written by Matt Andrews This is the second of the four common excuses that I hear about why PDIA cannot be done in development. If you are interested, you can read the first one. Excuse 2: International development experts often tell me that PDIA is not possible because politicians will never support it. Again, simply…Continue Reading PDIA: One can find or build political support (Part 2/4)
PDIA: International organizations have flexible instruments (Part 1/4)
written by Matt Andrews Almost every time I give a presentation on PDIA (and I have given many), I hear excuses about why PDIA cannot be done in development. So, I’ve decided to set the record straight. I am writing a blog post and drawing a picture for each of the four most common excuses…Continue Reading PDIA: International organizations have flexible instruments (Part 1/4)
The Studley Tool Chest
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I wanted to share the story of the image we chose for this blog – the Studley Tool Chest. Designed by piano maker Henry O. Studley (1838-1925), this toolbox is about 40 inches by 20 inches when closed, and holds approximately 300 tools. Apparently, it is so heavy that it…Continue Reading The Studley Tool Chest
What’s in a counterfactual?
written by Salimah Samji I am amazed by people’s obsession with the counterfactual, and how evidence cannot exist without it. Why are people so enamored by the idea of ‘the solution’ even though we have learned time and time again that there is no one size fits all? Is the existence of a counterfactual a sufficient condition?…Continue Reading What’s in a counterfactual?
Aid and Fragility: PDIA at the UN
Earlier today, Lant Pritchett, Michael Woolcock, and Frauke de Weijer were on a panel for the Fragility and Aid: What Works? event held by the UNU-WIDER at the Permanent Mission of Germany to the UN. They discussed how even well-meaning attempts to “build capacity” could serve as techniques of persistent failure because of isomorphic mimicry (emphasis…Continue Reading Aid and Fragility: PDIA at the UN
Untying Development
Yesterday, we hosted a one-day workshop entitled, Untying Development: Promoting Governance and Government with Impact. The day brought together different voices to discuss the challenge of creating a governance agenda that focuses on solving country-specific problems, involves local people through flexible and context-fitted processes, and emphasizes learning in the reform process. In the first session,…Continue Reading Untying Development
Hirschman told us that implementation involves a journey
written by Matt Andrews I ran across the following quote from Hirschman today. A reminder that implementation is neither easy nor prone to scientific certainty. Rather, it requires journeys, of finding, fitting, and discovering. Do we promote such journeys in development? Are we open to the destinations we might end up reaching? ” The term…Continue Reading Hirschman told us that implementation involves a journey