Myths About Aid Work

Published September 03, 2009 @ 04:50PM PT

Last week posted a piece sent in by a friend, providing advice no one will give you - including advice about reporting fraud, working with less-than-pleasant colleagues, and the dangers of relying on your organization's emergency evacuation plan.

Continuing that trend, below are other links to help dispel various myths about aid work:

- Chris Blattman takes on the myth that local NGOs are more altruistic and sustainable than local governments.

- Tales from the Hood explains that -- contrary to popular belief -- NGOs are, in fact, the "establishment". Even the small ones. The piece also includes other useful advice, such as: schmooze like crazy, never get married, never have children, go to Cambodia to find your first job overseas, apply audaciously, be prepared to lower your personal job-standards, and don't feel guilty about riding in a white Landcruiser.

- Bill Easterly is not always right. Tho he does remain the only person alive capable of working Beyonce into a post about the importance of aid agency specialization.

Finally, one myth that is true - my former change.org blogger Alanna Shaikh does walk on water. At least occasionally. That, and she's also the single best global health blogger around. She's started a new blog called Global Health Basics; if you're at all interested in the topic, you should definitely check it out.

PS - for a rather scathing response to various criticism about the MSF ad, please see the recent post by my genocide co-blogger Michelle.

[Image from author]

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If you desire scathing responses to anything else, I'm now taking orders.

Posted by Michelle . on 09/04/2009 @ 06:36AM PT
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Michael has worked for NGOs in Afghanistan, across east and central Africa, and Iraq. Prior to going overseas, he worked on a project providing assistance to the United Nations on the application of International Humanitarian Law to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.