Greening Aid: New Approaches, New Priorities

by Brooks Keene · 2009-06-04 16:52:00 UTC
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Running a series this week by Brooks Keene looking at the intersection between aid and the environment, focusing on whether aid interventions are truly sustainable.  Brooks previously worked as a development policy consultant in Kenya, and now works for a US-based NGO.

For previous posts in the series, see here.

New Approaches, New Priorities

What would a magical new framework - for making aid more environmentally sustainable - look like?

My idea is that it should go something like this. When thinking about a program for a new area, you first ask yourself what the fundamental problems are.  Are there problems with sustainable water, soil, air or sunlight?  If there are, that’s something fundamental you could work on.

Yes, I realize I just cut out most disease prevention, emergency relief and economic development work.  It’s okay if you want to work on something non-fundamental as long as you’re fully aware that you’re dropping the ball and dooming humanity to the depths of hell.

I’m just kidding, but you do need to be aware and we’ll get to why. 

If you did make the fundamental list then your work is just beginning.  If you have ideas about how you want to address this issue, you still need to ask yourself, “Have I addressed both the short term needs of humans and the long-term needs of humanity (this is real sustainability).  If you haven’t, then back to the drawing board.

A concrete example of this (and one I encounter daily) would be working to make sure everyone has access to safe drinking water.  This is great and water is on the list, but guess what?  You didn’t think a bit about environmental (and here we could also say “human”) sustainability even if you did set up a well committee and supply chain that will let them keep their hand pump working ad infinitum.  You just missed an opportunity to work on one of the world’s great problems.  You might even have contributed to it.

[Photo from the Guardian]

Brooks Keene
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