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Editorial, volume 5, number 3, August 1995
When we invited Mike Powell to be the guest-editor of this issue of Development in Practice, we knew that his extensive experience in development and relief work, as well as his honest commitment to questioning his own (and others') assumptions, would result in a refreshing and stimulating edition. We have been well rewarded, and hope that you too will enjoy his varied menu of food for thought, analysis, and action.
The contributions speak for themselves, and need no editorial commentary here. The message for development policy-makers and practitioners also comes across loud and clear: the indicators for development `success' cannot be determined by outsiders, much less by external agencies which are not themselves part of the process. We cannot undo history, nor can we ignore the unequal relationships of power between the donor and the recipient, the large funding institution and the small grassroots organisation. But these should not be a pretext for aid agencies to impose pre-defined agendas on their counterparts, or to decide in advance what are the benchmarks of poor people's `development'. For, as Odhiambo Anacleti amusingly demonstrates, what looks like failure to the donors may feel like success to some of those whose lives are at stake. Sadly, however, it is more often the other way round: outsiders see achievement, while those on the receiving end of their `development' activities see their situation change, if at all, for the worse.
The decision to commission a thematic issue has had one unwelcome consequence, which is that it may take slightly longer than usual to publish material received in the last few months. We believe this was a price worth paying, and ask you to bear with us. We are always pleased to receive contributions, and will do our very best to ensure speedy publication. But it helps us to do this if you contact us before submitting material -- and if you make every effort to stay within the recommended word-counts.
Finally, a few words about the Reviews section of Development in Practice. Thanks to our new format and frequency, we shall be able to carry full-length reviews of at least 40 publications in each volume. The decision to expand this section was partly in response to feedback from readers; so we would welcome your views on the choice of books, and on the quality of the reviews. The Book Shelf is also a popular item. As a signpost to current resources, it is particularly appreciated by readers without ready access to academic libraries and bibliographic services. We must be highly selective in compiling the Book Shelf, and many worthwhile publications cannot be included, for lack of space. In keeping with our overall purpose, we try to choose items of greatest relevance to policy and practice. Our regular reviewers are experienced NGO practitioners, and are asked to assess the usefulness of each publication to field-staff and policy-makers. In this way, we hope to be able to sharpen the focus of Book Shelf as a service for readers who are currently involved in development and relief work.
Deborah Eade Caroline Knowles
Editor Reviews Editor
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