It's been a couple of weeks since my last post, and for that I apologize. Basically I got busy at work, so I didn't have as much time there to write posts, and then with Kristen visiting me here in DC (which was amazing!) and other stuff going on blogging just kind of slipped my mind.
As I said, the last couple of weeks at work have been pretty busy. I've been doing a lot of research on issues related to the G8 Summit coming up this May in France. I've written reports on Financial Levies, food security, I even wrote an article that will be published in next month's issue of Monday Developments (InterAction's monthly magazine). I've also had the opportunity to go to some really interesting presentations and meetings, hearing a presentation at the World Bank on commodity price volatility, a presentation from the CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (one of the main US government international development programs), and gone to a few House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearings.
One thing I've learned, or rather, been reminded of in the past few weeks is the need to rely on God. Those who know me know that I like to be in control of my life and be able to plan things out. Looking for jobs and figuring out what I'm going to be doing post-graduation (that's in May...WOW!) has reminded me that I can't always have everything figured out. With the difficulty in finding a job, and the uncertainty of the future, it's been easy for me to worry about that and think about it way too much. Thankfully, God keeps reminding me just to let go and trust that He will provide. An example of this happened this past Sunday in Church. During opening worship something got me thinking about jobs, and it had me really distracted from worship. I kind of snapped back to the song we were singing just as we sang the lines "You are God, you are God, of all else I'm letting go." Things like that are the small ways in which God has been reminding me to trust Him and let Him provide for me and guide my steps. In the midst of uncertainty about finding a job it can be so easy to worry, but it is so comforting to know that God is in control and that He has a plan.
There have also been a significant number of political developments in the last few weeks, a number of them garnering national attention on the situation in Michigan. Some of those highlights include Governor Snyder passing the emergency financial powers law (I can't wait until he tries to use it and the whole state turns against him, followed by numerous court cases challenging what seems to be a fairly clearly unconstitutional law). Another happened yesterday, when Governor Snyder signed a bill reducing the length of unemployment benefits, because apparently that is supposed to help create jobs (I don't see the logic there).
I'm hoping to have time soon to write some more on a variety of political issues, I guess that comes down to me making it more of a priority.
I hope all is well for all who are reading this. To all of you back in Michigan I miss you guys a lot (that means you should visit me here in DC, because DC is an awesome city).
Showing posts with label internship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label internship. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Panel Discussions and Thoughts on Foreign Aid
This has been a busy week as far as meetings go, and it's only Wednesday. Yesterday I went to two meetings that between the 2 of them took up the entire day. Today I spent my whole morning at another panel discussion.
The first was a panel discussion on Global Cooperation on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), hosted by the Brookings Institution. Among the speakers were the United Nations Under-Secretary General/High Representative for LDCs, a chief economist from USAID, the president of Rural Restoration Nepal (RRN), and a research fellow at the Brookings Institution's Global Economy and Development Program. I guess I'll summarize that meeting by saying that it was quite interesting, pretty informative, and smart people (or people who think of themselves as smart) like to talk...a lot.
The second meeting yesterday involved a few other aid/advocacy organizations (such as Oxfam) us (InterAction) and the World Bank. The purpose of the meeting was for the WB to show us what they had done with feedback we'd given them on a report for IDA16 - the next round of funding replenishment for the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA). Last year the same thing had happened, but they never showed how they used our feedback, so this year we said we wouldn't do it unless they committed to show us how they used our feedback. So they reported on it, and they had included significant changes to their report based on feedback we had given them. Interestingly, they seemed very hesitant to publicize the fact that they had received feedback from NGOs. Also, while reading the report I felt like I was reading a UN General Assembly resolution. Most of the words didn't actually DO anything. There were words like "encourage, support, promote, recognize, and hope" rather than "commit, mandate, and promise."
This morning I attended a panel discussion on Innovative Financing and the Global Health Funding Gap. It was hosted by the UN Foundation, and on the panel was a representative from African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), a director of Standard Bank, a program manager from the World Bank, and an Executive Director from the UN Foundation. The keynote speaker was an Administrator for Global Health at USAID. This panel was actually very interesting, and spoke somewhat on issues familiar to me, somewhat on issues entirely new to me. The general topic of global health is not something I have a ton of experience with, but I do find it very interesting.
The main topic of the panel was Innovative Financing, which is basically using financial tools (and banks) to guarantee funding on pledges made towards development (in this case health) projects. The "Pledge Guarantee for Health" (PGH) was launched as part of this panel, and you can read here (http://www.undispatch.com/pledge-guarantee-for-health-goes-live) about it's opening program. Basically the point is that in development, aid is often unpredictable, unstable, and limited. What the PGH does is serve as a way for the funds to be guaranteed and on time. When an organization or government makes a pledge to fund a program, the PGH serves as a guarantee, so through a bank like Standard Bank (the largest bank in Africa) provides the funding up front, before the pledge is actually fulfilled. This allows development projects to proceed on a much more timely basis, making them far more effective.
