By Jessica Meckler
With the variety of blogs available online, it should come with little surprise that development blogs are plentiful. While this might seem a bit like homework at first – more reading? – these blogs offer a medium to share information across countries and connect the experiences of people working in the development sector. Should you choose to explore the myriad of articles that exist, you will be delighted at the virtual opportunities to learn.
To help you on this journey of development enlightenment, a few of us here at BRAC have compiled a short list of blogs that are worth looking at. This is just a smattering of the blogs that are out there, but they show the range of writing styles and subject matters that exist. Whether you are looking for a good laugh and commiseration over a tough day in the field or a serious consideration of international aid policy, you’ll find it all!
The serious:
- Oxfam GB’s Duncan Green writes a regularly updated blog called From Poverty to Power. From comments on recent conferences to research reports, Green covers pertinent issues in the development world in an accessible and forthright manner. (http://oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/)
- The Guardian hosts a Global Development Professionals Network Blog, where contributors cover a wide range of topics from women’s rights, international education, current events, and migration. The articles are concise and provide a nice overview of various development issues. (http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/blog)
- The Guardian also hosts the Poverty Matters Blog, which looks at issues of poverty,
international aid, and efforts to combat poverty worldwide. The articles are informative and make for a great break for anyone interested in catching up with current development issues. (http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters) - For those who like to stay up-to-date with academic thinking, Columbia University’s Chris Blattman blogs about poverty, political engagement, the causes and consequences of violence, and policy in developing countries. His entries are succinct and reflect his academic profession in tone. (http://chrisblattman.com/)
- Another blog that has a heavy academic tone is the Center for Global Development’s blog. The articles are excellent and well written, although they require more focus and attention than some of the other options listed here. Still, for insight into global development, this blog should certainly grace your browsing list on occasion! (http://international.cgdev.org/section/opinions/blogs)
- As a BRAC intern and a student of international development, I find Development Intern particularly interesting, and I recommend it for other interns and young professionals. As the title suggests, the blog is targeted at those beginning their career; articles are useful for those looking to enter the industry or those just starting their first job. Contributors do a good job of explaining the challenges that young professionals face and bringing up critical components of development work. (http://developmentintern.com/)
The more lighthearted, and perhaps at times irreverent:
WhyDev is an excellent blog to frequent if you’re interested in having a few laughs and sympathetic winces; the authors of WhyDev are aid practitioners who offer thorough, insightful ideas about the state of international humanitarian aid. Since the contributors have a wide range of experiences and opinions, WhyDev is a refreshing read. There are serious posts that handle current events and personal issues for aid workers while other posts mock the absurdities that accompany the life of an aid worker. Huge bonus: they just published their first podcast episode on June 27, with more to come! (http://www.whydev.org/)- How Matters is similar in tone to WhyDev – pertinent issues are handled in a lighthearted but honest manner. Furthermore, the relatively frequent guest posts offer different opinions on issues from preventing burnout to incorporating volunteers into NGO work. (http://www.how-matters.org/)
- Aid Leap is another mixed blog, with some posts (such as “The Logframe of Love”) sure to elicit laughs and other posts sure to inspire contemplation. Aid Leap doesn’t delve into the issues as clearly as WhyDev or some of the other blogs mentioned above, but it’s worth a read. (http://aidleap.wordpress.com/)
- If you’re really looking for a laugh, Stuff Expat Aid Workers Like won’t fail you. The blog was born in the aftermath of seeing countless unexplainable occurrences take place during projects. Similar to WhyDev, Stuff Expat Aid Workers Like explores some of the complexities and absurdities of life in development. The contributors themselves label their writing as “satirical, sometimes ironic, usually humorous (but sometimes dead serious), always honest vignettes of the humanitarian aid industry from the inside.” (http://stuffexpataidworkerslike.com/)
- Another great read is Africa’s a Country. While it is not entirely a development blog, Africa’s a Country covers a fantastic range of disciplines – from recent events to the arts – and highlights the rich diversity of Africa. (http://africasacountry.com/)
- While I hesitate to call Unreasonable a development blog, it is a nice resource for readers interested in international entrepreneurship and building business skills. There is a good overview of various subjects: entrepreneurship in various regions, good business practices, useful facts for life, etc. The articles tend to be short and easy to read. They have many good reminders for business conduct, and it’s definitely worth a little time at night. (http://unreasonable.is/category/opinion/)
Do you have your own development blog, or a favorite that isn’t listed here? If so, please share in the comment section below!
Jessica Meckler is an intern with the BRAC Social Innovation Lab. She is a graduate student at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University focusing on economic development and NGO management. For the 2014-2015 academic year, she will be working in Pune, India as a William J. Clinton Fellow.
