A Decade of Overdue Change - Embracing Politically Smart, Locally Led Development: More than 10 years ago, David Booth and Sue Unsworth challenged conventional donor practices in their paper Politically smart, locally led development. Their insights remain critical today, calling for a shift towards more adaptive and locally empowered approaches. #FutureOfCooperation
Key Insights:
- Iterative Problem-Solving: Flexible, step-by-step learning replaces rigid blueprints, allowing strategies to evolve with real-world challenges.
- Local Ownership: Empowering local leaders ensures that solutions are context-specific and address genuine community needs.
- Flexible Funding: Long-term commitments and adaptable funding models support innovative, sustainable interventions.
- Trust-Based Relationships: Building genuine partnerships among donors, governments, NGOs, and communities is key to lasting change.
- Rethinking Donor Practices: Conventional, one-size-fits-all approaches hinder progress; embracing political savvy and local insights can drive real transformation.
Despite being over a decade old, the paper’s call for critical reflection and innovation remains unheard in mainstream development practice. It’s time for transformative change that truly empowers local communities.
Source: David Booth and Sue Unsworth 2014
