I love it.
I don't know who writes it, there's a name attached, Alden Kurtz. That can't be a real name, can it?
It is the kind of writing I would do once I complete 20 years in the aid circuit (or development hell, as someone once put it). I'm already one third on my way there.
Here's a sample:
HRI has of course been the principal recipient for Global Fund money in D.R. Congo in three previous rounds and we have managed to spend almost 19% of the money already allocated. Naturally we decided to go for round 10 as well, arguing that the slow spending of existing funds is an obvious indication of “lack of absorption capacity” of partners, a situation that requires supplemental funds to address.
My employer would, probably, no, definitely, have a fit if I wrote that. Which is why I put it in quotes. (Note to employer: it is in blockquote)
The development industry is a curious entity. It's weird enough that after seven years, I still try to consider myself an outsider. It gives me hope that one day I'll make a great contribution. Change is an exogenous process, there has to be a new element. Haven't you watched the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly?
When I was joined private sector, I was a 26 yr old wide eyed optimist. I poured myself into work, believed that it made a difference. I loved my work, and I put in long hours. I wasn't this wise (arguably), I learned fast, and I got a lot done. But I struggled to visualize myself doing that day after day, for years. I was already looking out for greener pastures.
Now, I'm a 36 year old pessimist. I work "smart", and I believe I make a difference. I love my new work too. I'm wiser, learn fast still. I can't say that I get a lot done, though. Everything just takes.... oh, how to put it... too... darn... long.
Here's the depressing difference. I can easily see myself doing this year after year. I have grown comfortable with my image as a development worker. When I was a TV industry drone (mugal is a better word, perhaps), it was difficult for me to often introduce myself, because I had a role conflict. I thought I could do better.
I can still perhaps do better, it's just I don't know.
Here's a grandiose way of conveying a small information. I've been, if you will, on a vision quest of sorts lately. I have met too many development sector consultants, who go from country to country, proffering advice that no one wants to hear, writing pages of strategies that remain a stacked mountain of dead wood (i.e. paper), accumulating small fortune that pays for alimony of two ex-wives and children's sex change operation, and becoming a connoisseur of esoteric "authentic" artifacts from third world countries.
In TV, if you didn't do your job, you'd know in 48 hours, because it would be up there on the screen for everyone to see. In this industry, there are thousand ways to mask incompetence. Difficult partners who quibble over the minutes of decisions. Divas and beauty queens. Alliances that last shorter than Pam Anderson's marriage. Let's not even go into the politics.
Yet, I love it and can easily see myself doing this for another 15-20 years. Now that I'm more mature, I can easily keep a straight face when someone mentions words like Optic, synergy and interfacing. I participate gleefully in meetings where obvious things are painfully spelled out and obsessed over because the person who will actually do the work don't understand what we're saying.
Phew. I feel a lot better now. Back to regularly scheduled programming.
