What am I doing here?

Some thoughts about processing your inbox – http://www.davidco.com/newsletters/archive/0611.html
Something a bunch of us enjoyed this week… Norm Macdonald on Conan in 1997 (3 parts, this is part 1) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqYevJSmfm4

Posted by erinantcliffe | June 3, 2011 | Categories: Development Digest | Comments Off on Development Digest – 03/06/11

Development Digest – 29/05/11

Late this week… I’ve been having issues with my internet modem, and also with my time management skillz… ahem. Sorry.

Anyway, without further ado, here’s your weekly development digest! Enjoy! (And thanks again to Sylvie for providing Canada news!)

—–

Global news:

Number of Indian women in top posts rises – http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Number-of-Indian-Women-in-Top-Posts-Rises-122225194.html
Sorry, didn’t find time for more news this week… please respond to this email thread with any stories you’d like to share!

Canada news:

Newfoundland has a lesson for Canada on globalization – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-lab/the-economists/newfoundland-has-a-lesson-for-canada-on-globalization/article2029960/
Canucks advance, fans rejoice – http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/05/25/vancouver-canucks-fan-reaction.html
On Israel, Harper stands alone at G8 summit – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/on-israel-harper-stands-alone-at-g8-summit/article2035290/
Canada won’t pledge any new money for G8’s ‘Arab Spring’ – http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/05/27/g8-arab-uprising-aid.html
Layton announces team of critics – http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/05/26/pol-layton-shadow-cabinet.html
Auditor General departing, warns of ‘challenges’ ahead – http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/05/25/pol-fraser-ag-report-speech.html
June 6 budget will phase out per-vote subsidy (another move to erode democracy – yay!) – http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/05/25/pol-flaherty-budget.html
Economy & Mideast top Harper’s G8 agenda – http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/05/25/harper-europe-g8.html
$9M cabinet cost looms as Tories look to slash budget – http://counter.thestar.topscms.com/news/canada/article/995324–9m-cabinet-cost-looms-as-tories-look-to-slash-budget
Bodies of men shot at Barrick gold mine in Tanzania stolen and dumped by police – http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/996346–bodies-of-men-shot-at-barrick-mine-stolen-and-dumped-by-police-families
Slave Lake evacuees begin return – http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2011/05/25/edmonton-slave-lake-re-entry-plan.html
Canada ranks high on the better life index – http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2011/05/24/oecd-better-life-index.html

Africa news:

Food insecurity grips region – http://allafrica.com/stories/201105180986.html
Again, please share more news!

Agriculture news:

US biofuels plantation subsidy bill fuels the destruction of African agriculture – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/05/us-biofuels-plantation-subsidy-bill.html
Anyone know any good agriculture news sources or blogs? This is the hardest section to source!

Development thinking:

Can food and finance work together? – http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2011/05/18/can-food-and-finance-work-together/
EWB featured!! Things I like: Engineers Without Borders (Canada) – http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AViewFromTheCave/~3/aZ6O5lLtJ9c/things-i-like-engineers-without-borders.html
Survival of the fittest? What is the value of multilateral aid? – http://aidthoughts.org/?p=2523
Can Malawi deal with a British aid freeze? – http://aidthoughts.org/?p=2531
The Scaling-up Fallacy – http://bottomupthinking.wordpress.com/2011/05/27/the-scaling-up-fallacy
Are we really assessing development impact? – http://blogs.worldbank.org/impactevaluations/guest-post-by-martin-ravallion-are-we-really-assessing-development-impact
RESPONSE: In defense of single project evaluations – http://blogs.worldbank.org/impactevaluations/in-defense-of-single-project-evaluations-a-response-to-ravallion
Do men and women see hunger differently? – http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=5500
What use are models of change? An experiment in Tanzania – http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=5458
Snooping in non-profit tax forms – http://goodintents.org/financial-reporting/nonprofit-tax-forms
RCTs: A band-aid on a deeper issue? – http://www.how-matters.org/2011/05/24/rcts-band-aid-on-deeper-issue/
Compilation of blog posts written on RCTs – http://www.how-matters.org/2011/05/24/rcts-and-aid-effectiveness-compilatio/
Organizational change as struggle – http://kmonadollaraday.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/organizational-change-as-struggle/
Five ways foreign aid could cost less while doing more – http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/five-ways-foreign-aid-could-cost-less-while-doing-more/2011/05/09/AFSEcm5G_blog.html
Program-for-results: a new direction for the World Bank – http://blogs.cgdev.org/globaldevelopment/2011/05/program-for-results-a-new-direction-for-the-world-bank.php

EWB blog posts:

Ben: Harvest! Friday Flims #10 – http://theborrowedbicycle.ca/2011/05/harvest-friday-flims-10/
Franck: Le printemps au Burkina – http://franckvachon.wordpress.com/2011/05/20/le-printemps-au-burkina/
Franck: Pis là Franck, tu fais quoi au Burkina? – http://franckvachon.wordpress.com/2011/05/21/pis-la-franck-tu-fais-quoi-au-burkina/
Franck: A development worker’s perspective on beggars – http://franckvachon.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/a-development-workers-perspective-on-beggars/
Bernard: LA toune… – http://bernardauburkina.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/la-toune/
Lisa: Research, Research and More Research… – http://pumpsandprosperity.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/research-research-and-more-research/
Franck: To report, or not to report – http://franckvachon.wordpress.com/2011/05/27/to-report-or-not-to-report
Geneviève: A hint of randomness – http://alittlegirlintheworld.blogspot.com/2011/05/hint-of-randomness.html
Mina: Easter holiday travels in the Volta Region! – http://zikomoafrica.wordpress.com/2011/05/27/easter-holiday-travels-in-the-volta-region
Untapped Markets: Demonstration farms – who should pay? – http://untappedmarkets.ca/2011/05/demonstration-farms-who-should-pay/
Robin: Chocolate covered licorice, and other frivolities – http://addictedtoimpact.blogspot.com/2011/05/chocolate-covered-licorice-and-other.html

