Social Climate Change
Rather surprlsingly I was recently asked by one of Europe's largest energy companies [not an oil company I hasten to add!] to join a small but eclectic group of people they convened to look at climate change issues. One of the issues on which they sought reflection was the question of citizen engagement - both in and of itself and related to energy companies. ...[
Perhaps lost in the shadow of the debate over whether President Obama deserved the Nobel Peace Prize were the implications for international development policy and strategy of the thinking and work by one of the winners of the Nobel Prize for Economic Science.In recent times - particularly in Europe but maybe also growing in the USA - there appears to have been a significant emphasis on prioritising the creation of strong, sustainable governments and States...[
Maybe I am just too idealistic. Perhaps principles that I think are important just get in the way. It might be time to return to the good old days! Or maybe I am naive and failing to recognise "what it takes" to "get things done". I am going to make this anonymous because I am sure that what I am about to describe happens all of the time and I am sure that those of us...[
Two major development agencies with different priorities and emphases have both embarked on new strategic directions that emphasise that development action and support must revolve around government. The new DFID/UKAID White Paper has a focus on so-called “failed states” and those in serious conflict situations. The prescription for these situations is to concentrate on helping those countries to build solid, stable Governments. The intended strategy to achieve this is a focus on the mechanisms required...[
So what would you do if you had a big bunch of money (which I do not, I hasten to add) and you were interested in funding media development? How would you invest those funds? What principles would guide that investment? What results would you expect? It is a pertinent question for two major reasons. Media are vitally important both in their own right and for the full spectrum of development action - from freedom of...[
It can be very frustrating being on the people side of development. Whilst we argue for: greater action and support for broader and deeper public debate and dialogue; improved analysis of and support for culturally significant action; the need to address negative social norms; greater rights, freedoms, and voice for those most affected by development; improved behaviour change strategies; a freer and more diverse media; and other such factors as being central to effective development action... ...the...[
Over the past couple of weeks, in very different fora, I have been exposed to the new international development policies of two major and very different bilateral development agencies - DFID (UK) and AECID (Spain). The differences in those policies - which in my summary are 'Build effective states' vs. "Facilitate solidarity between peoples" - will be the subject of a future blog. My colleague and good friend (and independent thinker) James Deane has an...[
Percussive Effects
- supporting the communication and media for development community
The Newseum is now housed in a shiny new, modern, large, much-celebrated building in Washington, DC. As someone from a small town in rural New Zealand it is completely overwhelming - makes me feel so small. I fondly remember the old Newseum across the river in Arlington, Virginia. It was cozy, cramped, shambolic, and homely, oozing the spirit of the struggles of peoples to connect with...[
Within international development circles we often hear and read of Policy Platforms. The problem is that, though they are policies, they rarely have platforms at the centre of their proposed action. Too often they are prescriptions for how to approach an issue or problem. What is the difference? A platform establishes a foundation through which the people most involved or affected by a development issue can debate, organise, and review to address that issue. A...[
Trading Rights What connections are there between the internet and gold prospecting? Of course, the obvious one is that most digital technology processes seem to emerge from Northern California and that was also the scene of the great 1849 Gold Rush. But the possible connection that I am thinking of is that, like gold prospectors, we can all spend so much time on the internet dredging through useless sludge before we find a little nugget!...[
Can there be any argument with a policy that drives strategies and programmes that reduces homicides from 184 to 26 per 100,000 adults over a 5 year period [2003 to 2007]; significantly raises a city's Human Development Index score [74.35 in 2001 to 80.4 in 2006]; sees the Quality of Life Index zoom upwards [68.09 in 2001 to 83.77 in 2006]; and makes considerable economic gains for that city? Not to mention puts more smiles...[
One sure-fire way to start an argument in any development policy meeting that includes a cross-section of the international development disciplines is to contribute, as softly and gently as possible of course, a comment along the lines of it being time for the economists to move over and let those who see effective development from the perspective of people, not data, begin to run things. This is even more fun if you are in The...[
