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Does international assistance work as we mean it to?
Join Dayna Brown, co-author of the book Time to Listen , who will convey her experience working for the CDA Collaborative Learning Projects. In this seminar, hosted jointly by USAID and the Society for International Development Knowledge Management Working Group , Brown will discuss her research, which aggregated the input of nearly 6,000 people in 20 aid receiving countries, as well as the reflections of aid workers themselves, on the effectiveness of international aid efforts as captured through The Listening Project.
Time to Listen captures experiences and ideas on how to make international aid more effective and shift the paradigm from the current externally driven aid delivery system to a collaborative one that truly supports local people as drivers of their own development.
Key Takeaways In this video, Dayna Brown talks about the findings from her research on aid effectiveness.
Tweets [<a href="//storify.com/USAIDLearning/time-to-listen-hearing-people-on-the-receiving-end" target="_blank">View the story "Time to Listen: Hearing People on the Receiving End of International Aid" on Storify</a>]<h1>Time to Listen: Hearing People on the Receiving End of International Aid</h1><h2>Explore tweets posted during the February 13, 2013 USAID &amp; Society for International Development event, &quot;Time to Listen: Hearing People on the Receiving End of International Aid.&quot; This event is part of the Thought Leaders in Learning series. </h2><p>Storified by <a href="http://storify.com/USAIDLearning">USAID Learning Lab</a>&middot; Wed, Feb 13 2013 18:49:30</p><div>Want ideas on how to make #aid more effective? Join @usaid webinar now http://ow.ly/hG8Bo #usaidTLLMSI Worldwide</div><div>Today we're at @usaidlearning for the #usaidTLL program - looking forward to convo abt making int'l aid more effective.VEGA</div><div>Webinar now starts with @USAID &amp; @sidwashington on aid effectiveness &amp; discuss using #usaidTLL http://ow.ly/hCXWh #km #km4devKristyn NanlalKhetia</div><div>Online with @USAID's @usaidLearning and @sidwashington for a webinar on aid effectiveness #usaidTLLLoren Hyatt</div><div>.@USAID webinar: Development is effective when local stakeholders have a voice and decision-making power. #usaidTLLKyle Strand</div><div>@lorenhyatt @kaenkay @vegaalliance @msiworldwide @africasif @daiglobal Thanks 4 joining event on aid effectiveness! #usaidTLLUSAIDlearning</div><div>Larry Garber announces new Learning Lab site! #usaidTLLUSAIDlearning</div><div>listening to a USAID webinar about The Listening Project #usaidTLL , to gain lessons learnt for Project H.E.A.R http://thuydinhh.wix.com/projecthearThuy Dinh</div><div>All post event resources will b available on Learning Lab next week #usaidTLLUSAIDlearning</div><div>#usaidTLL ...we need to shift from a system of &quot;we know better&quot; to &quot;they know better&quot;...Thuy Dinh</div><div>Thx to @sidwashington for cohosting this seminar! #usaidTLLUSAIDlearning</div><div>Erin McKee: Development professionals need 2 listen. #usaidTLLHeather Risley</div><div>We're attending USAID A Time to Listen:Hearing People on the Receiving End of Int'l Aid. What qu.s do you have? #usaidTLLACDI/VOCA</div><div>More about USAID Time to Listen: Hearing People on the Receiving End of International Aid: http://usaidlearninglab.org/events/time-listen-hearing-people-receiving-end-international-aid #usaidTLLACDI/VOCA</div><div>Dayna Brown: 2005-2009 CDA had listening events in over 20 countries on long-term effects of aid -- didn't have this opp before #usaidTLLAgrilinks</div><div>@FletcherSchool grad Dayna Brown currently discussing her work w/ CDA's Listening Project in USAID webinar #usaidTLL http://ow.ly/hGegqJacqui Deelstra</div><div>CDA interviewed over 6000 people in different countries abt #aideffectiveness #usaidTLLUSAIDlearning</div><div>Listening to a fellow @tuftsalumni give a webinar on internat'l aid &amp; collaborative learning projects #usaidTLL http://ow.ly/hGegqMari Pierce-Quinonez</div><div>Dayna Brown found recipients said that int'l aid is appreciated, but changes &quot;aren't adding up&quot; &amp; achieving their intent. #usaidtllVEGA</div><div>Dayna Brown #usaidTLL: In various countries intl aid processes very similar, projects R positive but don't add up 2 changes they want 2 seeLindsay Levin</div><div>USAID Time to Listen Hearing People on the Receiving End of International Aid resource: http://www.cdainc.com/cdawww/pdf/book/time_to_listen_pdf_Pdf1.pdf #usaidTLLACDI/VOCA</div><div>&quot;focusing too much on efficient delivery doesn't deliver the desired results; should focus on needs assessment, instead.