Amusing and interesting things:
The pursuit of happiness – http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/05/well-being_and_wealth
You are solving the wrong problem – http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/the-wrong-problem/

Posted by erinantcliffe | May 29, 2011 | Categories: Development Digest | Comments Off on Development Digest – 29/05/11

Development Digest – 20/05/11

Hey everyone, sorry for the distinct lack of REAL CONTENT on this blog lately. I’ve been insanely busy, transitioning into my new role as Team Leader! Add to that the fact that 24 summer student volunteers just landed in Ghana (yipeee!!) and well… blogging hasn’t been my top priority. This week is going to be insane, but I hope to get back on the bandwagon soon – I have a few good posts lined up that I hope you’ll enjoy!

In the meantime, here’s your regular Development Digest. Thanks once again to Sylvie for contributing the Canada news section. I hope you enjoy!

If you only have time to read 5 articles, read the ones with a *star*.

—–

Global news:

Obama sees ’67 borders as starting point for peace deal – http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/world/middleeast/20speech.html
*The International Criminal Court bares its teeth – http://www.economist.com/node/18682044?story_id=18682044
IMF Chief moved to New York jail – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/05/2011516133057216224.html
RELATED: Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigns: potential successors as head of IMF – http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/gallery/2011/may/17/next-head-of-imf-dsk-arrest
‘Emergency’ in Guatemala over killings – http://english.aljazeera.net/video/americas/2011/05/2011517103516680111.html
Trump not running for president – http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/16/breaking-trump-not-running-for-president/?on.cnn=1
Dorothy Parvaz: Inside Syria’s secret prisons – http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/05/2011518184325620380.html
Israel’s frontiers sizzle with violence on historic day – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/africa-mideast/israels-frontiers-sizzle-with-violence-on-historic-day/article2022668/
War crimes prosecutor seeks Gaddafi warrant – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/05/201151692455707456.html
Benghazi rappers voice hopes for Libyan democracy (video) – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/video/2011/may/16/libya-hip-hop-rap-benghazi-video
Peaceful protests gain respect as they lead tide of change in Yemen – http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/17/change-square-yemen-revolution-tregan

Canada news:

*Harper announces cabinet: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/05/18/pol-cabinet-shuffle.html
Harper rewards 3 defeated MPs with senate seats: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/pm-rewards-three-defeated-conservatives-with-senate-seats/article2026815/
Kudos for Canada’s ‘modest’ aid efforts: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/992030–kudos-for-canada-s-modest-aid-efforts
Recounts gives NDP historic seat total: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/05/14/cv-election-recount-ndp-quebec-seat.html
Four challenges that could keep Harper up at night – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/four-challenges-that-could-keep-harper-up-at-night/article2023128/
Can Harper and Layton get along? http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/991556–jack-and-stephen-kings-of-the-hill
Alberta wildfires force evacuation of Slave Lake: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2011/05/15/edm-alberta-wildfires.html
Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/atlanta-thrashers-moving-to-winnipeg/article2029179/

Africa news:

Uganda anti-gay bill pushed out of parliament – http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/13/uganda-anti-gay-bill-shelved
RELATED: Are gay rights universal? – http://www.ips.org/africa/2011/05/are-gay-rights-universal/
Zambia: microfinance beyond the reach of the poorest – http://www.ips.org/africa/2011/05/zambia-microfinance-beyond-the-reach-of-the-poor-3/
My Twitterspat with Paul Kagame – http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/16/my-twitterspat-with-paul-kagame
Burkina Faso’s long-serving president moves to placate critics – http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/17/burkina-faso-president-placate-critics
Ghana: Konadu is battle-ready for Mills – http://allafrica.com/stories/201105200025.html
Ghana: do’s and don’ts of Accra – http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/05/14/ghana-dos-and-donts-of-accra/

Agriculture news:

Evidence against global land deals piling up – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/05/evidence-against-global-land-deals.html
Zambia in new maize harvest record – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/05/zambia-in-new-maize-harvest-record.html
*Fair trade coffee producers often end up poorer – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/05/fair-trade-coffee-producers-often-end.html
Burkina Faso cotton farmers protest low prices – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/05/burkina-faso-cotton-growers-protest-low.html
Ivory Coast upsets hit banana growers too – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/05/ivory-coast-upsets-hit-banana-growers.html
Japan donates 125 tractors to Ghana – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/05/japan-donates-125-tractors-to-ghana.html
Weather hasn’t been a friend to farmers – http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2011-05-11-cold-likely-to-hit-crops_n.htm
Farm subsidies: a useful sacrifice in the budget debates – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patrick-sharma/farm-subsidies-a-useful-s_b_861225.html
Innovations that can ensure food security – http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2011-05/13/content_12502242.htm
How can small and large farmers co-exist? – http://www.agriculturesnetwork.org/what-we-do/highlights/news/small-large-farmers-coexistence
How can we feed future generations? – http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FarmingFirst/~3/MjNbdlIi7xE/
New and harder evidence on climate change, hunger and food prices – http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=5404
Cost-minimizing food budgets in Ghana – http://www.eldis.org/go/display&type=Document&id=57889
Measuring market potential for fresh organic fruit and vegetable in Ghana – http://www.eldis.org/go/display&type=Document&id=57952
Willingness to pay for extension services in Uganda – http://www.eldis.org/go/display&type=Document&id=58069
Yield of maize as affected by fertilizer application practices – http://www.eldis.org/go/display&type=Document&id=58146

