Good Intentions Don't Cut It

Three years ago, I was sure I understood development. The more I’ve learned, the more problems I’ve come across. There are an infinite number of cases where the practitioners were well-intentioned but the project failed because there was not an accurate understanding of what sort help was needed.

I find that one of the hardest things in development (besides the temptation of cynicism) is ensuring that the change you’re aiming to achieve is both sought and welcomed by stakeholders. I strongly believe that change must be DESIRED before it is okay for any development practitioners get involved. Stakeholders must be aware of the choices they have in the matter, and they must CHOOSE to acquire external assistance. Anything outside of that is an intervention, and should not be classified in the name of development. That is not to say you can’t present them with options, but that’s just it – they’re options – and the local communities should have every right to refuse them if that’s what they prefer.

What people unfamiliar to the field do not always recognize is the thin line exiting in development moving from empowering, enabling and capacity-building to the imposition of our belief systems. We can’t go into someone else’s country, someone else’s home, and tell them everything they are doing is wrong – who are we to say that? Development is not a linear spectrum and we as Westerners are NOT the end goal. Development can exist in a multitude of different forms and should not be assess with a narrow mindset. Living on less than a dollar a day is not an adequate criterion to individually determine the status of a nation. Economic standing is not an accurate depiction of a country’s development because it ignores important things such as a community’s incredible spiritual and cultural wealth.

This involves a lot of thinking and preparation before arriving in Nepal. I want to go to Nepal, and I want to help, I want to be useful. But I need to be critical of the work I do, always ensuring that there is a demand for the work I’m doing and the change I’m trying to bring about.