Are IGAs reverse entrepreneurship?

One of the activities that’s become an important part of development programming are “income generating activities” or IGAs. They obviously range in type of activity and effectiveness, but basically they’re any activity – agricultural, small goods retail, crafts – designed to provide a source of income for the poor.
In my (limited) experience the IGA programs [...]

‘The Danger of Not Knowing Crap’: inside the world of youth global engagement and service projects

The Center for Global Engagement I run at Northwestern tries to ensure that all students graduate knowing how best they can contribute to global social change throughout their lives, whether its as development professionals or responsible corporate citizens, or something else entirely. We believe that the foundational learning experience for anyone who wants to create [...]

Safaricom, Africa-tech and Google in Africa

One of the things that many Afro-optimists share is an excitement about the way that technology is providing new opportunities for the passion, energy, and talent that’s so apparent in young people across the continent.
Last week, Google announced (hattip Appfrica) that it was launching a blog dedicated entirely to its work in Africa, which has [...]

CARE Connections: can individual humanitarian organizations create successful social networks?

CARE, one of the largest relief and development organizations in the world has just launched “CARE Connections,” a social network for CARE supporters to discuss relief and development issues. The email announcing the launch was inauspiciously titled “Move over Facebook, here comes CARE Connections.”
I think its a smart recognition on CARE’s part that there is [...]

When does this critique become its own cliche?

With an indignation that can barely fit in 500 words, long time Der Spiegel East Africa correspondent Thilo Thielke writes an Easterly-esque crowd pleaser: “Development Aid Workers Are Killing Africa.”
It would have some valuable points if it wasn’t so predictably wrapped up in its own rancor. His basic argument is that the “planned economy” that [...]