ABSTRACT
This chapter concludes the book, reflecting on what has been written and providing thoughts for those entering the development business. The author advises those starting in the aid trade to think like activist anthropologists; to be serious about learning languages or working with interpreters; to actively try to understand people’s livelihoods; and to learn what has been done to date in the name of aid where they are, and how damaging corruption has been. He asks those entering the field to be very frank with themselves: are they prepared to wait for a good employer? Are they prepared to push for time in the field, not just in the capital city? He remarks on the changes in the aid trade since he entered it – many more large for-profit organisations managing non-profit development projects using inappropriate language and concepts from the corporate field (“selling”, “growth”, “incentives”). Development work is for people with commitment. A valuable mantra comes from disabled people: “Nothing done to us or for us without us.” Development people should be sure that there is an exit strategy for whatever they get into, and save money so that they can wait for the most worthwhile job.
