Aid Thoughts

I just discovered Beyond Good Intentions, a short documentary series covering several different topics in the development agenda. Given the lack of quality coverage on the issue, I was surprised to find that the series avoids many of the trappings of the development documentary:

• There is a disturbing lack of distended bellies
• Western aid/NGO workers are, for the most part, not treated as saviours
• Poor people are portrayed as determined and active, not helpless and doe-eyed.

It is well worth a watch. Tori Hogan has gone out of her way to cover a nice range of topics, although there is a slight micro bias to the whole thing. Absent are discussions on larger issues concerning aid effectiveness or less tangible areas such as governance. Even though Hogan manages to insert a healthy dose of skepticism from time to time, there's a lack of a devil's advocate for several of the pieces (the randomistas get off a little too easy). There's also that post-MTV obsession with constant, uplifting music in the background.

Still, quibbles aside, it's a great first step towards more thoughtful discussion. You can view entire the series on Youtube here. Especially cringy is, during the discussion on faith-based aid in Mozambique, the moment where a missionary admits he will only exchange assistance for guaranteed Christian conversions.

If nuance isn't your thing, you're welcome to check out The Invisible Children Project or watch two women discuss development over popsicles (thanks Aid Watch).