President-elect Obama and his team have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to foment and support change. Much of that change relates to the practice of democracy and governance which is also such an important global development priority. Of course the major change challenges of a global economic melt-down, climate change, poverty, global security, relations between peoples of different faiths, and other vital issues now await an Obama Administration. But we should all reflect on what we...[
Cable News Within international development policy we spend a lot of time planning. Much of that planning is either at the micro-level - particular programmes or projects - or issue-related - for example, what strategy works for addressing multiple concurrent partnerships (MCP) related to HIV/AIDS. But a major development for East and Southern Africa floats significant questions concerning the ability of the international community - from UN agencies to country...[
Are the democracy and governance (democratic governance) policies of the international development community heading towards their Structural Adjustment moment? Many of you will recall the Structural Adjustment policies, predominantly driven by the economically wealthier countries of Western Europe and North America through World Bank and IMF mechanisms. The poverty salvation for the world's economically poorer countries was to be found in balanced national budgets, reduced government expenditure, less government, more private sector, decreasing national ownership of...[
As the great financial crash of 2009 slides forward most of the attention in the international development community has been transfixed on the funding implications. With OECD governments budgeting massive deficits and foundations seeing their capitalisation wither, where will that leave overall funding levels? More specifically, how will that affect the financial base of each of our development initiatives [un crie de coeur!]? These are vitally important questions. But should we not also...[
A combination of 5,000 years of history, great political thought, riots in the streets and tobacco smoke in bars, restaurants, homes, and just about every other place can either sharpen or deaden the development mind. Welcome to Athens, last week. We were warned not to leave the hotel, but of course we all did. And the Greek salad of history, thought, riots, and tobacco smoke proved tasty for the development palate. 5,000 years of history should...[
This blog is based on a presentation from the Athens Global Forum for Media Development Conference, December 8 2008. Responses to the presentation were collected at the Conference and were posted below. Please add your comments as well. Let me start with the Core Question: If the Media Development field and community (however you define it) is to further grow and develop, what significant trends will it need to address and/or take advantage of? Five “starter” answers from...[
[With Barack Obama now elected as President of the USA, below is an updated version of this blog, originally posted in June 2008.] DO GRANDMOTHERS AND COMMUNITIES RULE? I am not an American and, to use that awful phrase, did not a have a horse in this US Presidential race. However, now that Barack Obama is elected, don't we all need to consider the possible impact of his Presidency on how aid and development policy are...[
No wonder some policy makers are confused. Is this field of work media development, development communication, media and/for development, change communication or any other of the myriad of terms to describe media and communication processes? Let me focus on what I believe is the false and distracting dichotomy between the two major terms - media development and communication for development. Some brief overall observations follow but let me begin with a practical example from history...[
As the delegates from around the world prepare to gather in Accra for the 3rd High Level Forum on AIDS effectiveness [September 2 to 4] can I suggest that they pay a lot of attention to this figure: - 1,437,187,500,000 which I believe you would write as this number "one trillion, four hundred and thirty seven billion, one hundred and eighty seven million, five hundred thousand" though I admit to having to check that text...[
- 4 Increased funding to engender more plurality in audiencesAnonymous
- Dr. Ostrom Not Collier.Anonymous
- fundamentals of developmentAnonymous
- Accountability and capacity buildingAnonymous
- Collier and OstromAnonymous
- Big gov and developmentAnonymous
- hello james the report youAnonymous
- Farmers knowledge FirstAnonymous
- you are right RebekaAnonymous
- If I had a lot of money - which I have notAnonymous
- basket fundingAnonymous
- The issues addressed areAnonymous
- Selling technologyAnonymous
- can the green revolution solve the african's problems os food ?Anonymous
- Technology is not the opposite of knowledgeAnonymous
- Not either-orAnonymous
- Giving people choicesAnonymous
- While reading what youjlevy
- Response from Ronald KayanjaAnonymous
- Revamping UNICEF C4D Strategy by Neil FordAnonymous
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