Development thinking:

Responding to worries about COD aid – http://blogs.cgdev.org/globaldevelopment/2011/05/responding-to-worries-about-cod-aid.php
Theories of Change – http://onthinktanks.org/2011/05/18/theories-of-change/
Positive Black Swans – http://www.slate.com/id/2293699/pagenum/all/
Deep and Disproportionate cuts to the International Affairs Budget: Dangerous to our National Security – http://thewillandthewallet.org/2011/05/11/deep-and-disproportionate-cuts-to-the-international-affairs-budget-dangerous-to-our-national-security/
COUNTER: Foreign aid, like all government spending, must pay its part – http://thewillandthewallet.org/2011/05/10/foreign-aid-like-all-government-spending-must-pay-its-part/
USAID launches advisory committee on voluntary foreign aid – http://www.usaid.gov/press/releases/2011/pr110504.html
Poverty in the era of data – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcelo-giugale/data-poverty-_b_860785.html
Why the G8 should open its books – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/may/19/g8-aid-spending-transparency
How do you tell if a policy is working? Run a trial – http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/14/bad-science-ben-goldacre-randomised-trials
Crowdsourcing put to good use in Africa – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/may/19/crowdsourcing-good-use-in-africa
Social protection: from handouts to social justice – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/may/17/social-protection-handouts-social-justice
“The Weakness of the opposition in Africa”: Senegal as a case study – http://sahelblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/the-weakness-of-the-opposition-in-africa-senegal-as-a-case-study/
I am not an MFI, just a moneylender – http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/TQuA/~3/5wFujd1U9uc/i-am-not-mfi-just-moneylender.html
Capturing change: isn’t there a better way? – http://hausercenter.org/iha/2011/05/19/capturing-change-isnt-there-a-better-way/
*I’m an international development blogger, and you can be too! or why development students and professionals should blog – http://findwhatworks.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/im-an-international-development-blogger-and-you-can-be-too-or-why-development-students-and-professionals-should-blog/
Aid Watch blog ends, new work on development begins – http://aidwatchers.com/2011/05/aid-watch-blog-ends-new-work-on-development-begins/
CI screws up – http://bottomupthinking.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/ci-screws-up/

EWB blog posts:

Ben: The Farm This Year: Friday Flims #9 – http://theborrowedbicycle.ca/2011/05/the-farm-this-year-friday-flims-9/
Mike Klassen: At Second Glance – http://doorwaytotheuniverse.wordpress.com/2011/05/15/at-second-glance/
Franck: Nouvelles dans news – http://franckvachon.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/nouvelles-dans-news/
Geneviève: Out of sight, out of mind? – http://alittlegirlintheworld.blogspot.com/2011/05/out-of-sight-out-of-mind.html
Marie-Claire: L’économie du kiosque – http://extraitsduburkina.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/leconomie-du-kiosque/
Mike Klassen: Energy Overload – http://doorwaytotheuniverse.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/energy-overload/
Bernard: Budget et autres chinoiseries – http://bernardauburkina.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/budget-et-autres-chinoiseries/
Duncan: The need for the field – http://waterwellness.ca/2011/05/17/the-need-for-the-field
Untapped Markets: Know your client: making finance work for agro-processors in Ghana – http://untappedmarkets.ca/2011/05/know-your-client-making-finance-work-for-agro-processors-ghana/
Anthony: Update: Business Development Services – Zambia – http://www.investinpeople.ca/iip/784
Untapped Markets: Sustainable business part 2 – http://untappedmarkets.ca/2011/05/sustainable-business-part-2/
Mark B: The remoteness deterrent – http://kulemela.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/the-remoteness-deterrent/

Amusing and interesting things:

Is a well-lived life worth anything? – http://blogs.hbr.org/haque/2011/05/is_a_well_lived_live_worth_anything.html
What it’s like to make change – http://chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/?p=3250
*21 principles for innovating in the real world from IDEO’s Diego Rodriguez – http://thenextweb.com/dd/2011/05/08/21-principles-for-innovating-in-the-real-world-from-ideos-diego-rodriguez/
Your so-called education – http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/opinion/15arum.html
Stuff Expat Aid Workers Like: Talking about Poop – http://stuffexpataidworkerslike.com/2011/05/18/57-talking-about-poop-2/

Posted by erinantcliffe | May 20, 2011 | Categories: Development Digest | 2 Comments

Development Digest – 13/05/11

Sorry for the hiatus last week – I was on vacation at the beach 🙂

Unfortunately this means there are two weeks worth of articles here… nevertheless, enjoy your development digest! Thanks to Sylvie Spraakman for collecting the Canada news and to Mina Shahid for contributing the Egypt section.

If you only have time to read 5 articles, read the ones with the *star*.

