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All of us are responsible

Blog post by MANSOOR ALI and is shared generously by The Ideal Practitioner.

My 30 years of experience in the sector agree with most of this. When I make presentations to about this to all stakeholders, people fully accepted this is true and that ‘all of us are responsible’.Some said, this is how the sector operates, one person said ‘if you don’t like it leave it’.

People seem to be happy with the status quo and not really ready to change. Someone suggested that downward accountability could change the situation.

What is the problem with the international development practitioner?

A common challenge with the International Development Practice is the tension between our desire to control, see everything linear and prepare plans versus the realities of the practice which is complex, blurred and fast changing. We try to do things where the control and linearity make sense, while in the process lose the opportunity to learn, be flexible and work with the opportunity. As a result, we deliver development which is in some cases, not sustainable, irrelevant to the locals and short term. One example, I use in lectures is about the gross misunderstanding of development practitioners and donors that school building is the key to the education. Full control and plans were executed in building thousands of schools in Asia and Africa, but many only used to keep grains and animals. Very little benefit to anyone.   

 

Question posed	Response
What do you think are the most important practices and competencies of a social change/development practitioner?	Listening, observing, be flexible and able to change the mind-set. Ready to put aside the trainings and qualifications to understand better, what is required, where are bright spots, how change happen etc.
What is your image of an “ideal” social change/development practitioner?	Sympathetic and caring to other people. Ready to share powers and take decisions collectively. Ability to see the bigger picture and inter-connectedness. Ability to lead people and help them in learning and achieving their goals.
What challenges does such an “ideal” social change/development practitioner face in trying to live up to that ideal in the real world?	I think one common challenge is our desire to have a career and security of job. This means, individuals could be competitive. This creates problems of lack of trusts, relationship, information sharing etc.
How have you personally navigated these issues?	I tried to keep a larger network of friends, people, students and mentors. Did not hesitate to ask questions and shout for help.
What questions should we be asking that we are not?	Is there anything I might learn from this illiterate person in the middle of nowhere, without any assets, who cannot write or speak properly?

Many thanks for the discussion, we need more like this.

Mansoor Ali, PhD

MANSOOR ALI IS CURRENTLY SENIOR WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH) ADVISOR AT INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS | MORE THAN 28 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING WATER, SANITATION, SOLID WASTE AND SLUM UPGRADING. WORKED IN 18 COUNTRIES AND RECENTLY JOINED INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPORATION, A LEADING ORGANISATION IN RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT. PREVIOUSLY WORKED AS THE HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES AT BUILDING AND SOCIAL HOUSING FOUNDATION (BSHF) AND INTERNATIONAL ADVISOR ON MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING WITH PRACTICAL ACTION.