The benefit of hindsight: Lessons on improving development effectiveness
01 April 2011
Impact and Aid Effectiveness: Mapping the
Issues and Their Consequences, is a free-to-download compilation of analytical work spanning
three decades. One of the interesting insights that can be gained from such a historical
perspective is a better understanding of how some ongoing preoccupations have been shaped by their
proximity to other debates or policy concerns.
The editors express the hope that such hindsight will provide some perspective for practice and policy going forward. Underlying themes in the analysis include an implicit emphasis on complexity and a broad scope, ranging from the national level to the individual. The articles also highlight the "virtuous cycle" that can be created by using insights into impact to adjust interventions.
The meta narrative offered by the articles is that while, with some effort, the data can be
gathered, the main issue focuses more on the audience. Are programme managers enabled to reflect on
the
lessons learned in a timely manner? Can they adjust their programmes in the light of such
learning, or do pre-prepared plans prevent managers changing the programme? Are staff and community
enabled to reflect and learn? Significantly, have our methodological innovations over the years
sufficiently responded to the positions of our audience and users. The call for over 30 years has
been – enable people to understand the outcome of their actions and to improve their own
interventions, whether that is at a national or an individual level.
