Kevin Starr talks about his article "Don't Feed the Zombies" and how if we focus on measuring reach, instead of caring about impact, we end up doing harm in the world. His vision is a world where you can't get taken seriously if you can't talk about real, measurable change in the lives of people we serve, and the evidence to back it up. "The minute you commit to impact, and a definition thereof, you're starting to be part of the solution." What's a definition of impact? Evidence of change that happened in someone's life, and a plausible description about how your part in that change worked. If we (especially donors) are not accountable for impact, they end up supporting groups that aren't accountable to the people they serve, and are not driving for the full potential of what we can get done in the world. Here are some other links to check out:
Move faster: Finding ways to support GBV Survivors with Cash Services (English)
Move faster: Finding ways to support GBV Survivors with Cash Services (Arabic)
Efficient, Effective, or Inexpensive: Looking at Cost Efficiency for Impact, Not Just Savings
Gender Equality in Savings Groups: Women Cannot Do It Alone
Designing Cash Programming to Reduce Gender Based Violence (English)
Designing Cash programming to reduce gender based violence: Part 2 (Arabic)
Designing Cash to reduce Gender Based Violence (Arabic)
Get Beyond Your Own Assumptions
Treat the System, Not the Disease
We are not superior: lessons on working authentically with local organizations
Breaking Inward: Digital Failures and Who Bears the Risk
Don't Try to Win: Lessons from innovation failures in the humanitarian sector
Where White Feminism has Failed: Linking women's empowerment with anti-racism
Study, analyze, adjust quickly: the Bihar Technical Support Program's concurrent measurement and learning approach
We are not immune: unlearning white supremacy in international development
Fail Again. Fail Better.
Data in the time of COVID
Dream Big, But Move Methodically
Implementers vs. Allies
Undocumented and Unafraid: Rethinking Vulnerability
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The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Advocacy Scoop Podcast
Social Dallas Podcast
Change Church Podcast
Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon
Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications