NGOs and policy: The effectiveness of functionality and their impact on IDPs
But by treating people without challenging the political and social origins of their exclusion, is MSF not confining itself to the role expected of it by the authorities?
Michael Neuman • Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed: The MSF Experience
evolving. Chaotic situations—such as a humanitarian disaster—often require that we act quickly to save lives or tend to emergencies before working to establish some sense of order. They call for a rapid response to distribute information and resources to where they are needed most, before addressing the underlying issues.
David Ehrlichman • Impact Networks: Create Connection, Spark Collaboration, and Catalyze Systemic Change
The nuance and inherent humility of the social sciences—the realization that development has to do with people, with human and social complexity, with cultural and traditional realities, and their willingness to struggle with the messy and multifaceted aspects of a problem—have no cachet in this metrics-driven, efficiency-seeking, technology-focuse
... See moreAnand Giridharadas • Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World
Hegemonic practices (reinforcing and justifying the status quo) Ethnocentric projections (presenting one view as universal and superior) Ahistorical thinking (forgetting the role of historical legacies and complicities in shaping current problems) Depoliticized orientations (disregarding the impacts of power inequalities and delegitimizing dissent)
... See moreVanessa Machado De Oliveira • Hospicing Modernity: Facing Humanity's Wrongs and the Implications for Social Activism
Has the intervention been conceived with Max-Neef’s theory of needs in mind? If so, what needs does it satisfy? Are they synergistic? • Is the intervention ‘synergistic’ ; meaning does it solve for more than one issue connected to the problem at a time? • What are the main barriers to its implementation/success? • How long could/should the interven... See more
Irwin • Future Visions Present Developing Ecologies of Interventions in the Present
To accomplish these critical goals, we need both responsive government and public awareness. This awareness is twofold: it’s awareness both of the challenges that need to be addressed (as opposed to the false challenges that don’t) and of the best ways to meet them.
Andrew McAfee • More From Less
“In science as in politics we need contrarian thinking more than ever: if we were all to think inside of the box , we would soon run out of innovations. In principle, our democratic societies are based on pluralism. But when crisis rears its ugly head, which it has done in recent decades, our societal tolerance of different perspectives become s lo... See more
Leen Gorissen • Regenerative Development and Design
“blurred distinctions between the roles of military and humanitarian organisations; political manipulation of humanitarian assistance [and the] perceived lack of independence of humanitarian actors from donors or from host governments”.
Michael Neuman • Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed: The MSF Experience
So, we need to abandon strategies that undermine dignity, diminish capacity, and create unhealthy dependency. And we need to increase the use of approaches that are truly empowering.