—–

Global news:

How Osama bin Laden relegated himself to the post-colonial past – http://dougsaunders.net/2011/05/osama-bin-laden-relegated-post-colonial/
Chomsky’s views on Osama bin Laden’s death: http://www.guernicamag.com/blog/2652/noam_chomsky_my_reaction_to_os/
Blindfolded, beaten and tortured: Grim new testimony reveals fate of Bahrain’s persecuted doctors – http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/blindfolded-beaten-and-tortured-grim-new-testimony-reveals-fate-of-bahrains-persecuted-doctors-2281616.html
Analysis: West turns blind eye to Bahrain crackdown – http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/09/us-bahrain-repression-idUSTRE7481VM20110509
Afghan forces ‘not ready’ for handover – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/05/201151083710977793.html
Tunisia sets up electoral body ahead of vote – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/05/20115101356895609.html
Microsoft Skypes for $8.5 Billion – http://www.thenational.ae/featured-content/channel-page/business/technology/microsoft-skypes-for-8-5-billion
Gadhafi’s compound hit by NATO airstrikes – http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/05/12/libya-strikes-051211.html
Protesters wounded in Yemen clashes – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/2011512114245752696.html
Women have emerged as key players in the Arab Spring – http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/22/women-arab-spring

In case you’ve seen one of these May 21, 2011 Judgement Day signs in your neighbourhood:
Marketers of the apocalypse: Ad blitz warns of Judgment Day – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/americas/marketers-of-the-apocalypse-ad-blitz-warns-of-judgment-day/article2015969/
RELATED: Some horsemen – http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/05/09/some_horsemen

Canada news:

Africa news:

Nigeria’s Mad Men: What ads say about doing business in Africa’s most populous country – http://www.economist.com/node/18621345?fsrc=nlw|mgt|05-04-11|management_thinking
Chad: an election under the radar – http://www.undispatch.com/chad-an-election-under-the-radar
Ivory Coast makes first cocoa export since January – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-news/ivory-coast-makes-first-cocoa-export-since-january/article2015134/
Kenya: food taxes cut as four die of hunger – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/27/kenya-food-taxes-cut-as-f_n_854532.html
African strongmen crush attempts to emulate pro-democracy uprisings – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/africa-mideast/african-strongmen-crush-attempts-to-emulate-pro-democracy-uprisings/article2011680/
What the world got wrong in Côte D’Ivoire – http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/29/what_the_world_got_wrong_in_cote_d_ivoire
Uganda’s anti-gay bill is far from dead – http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/may/11/uganda-anti-gay-bill
Why the world should keep an eye on Djibouti – http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2011/04/horn_africa?fsrc=rss
Zambia: Real changes needed in development policy and implementation – http://www.ips.org/africa/2011/05/development-zambia-real-changes-needed-in-policy-and-implementation/
Ivory Coast: Dozens die as Laurent Gbabo’s militia fight on – http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/04/ivory-coast-gbagbo-militia-fight-on
CNN Marketplace Africa homepage – http://www.cnn.com/CNNI/Programs/marketplace.africa/ (H/T Colleen)
Renewables Africa homepage – http://www.ae-africa.com/index.php (H/T Colleen)

Egypt news:

Egypt extends Mubaraks Detention – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/2011513213512791.html
*Breathless in Egypt – http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/05/20115910100577565.html
Cairo tense after religious clashes – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/20115991758111146.html
Egypt’s Trial by Fire – http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/05/201159115219476806.html
Egypt turns to IMF as deficit balloons – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13384455
The post revolution blues – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13371974

Ghana news:

Big transparency wins for Ghana – http://politicsofpoverty.oxfamamerica.org/index.php/2011/05/09/big-transparency-wins-for-ghana/
Malaria investment pays off – http://allafrica.com/stories/201105091214.html

Agriculture news:

*The new geopolitics of food – http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/25/the_new_geopolitics_of_food?page=full
*Can the world feed 10 billion people? – http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/05/04/can_the_world_feed_10_billion_people?page=full
Fertilizer: free but shunned – http://spore.cta.int/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&lang=en&id=1638&catid=31
Yam: a triumph for towns – http://spore.cta.int/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&lang=en&id=1677&catid=8
Post-harvest management: adding value to crops – http://spore.cta.int/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&lang=en&id=1670&catid=9
Commodity associations: more competitive supply chains – http://spore.cta.int/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&lang=en&id=1634&catid=10
Doing more than praying for rain – http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/09/doing-more-than-praying-for-rain/?nl=opinion&emc=tya1
Organic farming – India’s future perfect? – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/may/11/organic-farming-india-future-incomes-yields

Development thinking:

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY: GIVE BILL GATES SOME ADVICE!! Small farmers are the answer – http://www.gatesfoundation.org/agriculturaldevelopment/Pages/small-farmers-are-the-answer-challenge.aspx
Are 1 in 3 Africans middle class? – http://www.globaldashboard.org/2011/05/09/are-1-in-3-africans-middle-class/
The myth of 9 billion – http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/05/09/the_myth_of_9_billion
Don’t build schools in Afghanistan – http://www.slate.com/id/2293127/
*Cut to the chase: 15 political truths for the centre-left – http://www.policy-network.net/articles/4000/Cut-to-the-chase-15-political-truths-for-the-centre-left
How a business can change the world – http://www.inc.com/magazine/20110501/how-a-business-can-change-the-world.html
RELATED: Business models: why hybrids? – http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/case-on-business-models/
Global Fund rethinks transparency – http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/05/10/business-financial-impact-aids-fund-corruption_8459194.html
I’m Bored – the Significance Manifesto – http://www.managementexchange.com/blog/im-bored-significance-manifesto
Donor countries should wake up to work to end poverty – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/may/11/employment-to-end-poverty
NGO package tours – holidays with a conscience? – http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/may/10/ngo-package-tours-holidays-conscience
Repatriating retro t-shirts from Africa (for a good cause) – http://www.good.is/post/repatriating-retro-t-shirts-from-africa-for-a-good-cause/
‘Private sector’ includes small local business, not just multinationals – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/may/10/private-sector-small-business-not-just-multinationals
Is cash on delivery the future for aid? – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/may/13/cash-delivery-future-results-based-aid

Development blogs:

