Aidworker strategy- A pointless parable

“Why are we having a strategy meeting again? Did we not work on a three year strategy, just last year?,” said Aidworker One.

“Our priorities have changed,” said Aidworker Two.

“Our Aid Agency's priorities have changed,” said Aidworker Three.

“Ok,” said Aidworker Four.

So the four of them sat in a meeting room, in a decent hotel with buffet lunch and centralised AC. One was a sectoral specialist in Malnutrition, Two a specialist in livelihoods, Three in Child Participation and Four was a DM and E guy. (Design, Monitor and say ok to Everything guy).

Since they were passionate in their own area of expertise, the meeting lasted forever. For none wanted the priorities to change from what they specialise in. Well, the meeting did not last forever, but for a few months because the budget for the meeting almost ran out. On the last day the Child Participation expert had a brain wave-

“We must invite a child who faces the issue. The child must suffer from the issue 'Climate Change' because the Aid agency wants us to focus on that. The child will give special inputs to this meeting. Hell! we may use it as a justification to extent the meeting for another month,” said Aid Worker Three.

“Ok,” said Aidworker Four.

They went and they looked for a child who was facing the issue of 'Climate Change.' They found a child who was given an umbrella by their organization. They flew the child in, Aidworker Four 'Okayed' the cost by doing some magic in the design document.

“So give us your inputs,” said Aidworker Three.

“The umbrella you gave me was made of metal, and I was hit by lightening in the first thunderstorm to ever hit my village,” said the little girl, who we will refer to as- beneficiary.

“Well don't blame me! It was idea of Aidworker Two. 'Give umbrellas to all beneficiaries'- he clearly said in the last strategy meeting,” said Aidworker Three.

A blame game ensued and none of the Aidworkers admitted to coming up with the idea to distribute umbrellas.

The child was a smart little beneficiary. She knew that there a was a good 'need story' in the 'first thunderstorm to ever hit her village' so she applied for the climate change grant. Now everyone in her village has an umbrellas for the rainstorms. The umbrellas were made of plastic, an innovation for which the Aid Agency took credit as it raised funds in the EU. Innovation was an important buzzword in the EU. They planned to improve Greece through innovation and of course- 'Climate Change Grants'.

The rainstorms did not come, but the DM and E guy made it look like the umbrellas were for the hot sun. 'A hot sun because of climate change', he wrote, in the semi annual report. The first year of the three year grant was a huge success.

The second year, though, was another story.

For the Aid Agency insisted on a strategy meeting.