The San Antonio Spurs have overwhelmed the Miami Heat two games on the row now. These are the NBA finals but it looks more like regular season games between a top and a mid ranking teams. The first half of Game 3 is unheard of. At one point deep into the second quarter San Antonio […]
Is there a knowledge of the future? This is a rhetorical question, for there is no knowledge of the future. There cannot be a knowledge of the future, as the future is not yet there, it does not exist when we think about it now, in this moment. Yet, we who work in development (and
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Datta, A., Shaxson, L., Pellini, A. Capacity, complexity and consulting: lessons from managing capacity development projects Working Paper 344, March 2012, London: Overseas Development Institute This paper reflects on some of the Research and Policy in Development (RAPID) Programme\’s capacity development work in recent years and draw implications for future practice for both consultants and
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Taking responsibility for complexity ODI Briefing Papers 68, August 2011 written by Harry Jones This Briefing Paper reviews the implications of complexity for policy and programme implementation. It aims to give readers the tools to decide when a problem is complex, outline why this matters and provide guidance on how to achieve results in the
I like to run and listen to podcasts. While listening to people’s talks about, for example, the demonstrations in Egypt or the changes that Barak Obama has brought to America, the steady rhythm of the run, which is almost hypnotic, makes me feel as part of the audience. Particularly in days like today, when I
Running with a podcast, the filter bubble and its relevance for policy research Read More »
I read and interesting interview in the International herald Tribune during dinner. An American executive working in the TV sector was asked about the balance between management and creativity. ‘Creativity is scary and messy’, she argues in the interview, but you cannot do without it. The point is to allow for the right amount
The right amount of chaos Read More »
A common feature of community development projects is to set up new self help groups to run community development initiatives. This approach often disregards the existence of groups and associations that have been traditionally active as the story of the pagoda of Botum tells us. The village of Botum Lech is located in the
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Five workers in blue uniform are fixing the gate of the Reunification Palace here in Hi Chi Minh City. The gate looks in need of some repair. Thinking about it, these workers may look quite similar to the ones who fixed this gate about 35 years ago. It was the 30th of April 1975 when
Vietnam: plans and co-developments Read More »