Tolerance – http://talesfromethehood.com/2011/05/01/tolerance/
Holes – http://shotgunshackblog.com/2011/05/02/holes/
Is budget support less fungible than project aid? – http://www.owen.org/blog/4580
Knowledge management as a cost saver in difficult financial times – http://kmonadollaraday.wordpress.com/2011/05/11/knowledge-management-as-a-cost-saver-in-difficult-financial-times
A few thoughts for conference organizers – http://kmonadollaraday.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/a-few-thoughts-for-conference-organizers/
Measuring value in communities of practice – http://kmonadollaraday.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/demonstrating-value-in-communities-of-practice/
Barefoot in church – http://www.how-matters.org/2011/05/03/barefoot-in-church/
Land grabs update: (a lot) more hectares than we thought, and definitely bad for development – http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=5328
Poor economics: a rich new book from Banerjee and Duflo – http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=5367
You wanna get nuts? Come on, let’s get nuts (Malawi!!) – http://aidthoughts.org/?p=2445

EWB blog posts:

Specials:
Congrats to the UBC chapter of EWB!! UBC named Fair Trade campus – http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2011/05/09/ubc-receives-fair-trade-designation/

Amusing and interesting things:

Self-check guide for girls: Am I Wearing Pants? – http://cdn.thefrisky.com/images/uploads/AmIWearingPants_web.jpeg
Just how dangerous is sitting all day? – http://mashable.com/2011/05/09/sitting-down-infographic/
Blue Ocean Turning Brown – http://nanakofiacquah.blogspot.com/2011/05/blue-ocean-turning-brown.html
Considering: when warlords have Facebook pages – http://johnnydwyer.net/crashinslowmotion/?p=579
Chinese twins born with one body, two heads – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/chinese-twins-born-with-one-body-two-heads/article2016607/
Harvest some savings with a summer garden – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/home-cents/harvest-some-savings-with-a-summer-garden/article1999305/
READING: Memoirs from Africa – paring down the list – http://weblogs.swarthmore.edu/burke/2011/05/05/memoirs-from-africa-paring-down-a-list/
Accra wi-fi hotspots – http://accrawifi.crowdmap.com/

Posted by erinantcliffe | May 13, 2011 | Categories: Development Digest | Comments Off on Development Digest – 13/05/11

Development Digest – 28/04/11

Here’s your weekly development digest. Enjoy!

If you only have time to read 5 articles, read the ones with the *star*.

—–

Global news:

Toyota car production disrupted until November – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/toyota-car-production-disrupted-until-november/article1995599/
Bahrain sentences protesters to death – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/201142881322769709.html
Sweatshops are still supplying high street brands – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/apr/28/sweatshops-supplying-high-street-brands
Syria’s unrest: between myth and reality – http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/04/201142413450323305.html
US storms kill over 200 – http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/04/28/united-states-storm-death-toll.html
Global forces: an introduction – https://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Strategy/Globalization/Global_forces_An_introduction_2625?gp=1
Grameen bank cleared of financial breaches by Bangladeshi government – http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/25/grameen-bank-cleared-irregularities-bangladesh
*Doha trade talks’ killing has no shortage of suspects – http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/apr/25/doha-trade-talks-death-suspects
Yemen’s other crisis: the daily struggle for food – http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/26/yemen-crisis-food-fuel-prices-aid

Canada news:

Anti-Harper voters may be reassessing leaders as campaign nears end – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/second-reading/bruce-anderson/anti-harper-voters-may-be-reassessing-leaders-as-campaign-nears-end/article1995614/
Margaret Atwood: my paper napkin guide to the election – http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/980209–atwood-my-paper-napkin-guide-to-the-election
Group sues auditor general to release G8 report – http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/04/26/cv-election-avaaz-g8.html
*Layton jumps well ahead of Ignatieff as voters get off ‘the political couch’ – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/layton-jumps-well-ahead-of-ignatieff-as-voters-get-off-the-political-couch/article2000297
Liberal-NDP merger possible, Senator says – http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/04/27/cv-bc-larry-campbell-merger.html
Globe and Mail endorsement: Conservatives (!) – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/the-globes-election-endorsement-facing-up-to-our-challenges/article2001610/
As voter numbers decline, online voting would help boost engagement – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/as-voter-numbers-decline-online-voting-would-help-boost-engagement/article1997243/
Globe readers weigh in: one big idea to fix our democracy – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/readers-weigh-in-one-big-idea-to-fix-our-democracy/article1996993/
When satire shows go off the air, do Canadian voters tune out? – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/when-satire-shows-go-off-the-air-do-canadian-voters-tune-out/article1998542/
On the internet, it’s anybody but Harper – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/on-the-internet-its-anybody-but-harper/article1999982/

Africa news:

*Ivory Coast: A ragtag army falls apart – http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/04/27/ivory_coast_a_ragtag_army_falls_apart
Ivory Coast militia leader killed – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/201142821358719869.html
Sunshine and shadow in Rwanda’s rural housing program – http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=55410
Libya: Filling the void of a stateless state – http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/04/201142583536319618.html
As Sierra Leone celebrates its 50th birthday, a look back – http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0427/As-Sierra-Leone-celebrates-its-50th-birthday-a-look-back
Museveni agrees to meet Besigye – http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1152208/-/c262naz/-/index.html
Uganda police arrest opposition leader Besigye – http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Uganda+police+arrest+opposition+leader+Besigye/-/2558/1152392/-/c0ookd/-/index.html
Malawi expels British ambassador – http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/27/malawi-expels-british-ambassador
Burkina president Compaore takes charge of defence – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13166783
Another round of protests in Burkina Faso – http://sahelblog.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/another-round-of-protests-in-burkina-faso
Hundreds killed in Nigeria post-election violence – http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/24/hundreds-killed-nigeria-post-election-violence
Nigeria: uneasy finale to general elections – http://www.ips.org/africa/2011/04/nigeria-uneasy-finale-to-general-elections/
Nigeria: Fair vote, fragile future – http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/22/opinion/22olojede.html?_r=2

