Common aid problems
The worst in-kind donations
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
Here are the winners from the stories submitted for the worst in-kind donation contest (related post: What is an in-kind donation). You may have your own personal favorites, all submissions can be read here, please feel free…
It’s time to stop telling pretty stories and start really evaluating the impact of aid
Friday, June 5th, 2009
With GiveWell’s Charity Reviews due in early July, the lack of available evaluations of aid agency work is once again highlighted.
After the tsunami in Thailand over 200 aid agencies of all types and sizes flooded into the area…
Good Intentions are Not Enough
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
Last week John W. Yettaw, an American, swam across a lake and into the compound of the Burmese Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. As a result of this thoughtless and illegal act the Burmese government have put Suu Kyi…
The Allure of the Quick Fix
Thursday, May 14th, 2009
“Hit the ground running”
As a Crisis Corps Volunteer (part of the US Peace Corps) I was sent back to Thailand to help with the tsunami recovery efforts. Before my departure Peace Corps sent out a press release which…
Best practices often lose out to quick and cheap programs that please donors
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
Donations can be misused and ill-spent despite the best intentions of donors
Deciding whether or not to donate and which agency or project to donate to can be a daunting and frustrating task. Although donors choose aid agencies that they…
Lessons Not Learned
Monday, May 11th, 2009
A report just released by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies titled Tsunami – Global Lesson Learned, highlighted six key lessons learned.
“…facing the challenges of leadership and coordination, achieving equity…
