Presenting development goals

The story on measuring aid effectiveness in Haiti run by NPR this morning has plenty of material to stimulate a critical reflection on our work. Although I tend to become a little defensive when I hear criticism of NGO work, especially in such a difficult environment as Haiti after the quake, I have to admit that the report does a great job in highlighting some problematic areas. What interests me the most is the difficulty NGOs experience in presenting the impact of their work to the general public. M&E has made quantum leaps in analyzing and presenting information to institutional donors, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to improve accountability and communication to a wider audience.

Usually, what you find on websites, newsletters, etc. is a personal story of one of the beneficiaries that tells how the project changed her/his life. Nothing wrong with that: it allows the reader to establish a connection with the beneficiaries and to get a better understanding of how the project works. However, a personal story cannot tell the whole tale of how the project has been implemented. Success stories should be measured against costs, expected results, sustainability, etc.

A proper report should be able to present in layman’s terms the efficiency and effectiveness of your program and the wider impact on society. I remember seeing a couple of really cool software tools that combine maps, pictures and graphs to deliver a clear view of a project performance.

Here is one:

http://cartametrix.com/fata/demo_adv.php

Snake oil or miraculous tree?

This is a New Yorker article on reforestation efforts in the Sahel region. You can find an abstract on the New Yorker website, but the whole article is for paying customers only.

The author describes two different  approaches to contrast desertification, a technical solution involving a box that stores humidity (appropriately called Waterboxx) and the introduction of agroforestry in Niger. The article is written for the general public: it tells an interesting story but does not go in depth into the specifics of the two programs. The author describes Moringa trees (Moringa oleifera) as a miracle tree whose leaves and pods are super nutritious and can be used to cure a variety of medical conditions. I have heard the same claims while monitoring several projects in Africa but I could not find any scientific study that supports those assertions. The article does not provide any source either. I would appreciate inputs on Moringa's health and nutrition wonders.

Is participation the new black?

Great paper by David Parduhn on the consequences of mainstreaming participation in development.

 In my M&E experience, I never found a single project willing to admit that beneficiaries were not adequately consulted/involved in the design of the intervention. However, participation generally means presenting the proposal to groups of beneficiaries before sending it to the donor. Issues of power gaps, group dynamics, gender inequality are rarely taken into account.

Sometimes I try to imagine myself as a beneficiary: would I speak out at a meeting? Would I be brave enough to support a minority opinion or risk losing face by proposing an alternative view of my reality? What kind of barriers would I face?

Here is the full link to the article:
http://www.hiidunia.com/2011/10/‘everyone-is-doing-something-and-calling-it-pra’-a-critical-reflection-on-participatory-methods-in-development/

Discarding information

Here you can find a BBC article worth reading on the importance of discarding information. The amount of information we are exposed to is huge. Saving and storing what is important and throwing away the rest is crucial.