ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book deals with the tension between "doing good" and "looking good", a question that became hugely important as the aid industry set its horizons on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The book provides instructional, nuanced views of the complex tug of war between impression management and programmatic objectives. It discusses problem that "looking good" makes it seem as if celebrity activism is central to development and social change. Confusing development with charity and celebrity aid sets the wrong narrative. It perpetuates development as a Western story and casts the Global South as secondary characters. As a set of communication goals and actions, Transparency and accountability initiatives (TAIs) are premised on democratic notions of participation, public visibility, and responsiveness. This approach foregrounds ideas such as citizen monitoring, access to information, and legal empowerment.
