This online Op/Ed by David Dickson originally comes from scidev.net, but I found it on an interesting blog called Gates Keepers. It keeps an unbiased eye on the Gates Foundation, as is worth a read if you have interest in what Gates is up to.
The Op/Ed makes a sound argument that the Gates contribution is welcome, but that they shouldn't become so dominant that they completely drive the development agenda. Among his reasons I am particularly drawn to the critique that Gates seems drawn to technical fixes, and the belief that science can solve all of our problems. Science can do a lot, and a good deal more research is needed in a lot of areas. But there continues to be a need for the less exciting long-term work like education.
Even as a I say this, though, I wonder if Dr. Dickson and I are just shouting to stop the sun from coming up. Gates and Google are in the development field now, and they will bring their technology/business perspective with them. There isn't anything we can do about it. But I also think that there may be something good in this change (in addition to the money).
As business people and computer guys they are used to problems that can be solved, and seem to be treating development in the same way. That's a pretty radical departure from the way we normally think about development - as a situation to be improved, not fixed. I still think that Dr. Dickson and I are right and not all problems have solutions, but it is going to be fun working with the newcomers and their frame of mind.
2 Comments So Far»
Thanks for your compliment and I hope you continue to read and comment on Gates Keepers.
It may be ‘fun’ for professional basketball players and their fans if Bill and Melinda walk out onto the court and join them in a game. It is not ‘fun’ when naive amateurs like the Gates wander into the arena of human development and make decisions that affect people's lives. It is hard to work with amateurs. Naivete has its costs to others.
Gates Keeper
Gates Keeper - ‘Fun’ may not have been the best choice of words, but I do think that it is an exciting time to be working in development, as it becomes a more core part of foreign policy and brings in new resources from public and private sources. On your broader point - the danger of naivite - we may have to agree to disagree.
Development professionals have made a lot of mistakes that were based on the best practices of the time. Integrated rural development and structural adjustments are just two examples. It is unlikely that all of our current received wisdom is 100% correct.
In my opinion, what we should want from new people to the field is that they maintain an open mind to advice and a wilingness to heed our hard-learned lessons from the past.
1 Pingback & Trackback
Leave Comments Below»