The development landscape is changing - so should we.

Global development has evolved to become more strategic and intentional about how nations interact and bolster conditions of the Global South developing countries low- and middle-income countries (…or, better yet - countries of the global majority). Moreover, the changes made specifically over the past decade have seen a greater commitment to inclusion, evidence-based approaches and financial engagement that increasingly acknowledge the value of local ideas, potential and leadership.

However, now that I’ve stated the good, I think I might also be in the clear to state the “needs improvement” stuff. Yes, I’m hitting you with the “sandwich method.” In a lot of ways, some organizations working in global development have lost the plot. Their processes embed Western values and interests, perpetuate historical power and economic imbalances, and are (often inadvertently) performative despite good intentions. You know you’ve lost the plot when your jargon needs to include phrases like, “the meaningful inclusion of the lived experiences of…[insert marginalized community].” Why have they not been meaningfully centered to begin with? Why have we distanced ourselves and over intellectualized very real problems? And, when it comes to being honest about frustrations in global forums, are we silent or are we silenced?

I recently came across an old opinion piece which asked, “If another world is truly possible, and if private philanthropy need no longer exist in that world, then what is the role of today’s funder organizers in bringing that world into being?”

To close this intro on a positive note (adding the finishing touch to our sandwich), if you were to honestly look at the programs and initiatives you are working on, and perhaps your business model itself, could you confidently say you’re working towards being obsolete? My guess is that you’re not quite there yet, but I believe you hope to be.

Let’s rediscover the plot together.

In this newsletter:

• Shifting ground in development

• Current events x media 

• Good, practical fun 

Shifting ground in development

• Aid cannot make poor countries rich (The Economist): Like so many, I have been grappling with what the downturns in development aid will mean for the countries relying on that help. The Economist’s piece gives voice to question a lot of us have felt whispers of to differing degrees: If development aid is not a long-term solution to low- and middle-income dependency on Western loans and grants, then what is the solution? Are there short-term harms being done by enacting this system today? The op-ed presents the view that:
  
  “Ultimately, [countries which are aid recipients’] survival depends both on receiving aid and not enacting the sort of policies that might, in time, reduce their dependence on such handouts.”
  
  How can we uplift without getting in the way of long-term financial and political sovereignty? 

• How We Got Here: Six Reasons Liberal Philanthropy Is Losing the Battle for America’s Future (Inside Philanthropy): There are variations of the “why the left is losing ground in X area,” but it’s rare to read one that is entirely hard to disagree with. The points range from philanthropy’s disconnect from new ways of communicating, lack of focus on economic security and hesitation to tackling capitalism. There is a need to reflect on these points, pushing through the instinct to become defensive.

“But the larger problem may be that foundations and major donors are creatures of capitalism. Their wealth comes from business success, and it’s no surprise that funders — consciously or subconsciously — aren’t much interested in challenging the system that spawned them.”

• It’s Time to Reimagine Foreign Aid by Farah Stockman (The New York Times): With the closing of USAID, it is argued that we should support by contributing to emergency bridge funds and giving to former USAID grantees directly. We should also aim to be more clear on expectations of the duration and expectations of engagement, and encourage and build capacity for revenue generation as appropriate for long-term independence.

Current events x media

• The Settlers by Louis Theroux (BBC): The minute The Settlers dropped on BBC, social media lit up with conversation. While I don’t know that it imparted a lot of new knowledge, what it did well was shine a light on the ways in which Settlers are eager to continue infringing upon international law in the name of expanding Israel. Theroux interviews without being afraid to push back and ask the hard questions to guide them toward exposing their hypocrisy. 10/10. No notes. Well done. 

• Organ Transplant System ‘in Chaos’ as Waiting Lists Are Ignored by By Brian M. Rosenthal, Mark Hansen and Jeremy White (The New York Times): In exposing the realities of the organ transplant system, the authors have spotlit another example of how the health care system in the US is broken and continually deprioritizing people in favor of profit
  
  From a communication perspective, it’s a powerful reminder of the importance  of giving people a platform to tell their own stories alongside solid research and data; and allowing for engagement with the content. It also used an interactive approach to data illustration. The comment section seemed to have a love-hate relationship with it. Be careful where you use new data formats and mindful of your audience’s comfort level.

• ‘A cocktail for a misinformed world’: Why China and Russia are cheering Trump’s attacks on media by Michael Savage (The Guardian): As we assess the information landscape and the shifts in development, there is an increased need for us to protect freedom of press and free-flowing access to information on a global scale. The Guardian did an amazing job producing a series of articles around freedom of press for World Press Freedom Day 2025. Here are some related Guardian articles that were interesting:

• Mass arrests and beatings: how Ethiopia went from celebrating journalists to jailing them

• ‘Fight back’: journalist taking Trump administration to court calls for media to resist attacks by Kate Lamb

Now that we’ve mentioned Trump, here is a bonus along this same topic: 

• President Trump Says He Will Implement 100% Tariffs on Films Produced Outside the U.S.: ‘The Movie Industry in America Is Dying’ by Jack Dunn, Brent Lang (Variety): In a move that further restricts the freeflow of information and an explicit intention to curtail foreign “messaging and propaganda” from entering the United States, Trump has labeled foreign films a threat to national security. This is done under the guise of wanting to protect the American film industry. Like all previous Trump tariffs, this has caused confusion, anxiety and perhaps a hesitation to engage in business from a non-US perspective. 

Good, practical fun moments

• The Pudding digital publication: Researchers notoriously have difficulty translating hard won data and insights into accessible, appealing formats. The Pudding goes above and beyond by sharing interactive - even gamified - content that is fun to learn from. It’s cool and manages to keep your attention.

• Why Democracy is Mathematically Impossible (Veritasium): Democracy takes different forms across the world, and anchors ideology justifying internal and external interventions and accountability measures. But, is true democracy in any form actually possible? Math says no. 

• Shoe Dog by Phil Knight: While most of the book focuses on the ins and outs of building a business - mainly sales activities, cyclical financial instability, and building relationships - Phil Knight begins by presenting his world view. He spent time traveling before landing in Japan to partner with Onitsuka, and established factories in Puerto Rico, China, Singapore and other locations. So, I should not have been so caught off-guard  that he ended the book by emphasizing the need for global trade, writing:
  
  “Change never comes as fast as we want it. [...] I think constantly of the poverty I saw while traveling the world in the 1960s. I knew then that the only answer to such poverty is entry level jobs. Lots of them. [...] Though I’ve been known to call business war without bullets, it’s actually a wonderful bulwark against war. Trade is the path of coexistence, cooperation. Peace feeds on prosperity.”
  
  Phil managed to have more depth in this book about selling sneakers out of his trunk than I expected. However, the verdict is out on whether this is an attempt to quash threats to his legacy, as he remains defensive about the “sweatshop scandal” while crediting his critics with making Nike’s social impact and sustainability efforts better.

See you back here in a couple of weeks! |