wilf Mwamba. Wilf is a rising star in DFID, set up some of the most interesting ‘adaptive management’ programmes in Nigeria, and has been in the DRC for the last 18 months, as Team
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Links I Liked

July 30, 2018
Pedants’ Revolt. ht Jo Edge How to do advocacy on/with the IMF.  Really useful (and short – 8 pages) guide from Eurodad “Church and traditional leaders are your best allies to carry public health messages that require communities to change age-old habits and challenge their traditions.” Congo’s Health Minister reflects on the lessons of his country’s wonderful Ebola success. My
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What did I learn from 2 days of intense discussions on empowerment and accountability in messy places?

July 27, 2018
I wish I was one of those people who can sit zen-like through a two day conference, smiling and constructive throughout. Instead I fear I come across as slightly unhinged – fidgety; big mood swings as I get excited, irritated or bored in rapid succession. The most recent example of my failings was a two day discussion at IDS last
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Why is Latin America Going Backwards?

July 26, 2018
Simon Ticehurst, Oxfam’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, delves into the background of some worrying times for Latin America Just a few years ago Latin America was being lauded as a success story, with stable economic growth, political stability and historical progress in addressing poverty and finally tackling the structural and historical inequality that has stymied development in
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What I’ve learned about how the structures of businesses determine their social mission

July 25, 2018
Exfamer Erinch Sahan reflects on his first 100 days as boss of the World Fair Trade Organization 100 days ago. I left Oxfam to lead the World Fair Trade Organization. After seven years in Oxfam I had got hooked on one specific question: ‘are business structures that maximise power and returns for investors the only viable option?’ So now I
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What can the Thinking and Working Politically community learn from peace and conflict mediation?

July 24, 2018
Alex Douglas from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue adds some useful insights for adaptive management/TWP from his vantage point in peace building Wily aid practitioners have long understood the importance of adapting their programs to the political environment, and even use their activities to push politics in a progressive direction.  But this magic was spun secretly, hidden behind logframes and
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Links I Liked

July 23, 2018
I’m topping and tailing today’s post with the African origins of France’s World Cup winning football team. Ht Winnie  Byanyima for this infographic This is an enchanting and uplifting 45 secs. Anyone know which country these kids are in? Special props to the ‘little hype man’. New ”Practical Guide to Measuring Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment in Impact Evaluations” from the
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Some whacky ideas for a future Oxfam – draft paper for your comments

July 20, 2018
Milton Friedman once said “Only a crisis – actual or perceived – produces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around. That, I believe, is our basic function: to develop alternatives to existing policies, to keep them alive and available until the politically impossible becomes the politically inevitable.” Well
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Escaping the Fragility Trap? Why is it so hard to think constructively about fragile states?

July 19, 2018
Just been reading the report of the ‘Commission on Fragility, Growth and Development’. Hosted by LSE and Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government; big name chairs (David Cameron, Donald Kaberuka and the LSE’s Adnan Khan). And I think it’s a bit disappointing. But the reasons for that are actually quite interesting and instructive. First the positives. Above all, the report’s recognition
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What’s the role of Aid in Fragile States? My piece for OECD

July 18, 2018
The OECD’s ‘States of Fragility’ report was published yesterday. It’s a 260 page monster, so I haven’t got round even to skimming it yet. Will report back on the interesting bits, but in the meantime here is the piece I contributed, on fragility and aid. If aid is primarily aimed at reducing extreme poverty and suffering, then its future lies
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5 ways to fix South Asia’s Water Crisis, by Vanita Suneja

July 17, 2018
Vanita Suneja of WaterAid reports on what is being done to prevent South Asia running out of underground water Major capital cities in South Asia – Dhaka, Delhi, Islamabad, Kabul and Kathmandu – are showing groundwater stress with the water table receding at an alarming rate.  In Islamabad, the water table fell to 30 feet below the surface in 2016,
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Links I Liked

July 16, 2018
The Trump demo last Friday v my first experiences in the early 80s: you still can’t hear the speakers, and everyone still mills around trying to find their friends. But at least there’s more music now and the outfits and placards have got a lot more fun. Here are a few of my favourites (the one on the left needs
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