Ghana news:

Ghana cocoa purchases up 45% – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/04/ghana-cocoa-purchases-up-45-pct.html
Bolga: reckless moto driver costs woman her life – http://allafrica.com/stories/201104270225.html
Gang of Nigerian robbers arrested in Ghana – http://allafrica.com/stories/201104280613.html
FDI inflows to country up 1st quarter of 2011 – http://allafrica.com/stories/201104280739.html

Agriculture news:

*Conservation and farming must learn to live together – http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028085.100-conservation-and-farming-must-learn-to-live-together.html
Sowing bubbles – http://www.economist.com/node/18586884
Future farm: a sunless, rainless room indors – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/04/future-farm-sunless-rainless-room.html
Small-scale farmers at risk from global land-grabbing – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/04/small-scale-farmers-at-risk-from-global.html
“Farming out” agricultural advice through radio and SMS – http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2011/04/26/%E2%80%9Cfarming-out%E2%80%9D-agricultural-advice-through-radio-and-sms/
Sustainable farming helps to boost cotton crops in Uzbekistan – http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/apr/26/sustainable-farming-water-uzbekistan-nabiyeva
Barclay’s faces protests over role in global food crisis – http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/apr/25/barclays-faces-commodity-protests

Development thinking:

Behavioural economics: a review of the literature – http://financialaccess.org/node/3711
*More than 1 billion people are hungry in the world – http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/25/more_than_1_billion_people_are_hungry_in_the_world?page=full
Let’s refocus our plan of attack on global poverty – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/lets-refocus-our-plan-of-attack-on-global-poverty/article1999890/
Untying the knot – http://www.economist.com/node/18584122
Banerjee and Duflo’s Poor Economics: micro-steps towards a quiet revolution? – http://blogs.worldbank.org/impactevaluations/banerjee-and-duflo-s-poor-economics-micro-steps-towards-a-quiet-revolution
Limitations of RCTs: a post-script – http://findwhatworks.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/limitations-of-rcts-a-post-script/
The problem with the big picture – http://kmonadollaraday.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/the-problem-with-the-big-picture
In developing countries, equity beats microfinance – http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/04/20/in-developing-economies-equity-beats-microfinance/
Carrots and marketing to the poor – http://sashadichter.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/carrots-and-marketing-to-the-poor/
Haiti and the international aid scam – http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/apr/22/haiti-aid
China publishes first report on foreign aid policy – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/apr/28/china-foreign-aid-policy-report
Is social protection the next big idea to combat poverty? – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/apr/27/social-protection-combat-poverty

EWB blog posts

Jordan: What’s a night in Malawian jail like? – http://whatyoumightbemissing.wordpress.com/2011/04/23/whats-a-night-in-malawian-jail-like/
Franck: Really, guys? – http://franckvachon.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/really-guys/
Dan B: No pennies in Ghana – http://questionstoquestions.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/no-pennies-in-ghana/
Bernard: Beauté Terrifante: El Mina – http://bernardauburkina.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/beaute-terrifiante-el-mina/
Brian: Sharing a bottle – http://liveworklearnbrianinghana.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/sharing-a-bottle/
Erin: Always something going on in Tamale – https://erinantcliffe.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/always-something-going-on-in-tamale/

Specials:
G&RI team 1st Quarter Update – http://ewbgari.posterous.com/gri-2011-first-quarter-update
Ben’s Friday Flims – http://theborrowedbicycle.ca/

Amusing and interesting things:

I predict the Gifted will foresee the Punchline – http://crookedtimber.org/2011/04/23/i-predict-the-gifted-will-foresee-the-punchline/
Fragility – http://shotgunshackblog.com/2011/04/25/fragility
Taking the 10,000 hours of practice theory seriously – http://jamesjchoi.blogspot.com/2011/04/taking-10000-hours-of-practice-theory.html
Patterns, patterns everywhere [HT Laura McGrath] – http://tanyageisler.com/patterns-patterns-everywhere/
How centered leaders achieve extraordinary results – https://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Organization/Talent/How_centered_leaders_achieve_extraordinary_results_2678?gp=1

Posted by erinantcliffe | April 28, 2011 | Categories: Development Digest | Comments Off on Development Digest – 28/04/11

Always Something Going On In Tamale!

A few weeks ago I was hurrying from my office on one end of town to a meeting on the other end, when my taxi was diverted off the main road. I thought to myself, “oh great, I’m going to be late” when suddenly a bicycle passed us. Wait… what?! I did a double-take and sure enough, a Ghanaian wearing a helmet, bike shorts and clip-in shoes on a fancy-looking road bike was zooming ahead. When you compare this to the rest of the cyclists I regularly see in Tamale (no helmets, sandals, sometimes scrappy-looking bikes) you realize why it was so shocking. I had inadvertently found myself in the Tamale leg of the National Cycling Tour of Ghana!

I decided to be late for my meeting to explore this phenomenon. It was a great time! I snapped a bunch of photos, which you can see below. It was pretty Tamale-esque as they hadn’t quite closed the road for the race. The traffic cops would hold back the traffic for a while then let a big group go through and they would mingle with (and almost knock down) the cyclists on the way to their destinations. Almost-like-a-bike-race-in-the-West-but-not-quite.

I was impressed by these serious guys with their huge legs, but laughed out loud at the “Ghanaianisms” that still came out in the race. For example, instead of water cups or bottles, race volunteers were handing out water sachets to the cyclists (that’s how most people drink water here, in small bags). Also, the cyclists were akin to taxi drivers, yelling out “hey Charlie, hey!” (a common name to call each other, like “hey friend”) and yelling at length when someone cut them off, then getting over it in 20 seconds. Hilarious.

