THIS IS WHAT SOCIAL CHANGE LOOKS LIKE! JOIN THE DIALOGUES!

Participating in the Connection Point Dialogues program will give you the unique opportunity to engage in facilitated discussions via videoconferencing technology with a diverse group of…

The International Potato Center seeks a dynamic Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) to be responsible for an ambitious research-for-development initiative that aims to increase incomes of smallholder potato producers in Southern Bangladesh through access to effective low-cost ware and seed storage. This initiative is a new component of an ongoing multi-year USAID-funded “Horticulture Project,” led by CIP and the World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) which will improve incomes and nutritional health…

We are celebrating Labor Day today in the United States, a day dedicated to the social and economic achievements of the everyday efforts of American workers. What better day to share my thoughts on a book I’ve been reading on the lives of us, the development laborers?

Inside the Everyday Lives of Development…

Reposting this in honor of International Women's Day and to welcome new readers wanting the think deeper about Invisible Children's #StopKony Campaign...Check out the great graphic from See Africa Differently at the end!

***

When girls are educated, healthy, and safe, their own life prospects are transformed. And importantly, they transfer those benefits to their future families and their communities. When girls have access to…

• European Union leaders confirmed that Herman Van Rompuy will serve a second term as President of the European Council on Thursday. Van Rompuy has served as the President since December 2009.
• A remote-controlled bomb injured 15 police officers and…

• I ask readers interested in peace and conflict to join the Peace and Collaborative Development Network and donate to help keep them alive, if possible. The network is a great place to meet others working in the field, browse job openings, read great blog entries and learn where to find other conflict resources.
• The International Centre on Nonviolent Conflict is…

• TRANSCEND Peace University has opened its online courses in peace and conflict studies for the upcoming spring semester. TRANSCEND was founded by Dr. Johan Galtung, widely known as the father of peace studies.
• NATO announced on Wednesday that it will buy five US-made unmanned drone aircraft capable of…

• The Council of Europe Commission for Human Rights warned this week of rising racism and xenophobia in Europe amid the current economic crisis, with austerity budgets undermining social rights and putting vulnerable groups at greater risk.  On Wednesday, British PM Cameron…

How-matters.org readers may know that I’m a faithful reader of The Sun Magazine. A well-spun story in the December 2011 issue, “First Empty Your Cup” by Andrew Boyd, featured an account of a traveler in Japan. I thought the conversation from this selection would ring…

I know, I know. I’m supposedly on a self-declared shut-down, but I couldn’t resist sharing my top 12 people, trends, sites, and organizations to watch in 2012!!

In no particular order...

It’s been a great year at how-matters.org! I am invoking a “shut down” for the holidays as of today and will return on January 15^th. Why the big break?

Because there are ideas to be flushed out, plans to be finalized, proposals to be finished, reflections and connections to be had.

2011 has been a “shake-up” year. With the Arab awakening in North Africa and the Middle East and the emergence of the Occupy…

“But how will we hold them accountable?” the senior technical advisor said of the proposal from the high-profile NGO. “There’s not even a logframe in there.”

Silently in my cubicle, I thought, “Oh, if only that would only make people and organizations accountable…”

Obviously, the need and the desire to be accountable in our industry are not going away. With foreign aid budgets under fire in many donor countries, accountability perhaps becomes even more…

The annual expressions of gratitude from the U.S.’ Thanksgiving holiday now subsided, I share a poem I wrote yesterday about how hard it is at times to be genuinely grateful.

Over the past year, I have been fortunate enough to live rent-free, staying with friends and family. But that has also meant that I have been someone’s houseguest.

After I wrote this reflection, I wondered: Is there a parallel to be drawn with those at the…

The Next Village - audio resource and radio series

Democracy and the Congo

November 2011.

The second set of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the end of their long-running war. Beyond Skin's Maurice Macartney met Mimi Unamoyo, a Congolese human rights activist, to find out just how democratic the DRC is.…

"Hillary Clinton unveils initiative on clean cooking stoves," was among last year’s highlights at the Millennium Development Goals Summit. On this World Pneumonia Day, what has become of The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves? Has yet another “silver bullet” failed to make a difference for those in the…

The leader of a former grantee organization I used to work with in Rwanda asked me last month:

“Since you started [how-matters.org], can you see any impact around advocated issues? Any results to share?”

It’s only fair. I’m sure I asked this of local organizations like hers too many times to count.

So today, since I missed the milestone of my 100^th post, I share and celebrate the…

How-matters.org is featuring two posts today as part of the Girl Effect Blogging Campaign. 

Part 1 discusses how grassroots organizations, as powerful actors that find and reach marginalized girls, are key to unlocking girls’ potential.

Because they are embedded in the communities they…

Great piece from Michael Shank on the Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-shank/on-92111-un-day-of-peace-_b_974197.html

 …

I've had a passion to serve, so once in a while I take a decision to do something more to be of service to my community.

Just before you proceed, let me do a brief introduction of what The LEADING SKILLS Project (LSP) is all about.

In our world of today, social needs and concerns abound, human expertise also abound here and there. The problem is, most of those with the requisite skills and expertise to help…