Warning received

Development that has impact in the long-term is difficult to achieve. In my first week I saw a water supply system that only works for half the year.

I also visited a tsunami early warning system that no longer has any personnel or equipment – only the physical structure remains. So it’s just a useless collection of wood and nails. No warnings can be issued or received.

These NGO projects were almost certainly written up as successes within the relatively short project cycle, but have run in to serious trouble just a few years later. Warning issued and received.

It is very easy to find fault with other people’s work after the fact. Actually planning and implementing a sustainable intervention is much much harder. This is constantly at the front of my mind as we work here.

With ACTED’s programme we’re strongly emphasising building the capacity of existing local organisations and network; developing a range of relevant skills; and giving communities themselves the opportunity to choose the direction of the projects. I hope we’ll be successful.

But ultimately we, like many before us, will leave and forget. Only the communities themselves will really live with the consequences.