Anyway, it was a welcome little break from my work day, and a reminder that there’s always something going on in Tamale. Enjoy the photos!

Banners announcing the event

FAST serious racers!

The peleton approaches

Cyclist drinking a water sachet

Up and down the other side of the road

Schoolboys watching the race

A final word from our sponsors!

Posted by erinantcliffe | April 27, 2011 | Categories: Blog posts | Tags: culture shock, life in Tamale, perspectives, photos | 1 Comment

Development Digest – 22/04/11

Here’s your weekly development digest. Enjoy!

Special thanks again to Sylvie Spraakman for contributing the Canada news section!

If you only have time to read 5 articles, read the ones with the *star*.

—–

Canada news:

Strategic voting groups have lofty goals – http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/04/15/cv-election-vote-swap.html
Coalition talk returns to campaign: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/04/21/cv-election-day27.html
Elections agency to probe harassing calls: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/04/19/cv-election-liberal-harassing-calls.html
Anti-abortion groups shaped Tory funding policy on Planned Parenthood: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/978054–anti-abortion-groups-shaped-tory-funding-police-on-planned-parenthood
Guergis: Harper ‘tossed me under a bus’: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/04/15/cv-election-day21.html
*CIDA: A broken agency that needs to be overhauled (featuring EWB staff James Haga!) – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/cida-a-broken-agency-that-needs-to-be-overhauled/article1990159/

Africa news:

*Ivory Coast’s develoment failures – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/apr/18/ivory-coast-development-failures
Nigerian elections: the good, the bad and the ugly – http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/04/18/nigerian_elections_the_good_the_bad_and_the_ugly
Nigeria riots leave many dead and hundreds injured – http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/19/nigeria-riots-dead-injured
AU lifts sanctions on Ivory Coast – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/2011421145057736714.html
*Burkina Faso to hear soldiers’ grievances – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/201142002837350459.html
Cote D’Ivoire: hesitant steps toward normal life – http://www.ips.org/africa/2011/04/cote-divoire-hesitant-steps-towards-normal-life/
China puts its mark on Malawi – http://www.ips.org/africa/2011/04/china-puts-its-mark-on-malawi/
Trade: “A Doha round collapse is a betrayal of poor countries” – http://www.ips.org/africa/2011/04/trade-a-doha-round-collapse-is-a-betrayal-of-poor-countries/
Libyan choice: starve or run – http://www.ips.org/africa/2011/04/libyan-choice-starve-or-run/
Burkina Faso: the protest/mutiny movement is not over – http://sahelblog.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/burkina-faso-the-protest-mutiny-movement-is-not-over/

Ghana news:

Rawlings’ wife joins presidential race in Ghana – http://allafrica.com/stories/201104181842.html
Isam, politics and development: negotiating the future of Dagbon – http://allafrica.com/stories/201104190585.html
The Ya-Na murder trial: muddying the waters – http://allafrica.com/stories/201104190636.html
Of the local child and the cocoa farm – http://allafrica.com/stories/201104210769.html
New initiative to improve agric policies out – http://allafrica.com/stories/201104190934.html

Development thinking:

Got ‘Em: An Evaluation Story – http://www.how-matters.org/2011/04/17/got-em-an-evaluation-story/
*Big Business – http://talesfromethehood.com/2011/04/18/big-business
Ten things I didn’t want to know about aid ineffectiveness – http://bottomupthinking.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/ten-things-i-didnt-want-to-know-about-aid-ineffectiveness/
Aid blogging matters – beyond the front lines – http://kmonadollaraday.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/aid-blogging-matters-beyond-the-front-lines/
Collecting “Three Cups of Tea” Posts (related to scandal with Greg Mortenson and his organization CAI) – http://goodintents.org/aid-debates/3-cups-of-tea
Has the microfinance bubble really burst? – http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=5161
RESPONSES to above – http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=5174
When users = funders – http://www.denniswhittle.com/2011/04/pleasing-your-users-rather-than-your.html
Owen Barder: sad farewell, exciting horizons – http://www.owen.org/blog/4540
Evidence and engagement: debating the UK Government’s new paradigm for water, sanitation and hygiene research – http://blogs.odi.org.uk/blogs/main/archive/2011/04/21/Nathaniel_Mason_water_sanitation_hygiene_WASH_evidence_lessons_Alan_Duncan.aspx
Decline and Fall (of Malawi as a development darling) – http://aidthoughts.org/?p=2391
*Confusing Success with Failure – http://www.aviewfromthecave.com/2011/04/confusing-success-with-failure.html
Fundamentally unknowable? Can we learn whether our firm policies in Africa are working? – http://blogs.worldbank.org/impactevaluations/fundamentally-unknowable-can-we-learn-whether-our-firm-policies-in-africa-are-working
What is success, anyhow? – http://blogs.worldbank.org/impactevaluations/what-is-success-anyhow
Six theories of policy change – http://aidontheedge.info/2011/04/20/six-theories-of-policy-change/

EWB blog posts:

Jordan: The joys of EWB field-work: Part 2 – http://whatyoumightbemissing.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/the-joys-of-ewb-field-work-part-2
Erin: Big John’s Self-Help Super Microfinance Scheme – https://erinantcliffe.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/big-johns-self-help-super-microfinance-scheme/
Untapped Markets: Association-building: back in vogue in development-speak – http://untappedmarkets.ca/2011/04/association-building-back-in-vogue-in-development-speak/
Robin: Development work: a wild ride – http://addictedtoimpact.blogspot.com/2011/04/development-work-wild-ride.html
Dan B: Why do so many PDPs get abandoned? – http://questionstoquestions.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/why-do-so-many-pdps-get-abandoned/
Marie-Claire: On n’a pas le choix – http://extraitsduburkina.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/on-na-pas-le-choix/
Ben: Friday Flims: If the rains rain well – http://theborrowedbicycle.ca/2011/04/if-the-rains-rain-well-friday-flims-6/

