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How to speak global development (jargon) in 2016 From cluster meetings to sunsetting: how to speak development (jargon)
(35 minutes later)
Pity the poor development professional. Not only are we underpaid and under-appreciated compared to our friends in the private sector, now we’ve started to lose our language, as aid-speak has become overrun with corporate buzzwords.Pity the poor development professional. Not only are we underpaid and under-appreciated compared to our friends in the private sector, now we’ve started to lose our language, as aid-speak has become overrun with corporate buzzwords.
It’s a pernicious process, and as we’re all beholden to those holding the purse strings, they’ve started creating their own rules.It’s a pernicious process, and as we’re all beholden to those holding the purse strings, they’ve started creating their own rules.
Government donors now have to prove that they’re not only helping people, but that they’re also generating a positive return on investment.Government donors now have to prove that they’re not only helping people, but that they’re also generating a positive return on investment.
Donors: those most insulated from the consequences of their actions #DevelopmentDictionaryDonors: those most insulated from the consequences of their actions #DevelopmentDictionary
Impact – change that is rumored but never observed, like a unicorn #DevelopmentDictionaryImpact – change that is rumored but never observed, like a unicorn #DevelopmentDictionary
So where do our donors turn when they need the language to talk about a “return on investment” and “catalytic change”?So where do our donors turn when they need the language to talk about a “return on investment” and “catalytic change”?
The corporate sector of course, and in particular Silicon Valley, a place equally adept at generating buzzwords as generating profit.The corporate sector of course, and in particular Silicon Valley, a place equally adept at generating buzzwords as generating profit.
It began so innocently. First, we started to use scale as a verb. Then, we began to describe our projects as disruptive, or innovative, or both disruptive and innovative. And our donors responded.It began so innocently. First, we started to use scale as a verb. Then, we began to describe our projects as disruptive, or innovative, or both disruptive and innovative. And our donors responded.
We pushed it further, explaining how our projects moved the needle, while creating dashboards to gauge our progress.We pushed it further, explaining how our projects moved the needle, while creating dashboards to gauge our progress.
Our organisations became game changers and thought leaders, leveraging new technologies to accelerate systemic change. Before you know it, we’re all talking about big data, and dying inside.Our organisations became game changers and thought leaders, leveraging new technologies to accelerate systemic change. Before you know it, we’re all talking about big data, and dying inside.
Big Data – magic; a belief in the power thereof #DevelopmentDictionaryBig Data – magic; a belief in the power thereof #DevelopmentDictionary
That said, you can’t fight the tide, especially if it’s being ridden by your donor of choice, so here’s a short glossary of development buzzwords to see your organisation through the year.That said, you can’t fight the tide, especially if it’s being ridden by your donor of choice, so here’s a short glossary of development buzzwords to see your organisation through the year.
Bandwidth – a synonym for organisational capacity that implies said organisation is pushing the boundaries of technological innovation – even if your executive director still has an assistant to type their emailsBandwidth – a synonym for organisational capacity that implies said organisation is pushing the boundaries of technological innovation – even if your executive director still has an assistant to type their emails
Cluster meeting – definitive proof that hell is other peopleCluster meeting – definitive proof that hell is other people
Deep dive – connotes an organisation’s willingness to suffer sustained cuts in order to achieve their goalsDeep dive – connotes an organisation’s willingness to suffer sustained cuts in order to achieve their goals
Deliverables – a polite way to describe NGO reports that no one will ever readDeliverables – a polite way to describe NGO reports that no one will ever read
Expert – an individual who has spent at least three consecutive days in a given country or who has read a lot of articlesExpert – an individual who has spent at least three consecutive days in a given country or who has read a lot of articles
Growth hacking – a willingness to do anything to increase the number of beneficiaries, includingcounting them twiceGrowth hacking – a willingness to do anything to increase the number of beneficiaries, includingcounting them twice
ICT4D – the belief that poverty will end once everyone has a mobile phoneICT4D – the belief that poverty will end once everyone has a mobile phone
Ideate – hiring expensive outside consultants to facilitate a company brainstormIdeate – hiring expensive outside consultants to facilitate a company brainstorm
Innovation – a phrase often used to mask the complete lack thereofInnovation – a phrase often used to mask the complete lack thereof
Outside the box – a phrase used exclusively by those least likely to think in this wayOutside the box – a phrase used exclusively by those least likely to think in this way
Overhead – an umbrella term covering all the functions necessary to the running of an organisation; also a dirty wordOverhead – an umbrella term covering all the functions necessary to the running of an organisation; also a dirty word
Paradigm shift – what your organisation undergoes when your main donor announces it will no longer fund your thematic area of work or the region you work inParadigm shift – what your organisation undergoes when your main donor announces it will no longer fund your thematic area of work or the region you work in
Pivoting –rebranding failure as an exciting iterative learning process that will, inevitably, lead to greater impactPivoting –rebranding failure as an exciting iterative learning process that will, inevitably, lead to greater impact
Ramping up – an excellent way to describe delays in project implementationRamping up – an excellent way to describe delays in project implementation
Sunsetting – a donor’s polite way of saying that your project will no longer receive fundingSunsetting – a donor’s polite way of saying that your project will no longer receive funding
As you acclimatise yourself with this new lexicon, someone, somewhere, is writing a proposal about growth-hacking entrepreneurship, simultaneously applying the internet of things to the management of internally displaced people. This proposal will get funded. Probably by the US Agency for International Development.As you acclimatise yourself with this new lexicon, someone, somewhere, is writing a proposal about growth-hacking entrepreneurship, simultaneously applying the internet of things to the management of internally displaced people. This proposal will get funded. Probably by the US Agency for International Development.