Opinion

Dennis Whittle writes on the importance of feedback loops – a must read for those seeking to make development organizations more responsive and adaptive

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Dennis Whittle has published an important piece on the signficance of feedback loops. His discussion of how feedback loops can subvert the prevailing mental model (top-down; expert-driven) and the limitations of RCTs is particularly relevant. A must read for all those seeking to make development organizations more responsive and adaptive. http://international.cgdev.org/publication/how-feedback-loops-can-improve-aid-and-maybe-governance

Global Giving launches its “most important local initiative”, listening to those who are meant to benefit from development

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The Slum Youth Map Community Development Fund will be mapping and reporting about the progress of local government development projects in the slums to increase accountability and transparency of community funds. Many projects that make use of a fund for community development aren’t completed or are not successful and Global Giving want to document them so that[…]

Keystone’s Kai Hopkins highlights the importance of indirect relationships, for creating social change and maximising the desired outcomes for ‘end-beneficiaries’

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Writing on the Feedback Labs blog, Kai argues that intermediaries – implementing partners of an international NGO, a grant recipient, or an impact investor’s awardee – are an important and active agent of change and a key to successful development outcomes. And as such, we must understand these relationships and strive to improve them. To do so,[…]

Nick van Praag, Director of Keystone’s Ground Truth program argues that the best way to gauge whether humanitarian programs are making a difference is to ask the intended beneficiaries

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Nick van Praag, Director of Keystone’s Ground Truth program argues that the best way to gauge whether humanitarian programs are making a difference is to ask the intended beneficiaries Writing on the Feedbacak Labs blog, Nick discusses The forum on humanitarian standards, which was held in Geneva with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). He suggests that the[…]

David Bonbright is interviewed for the Uncommon Giving radio show on his work experience and the development of Keystone

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David Bonbright is interviewed for the Uncommon Giving radio show called Improving the effectiveness of social purpose organisations. The show hosted by Chicke Fitzgerald explores David’s working background and Keystone’s work. Listen to the interview here.

Jay Naidoo argues the importance of open data platforms as a tool that can empower citizens to participate in governance

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Jay Naidoo is founding General Secretary of Cosatu, former Minister in the Mandela Government and Chair of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). In his article, he argues that citizen engagement is essential for effective development, strengthening the quality of policymaking and the “science” of service delivery with improved social accountability. In order to increase[…]

Ken Berger and William Schambra argue on the pros and cons of emphasizing nonprofit outcomes metrics

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Ken Berger, CEO of Charity Navigator and William Schambra, director of the Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal argue the pros and cons of emphasizing nonprofit outcomes metrics. Ken’s article is available here, and William’s is available here. Both are published through Nonprofit Quarterly.

Markets For Good blog: David Bonbright discusses the prerequisites to moving constituent feedback to the heart of the philanthropy marketplace

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If we want action – organizations listening and responding to their constituents in a way that raises performance and enhances impacts – we need to stimulate the demand for feedback and provide the professional support infrastructure to meet that demand. This raises a couple of important strategic questions in the field of what is coming[…]

Constituent Voice gets its first “state of the field” article

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In the current issue of the Stanford Social Innovation review, Fay Twersky, Phil Buchanan, & Valerie Threlfall overview the emerging discipline of listening systematically the constituents who matter most,  intended beneficiaries. They provide excellent case studies in education and health, and cite a number of other examples approvingly, including Keystone’s work. This article is required[…]