Amusing and interesting things:

Development jargon quiz – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/quiz/2011/apr/22/global-development-jargon-quiz
xkcd: The Future according to Google search results – http://xkcd.com/887/
The Grand Tour (an expat’s take on a Chinese tour of Europe) – http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/04/18/110418fa_fact_osnos?currentPage=all
Online Colour Challenge – http://www.xrite.com/custom_page.aspx?PageID=77&Lang=en

Posted by erinantcliffe | April 22, 2011 | Categories: Development Digest | Comments Off on Development Digest – 22/04/11

Big John’s Self-Help Super Microfinance Scheme

Meet John Alhassan I. He is an Agricultural Extension Agent (AEA) at my office of the Ghanaian Ministry of Food and Agriculture. His job is to deliver agricultural information to farmers in his operational area and to help them improve their farms, whether that means reducing the level of poverty in a household by adopting better agricultural practices, or helping commercial farmers to get in touch with the market. John sees all types of strengths and needs in his daily work as an AEA.

One of the farmer groups that John works with is a women’s group of 24 members. He started building up this group using EWB’s Agriculture As a Business program last June. Through the program, group members were encouraged to contribute group savings to a bank account that John had helped the group to open a few years ago. Each member contributes 50Gp (about $0.35CAD) per week. After a few months, the group had built up their savings and they were ready to invest.

John was concerned that the group was too large to give a loan to each woman. If they divided the savings 24 ways, it wouldn’t really make a difference. Instead, he divided the group into four groups of six women each. He randomly selected one group to receive loans first by drawing the numbers 1-4 on pieces of paper and selecting one from a pile in front of the women. Each of the six women in the first group received a loan of 100GhC (about $65CAD) to invest however she wanted, but with the understanding that in two months time she would have to pay back the full 100GhC, plus 5GhC of interest. Most of the women are processors, so they elected to invest in bulk purchases of rice, groundnuts or shea nuts to process and sell at a profit. After two months, 100% of the money and interest were paid back to the group bank account, and the next round of loans were given out to six new women.

After each group had received the loan once, John upped the stakes – the next round of loans were for more money (120GhC), but the interest also increased (10GhC). Again, the repayment rates have been 100% so far. The group is currently on this second round of loans and their bank account balance is still increasing. The women are dedicated and determined and John is encouraging them every step of the way. The goal is to make enough money for the group to buy a grinding mill, a purchase which will give them an even higher return on investment.

John Alhassan I.

Why do I think this is such a great story?

John is really passionate about helping people in his role as an AEA. Though many farmers have been trained over the years to sit around and wait for government money to come, John knows it isn’t coming any time soon. He also knows that the banks aren’t often willing to help; he already took this women’s group to the bank for a loan and they were rejected. Help isn’t coming from outside, so John is helping the group to help themselves. This group is serious, dreaming big and working hard to achieve their goals.

John has now taken this scheme to other farmer groups, where it is also working successfully. But why is he so successful in this approach? There are a few key elements of this grassroots project that have made it work so far:

There is no time limit on this project. This is John’s own initiative, so he has taken the time to build up and groom his farmer groups until they are ready to handle serious money. He is not under pressure from donors or banks to report quarterly on his progress, and his funding isn’t going to dry up in 3 years. Instead, this home-grown approach gives the group and the AEA time to build up their skills and capacity to handle these loans.
The group members have a personal relationship with John and a high degree of trust in him. He visits the group often to check in on their progress, encourages them when they need a kind word and keeps them accountable to each other. He hasn’t just come in to tell them what to do “for their own good”, but he has taken the time to build a trusting relationship with the group.
The approach is tailored to the needs of the group. This isn’t some monolithic project coming in and prescribing a microfinance approach to fit all smallholders. Instead, it’s one AEA who knows the nuances of this group and has created a program that will work specifically for them. He has decided on the timing, the group sizes and amounts of the loans in collaboration with the group so that it best fits their needs. And this completely changes for each of the groups he works with.

This is an approach that is working for John’s farmers. Of course, it wouldn’t work if you tried to scale it up. It would be too complex, with too many variables and little things that would invariably go wrong – the farmers don’t trust the facilitator, the groups are thrown together to access loans, the money is too much or too little, the ToT didn’t teach trainers to visit the groups often enough. Farmers are smart – they’ve seen it all before, and they know how to manipulate the system. If you tried to scale this project, it just wouldn’t work.

The beauty of this approach is that it was developed out of a clear need: to find financing for the group to meet their goals. It’s a tailored approach that is based on a strong relationship between the AEA and the group members. The problem presented itself and the AEA was pushed to find a solution. In the development world, where we often find solutions in need of problems rather than the other way around, this is a refreshing turn of events.

I admire John for his dedication and creativity in meeting the needs of his groups. I wanted to highlight him as one of the many AEAs in the Ministry who are working tirelessly with inadequate pay and resources to do the best they can for farmers. These are the small beacons of hope that keep me motivated to keep working for change in the Ministry. John is truly an inspiration!

So I say, to all of you, keep doin’ it for Dorothy!

Posted by erinantcliffe | April 18, 2011 | Categories: Blog posts | Tags: AAB, development, effectiveness, farmers, impact, leadership, MoFA, poverty, work | 2 Comments

What am I doing here? Thoughts from an agricultural development gal in Ghana

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