Aid Myths Busted

A very good, and short, critique of commonly heard criticism of international development cooperation (or “overseas aid”)

NGOs and Accountability: What it says in the Papers

Irish NGOs are clearly very aware of the challenges and opportunities for greater NGO Accountability. But a research sample suggests they have failed to harness the power of the media to educate the Irish public about the issue.

Charities and Financial Transparency

A short note on the importance of transparency and clarity when it comes to aid data – for Governments as well as for NGOs.

Discuss: What makes a good NGO?

An invitation to debate: What are the key characteristics of “an effective Development NGO”?
Please comment.

Tracking Ireland’s funding commitment on HIV & AIDS and communicable diseases

Trying to assess how much Irish Aid spends on HIV & AIDS, as a result of the Taoiseach’s pledge to spend €100 million a year on communicable diseases, shows that Ireland still has a long way to go towards “aid transparency”

Managing Change in NGO Networks

In this first blog post in a series, Hans Zomer examines the particular nature of networks, and reflects on how decisions are arrived at in network settings, and what makes for an effective NGO network. (with links to various resources on the topic).

The NGO of the Future?

This blog aims to promote discussion among Irish Development NGOs, as they continue to articulate their views of Development Effectiveness and quality standards for their work. It argues that NGOs need to go beyond statements of Principles, and reconsider their fundamental role: The NGO of the future is not an implementor, but a networker.

Key questions to ask any charity

Here is a list of key questions to ask any “Charity” / NGO when you are considering making a donation.

Ireland tops division two of four on donors’ aid transparency

Ireland scores well on aid transparency – must do better