&quot; #usaidtllVEGA</div><div>Dayna Brown @ USAID Time to Listen: &quot;Unless assistance is connected to existing capacities, it may undermine them&quot; #usaidTLLACDI/VOCA</div><div>Starting point needs to be on what's already working #usaidTLLUSAIDlearning</div><div>Our best programs reinforce existing capacity and work with ppl at the grassroots level to understand local needs. #usaidtllVEGA</div><div>Dayna Brown: Intl aid focused on delivery &amp; what was missing instead of what was needed &amp; increasing existing capacity #usaidTLL #KM4devAgrilinks</div><div>Dayna Brown: problem with aid delivery is we start with needs assessment rather than identifying existing capacities, strengths #usaidTLLJacqui Deelstra</div><div>Collaborative Aid - dont pre-package: Support/reinforce local capacities + identify local priorities. @USAIDlearning #usaidTLL #LessonHeardTheStrandful</div><div>Engaging local people in collaboration for international aid requires time and resources, but the outcome will be better. #usaidtllVEGA</div><div>Dayna Brown: Aid processes can undermine effectiveness #usaidTLLUSAIDlearning</div><div>Dayna Brown #usaidTLL: &quot;Procedure-crats&quot; lose focus on what they came to. Community meeting: &quot;I participate. You Participate. They Decide.&quot;Lindsay Levin</div><div>Dayna Brown at #usaidTLL: &quot;In a collaborative aid system, we would have collaborative decision making.&quot;ACDI/VOCA</div><div>Voices of beneficiaries of an external-driven aid system: &quot;I participate, You participate, THEY decide&quot; #usaidtll @USAIDThuy Dinh</div><div>A collaborative aid system means collaborative decision making #usaidTLLUSAIDlearning</div><div>Short-term approaches are a main factor of development failure.#usaidTLL #LessonHeard Time to Listen http://goo.gl/wJ9vAKyle Strand</div><div>Local people should be seen as colleagues &amp; drivers of their own development #usaidTLLMiriam Chaponniere</div><div>Might be better to measure &quot;engagement&quot; rather than rigor and process for int'l aid. #usaidtllVEGA</div><div>Dayna Brown of #TimetoListen : Time to focus on &quot;real&quot; work, not busy work, #aidworkers. #usaidtllHow Matters</div><div>Dayna Brown sharing harsh critiques from aid recipients about how donors care more about efficiency and reports than social good. #usaidtllVEGA</div><div>Just because international aid is measurable doesn't mean it is effective. #usaidtllVEGA</div><div>Just because something is measurable doesn't mean it's valuable #usaidTLLUSAIDlearning</div><div>Interesting discussion paper: Change Mgmt for Effective Institutions http://ow.ly/hGiBP for folks listening to #usaidtll &amp; IPR supportersHow Matters</div><div>Dayna Brown #usaidTLL - Beneficiaries: &quot;Y don't agencies come back 2 C if impacts lasted? Y don't they see what we have done w investments?&quot;Agrilinks</div><div>Measure quality not quantity in development projects. Remember: Measurable != Effective#usaidTLL #LessonHeardKyle Strand</div><div>Here at VEGA we like to include some skilled volunteers in int'l aid programs to maintain that &quot;volunteer spirit.&quot; #usaidtllVEGA</div><div>Dayna Brown on international development at #usaidTLL: &quot;Shifts in our thinking have to accompany shifts in our behaviors&quot;ACDI/VOCA</div><div>Dayna Brown: let's change what we can control #usaidTLLUSAIDlearning</div><div>We need to do a better job of educating Congress and the American public about long-term international development. #usaidtllVEGA</div><div>Dayna Brown at #usaidTLL: We need to engage with communitiies on the impact they want to achieve.ACDI/VOCA</div><div>Who is defining impact? If it's only us, we're failing. #usaidtllHow Matters</div><div>Great seminar abt difficult but important issues #usaidTLLHeather Risley</div><div>The chat on the webinar was turned off? #usaidtllHow Matters</div><div>Dayna Brown #usaidTLL We need to combine qualitative &amp; quantitative methods to see if we're really seeing the impact we want to be achievingACDI/VOCA</div><div>Let local people &amp; organizations drive your development process. #usaidtll #paradigmshiftVEGA</div><div>How are local people part of the decision making process? #usaidTLLMiriam Chaponniere</div><div>#usaidtll : &quot;We tend to use the word stakeholder to mean the people who tend to agree with us. But [development] is rife with conflict.How Matters</div><div>Collaborative decision-making between local people and aid workers can allow for less waste and more effecitve programming #usaidTLLACDI/VOCA</div><div>http://ow.ly/d/13Af PDF of USAID Time to Listen Dayna Brown's presentation #usaidTLLACDI/VOCA</div><div>So most useful aspects of Dayna Brown's DC presentations this wk @interactionorg &amp; @USAIDlearning have been comments/questions #usaidtllHow Matters</div><div>&quot;I don't see much changing until #aid gets away from being a gravy train for elite US contractors.