e-Debate: Frank van Eekeren shares his thoughts in Round 3

Frank van Eekeren shares his thoughts on what he considers to be the three main actions the S&D community should take in the next 3-5 years. Read his comments below...

Do you consider it still a ‘taboo’ to talk openly of mistakes or ‘what went wrong’ in S&D programmes? How do you propose overcoming this challenge?

It is not a taboo. First of all there are many examples of partners openly discussing their programmes, including their challenges and mistakes (although often behind closed doors).

Second: open debate depends on the nature of power relations between the parties involved. If there is a strong dependence on the donor, competition between organisations (for funds), etc. - visibility and a positive image are crucial, and openness about mistakes will not be rewarded.

The key to more openness is to increase the value of and reward for ‘learning’ in the programmes - and not to focus only on accountability.

What three active measures do you recommend the S&D community to take as a collective in the next 3-5 years to address the biggest challenges outlined earlier in the discussion?

Develop and support strategic partnerships between the various stakeholders (North-South, South-South, North-North) – to influence power relations and to ‘learn’;

Invest in structural academic research and M&E – to ‘learn’ and (indirectly) influence power relations;

Invest in partnership and exchange of knowledge with other sectors, such as health care and education – to ‘learn’ and (indirectly) influence power relations.

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