&quot; #usaidtll #timetolistenHow Matters</div><div>&quot;I actually heard a deputy chief of party say 'Impact is when you meet the indicators.'&quot; #usaidtll #timetolistenHow Matters</div><div>&quot;How do you find the time to do long-term projects?&quot; &amp; “we do not report on the money to them [beneficiaries]” #usaidtll #timetolistenHow Matters</div><div>1 of 2 “Seems like the Henry Ford conundrum: ‘If everyone asked for what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.’&quot; #usaidtllHow Matters</div><div>2 of 2 &quot;Ford didn’t ask the consumer about the design of the model T.” #usaidtll #timetolistenHow Matters</div><div>&quot;tricky - the difference btwn want &amp; need&quot; &amp; Do beneficiaries KNOW WHAT THEY NEED? Careful they can only have short term views.&quot; #usaidtllHow Matters</div><div>&quot;Indeed [impact] is difficult to measure, but when spending 100s of millions of taxpayer $, it is our responsibility to try.&quot; #usaidtllHow Matters</div><div>&quot;Major need to educate those who hold the purse strings&quot; #usaidtll #timetolisten #globaldev #aidHow Matters</div><div>&quot;Whoa!! Do WE know what beneficiaries really need? The last 50 yrs of &quot;devt&quot; have been us deciding &amp; we do not have much to show.&quot; #usaidtllHow Matters</div><div>&quot;Stakeholders are not monolithic. How do we balance demands of different stakeholders that may be contradictory?&quot; #usaidtll #timetolistenHow Matters</div><div>&quot;'Beneficiaries' are human beings like us with aspirations and value systems&quot; #usaidtll #timetolistenHow Matters</div><div>&quot;The next step? Is there going to be a book about implementation &amp; changing mindset? How do we begin to challenge ourselves?&quot; #usaidtllHow Matters</div><div>&quot;How do we identify/deal with biases of the listeners?&quot; #usaidtll #timetolistenHow Matters</div><div>Also check out @intldogooder timeline and #usaidTLL for live tweets of the USAID convo on the book &quot;Time to Listen&quot; http://ow.ly/hGtRybuky</div><div>&quot;[This] may be too contradictory to modalities of USAID. Perhaps consider how USAID could better support comm-level processes&quot; #usaidtllHow Matters</div><div>&quot;When local leaders say Thanks but No Thanks&quot; http://www.how-matters.org/2013/02/10/thanks-but-no-thanks/ @intldogooder #usaidtllThuy Dinh</div><div>If U missed @sidwashington @USAID event on aid effectiveness, recording will be posted here soon: http://ow.ly/hGx97 #km4dev #usaidTLLUSAIDlearning</div><div>MT @USAIDlearning: Thx to @sidwashington for cohosting this seminar! #usaidTLL Thank you for a great event too!SID Washington</div><div>MT @USAIDlearning Thanks for hosting such a great, thought-provoking event! #usaidTLLJacqui Deelstra</div><div>Time to Listen goes to USAID http://sfy.co/q1Wa #storify #usaidtll #timetolistenHow Matters</div><div>#usaidTLL recap: Dayna Brown: Surprised by the consistency of aid effectiveness feedback from thousands of individuals, dozens of countriesSID Washington</div><div>#usaidTLL recap: Dayna Brown: Aid comes pre-packaged &amp; on tight schedule for efficiency's sake, but risks disrespecting the unique situationSID Washington</div><div>#usaidTLL recap: DB: Proceduralization hamstrings efforts at delivering long-lasting, truly sustainable aidSID Washington</div><div>#usaidTLL recap: DB: Not working to make aid obsolete risks engendering in developing countries a 'project society, not a civil society'SID Washington</div><div>Learn more about Dayna Brown's Listening Project at the CDA website: http://bit.ly/gcz5ag #usaidTLL @USAIDlearningSID Washington</div> 
The evidence from The Listening Project shows that aid recipients want smarter aid, not necessarily more. Smarter aid involves understanding the local context and providing local stakeholders with a voice and decision-making power in how aid is conceived, funded, carried out and evaluated.
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