To use the example from the opening project of PGH, malaria nets were provided in Zambia. Normally, disbursal of these funds and procurement of the nets would take about 32 weeks. Through PGH, the funding was received in about 6 weeks, and 88% of the nets were delivered within 2-3 weeks of the project being announced, reaching the areas of highest need.
PGH, and other Innovative Financing methods, help make aid far more effective, and more efficient. Another aspect of this is results based finance, in which rather than provide all the funds up front and have disjointed inputs, if an organization (or in this case clinics) are successful at carrying out their program, then upon completion they receive some extra funding to further their programs. This doesn't cost anything extra, but rather makes more efficient use of funds already provided. It does this by creating a chain of actions for success rather than a bunch of separated, discordant inputs, by focusing on the outputs of the program.
It's tough for me to provide a very complete analysis of these programs, because this is really the first time I've encountered them, (so maybe I should be waiting on this post), but at first glance they seem like a really good idea. To be certain, they are no silver bullet, but I don't think there is any 1 silver bullet solution. I think that Innovative Finance probably is a good thing, and I hope to see it contribute to improved aid effectiveness.
more on this once I know more about it...
IN OTHER NEWS...
Did anyone see this (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/50019.html#comments) story? Justin Amash (our US Representative) has voted "present" 5 times in the last week alone. Voting "present" basically means abstaining, because it signifies "present, but not voting." To compare, Vern Ehlers (please come out of retirement Vern!) voted present only 4 times IN THE LAST 8 YEARS! What exactly does Amash think he was elected to do? Sit around and enjoy DC? I don't think so. Oh, and his excuse "he wasn't given adequate time to read the bill." Well guess what, EVERYBODY ELSE READ IT (or there staffers did), so get with the program buddy, you got elected, now do your job (on second thought, maybe it's better that he doesn't vote, since I'd disagree with most of his votes anyways.
Time for Bible study...adios
The first was a panel discussion on Global Cooperation on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), hosted by the Brookings Institution. Among the speakers were the United Nations Under-Secretary General/High Representative for LDCs, a chief economist from USAID, the president of Rural Restoration Nepal (RRN), and a research fellow at the Brookings Institution's Global Economy and Development Program. I guess I'll summarize that meeting by saying that it was quite interesting, pretty informative, and smart people (or people who think of themselves as smart) like to talk...a lot.
The second meeting yesterday involved a few other aid/advocacy organizations (such as Oxfam) us (InterAction) and the World Bank. The purpose of the meeting was for the WB to show us what they had done with feedback we'd given them on a report for IDA16 - the next round of funding replenishment for the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA). Last year the same thing had happened, but they never showed how they used our feedback, so this year we said we wouldn't do it unless they committed to show us how they used our feedback. So they reported on it, and they had included significant changes to their report based on feedback we had given them. Interestingly, they seemed very hesitant to publicize the fact that they had received feedback from NGOs. Also, while reading the report I felt like I was reading a UN General Assembly resolution. Most of the words didn't actually DO anything. There were words like "encourage, support, promote, recognize, and hope" rather than "commit, mandate, and promise."
This morning I attended a panel discussion on Innovative Financing and the Global Health Funding Gap. It was hosted by the UN Foundation, and on the panel was a representative from African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), a director of Standard Bank, a program manager from the World Bank, and an Executive Director from the UN Foundation. The keynote speaker was an Administrator for Global Health at USAID. This panel was actually very interesting, and spoke somewhat on issues familiar to me, somewhat on issues entirely new to me. The general topic of global health is not something I have a ton of experience with, but I do find it very interesting.
The main topic of the panel was Innovative Financing, which is basically using financial tools (and banks) to guarantee funding on pledges made towards development (in this case health) projects. The "Pledge Guarantee for Health" (PGH) was launched as part of this panel, and you can read here (http://www.undispatch.com/pledge-guarantee-for-health-goes-live) about it's opening program. Basically the point is that in development, aid is often unpredictable, unstable, and limited. What the PGH does is serve as a way for the funds to be guaranteed and on time. When an organization or government makes a pledge to fund a program, the PGH serves as a guarantee, so through a bank like Standard Bank (the largest bank in Africa) provides the funding up front, before the pledge is actually fulfilled. This allows development projects to proceed on a much more timely basis, making them far more effective.
To use the example from the opening project of PGH, malaria nets were provided in Zambia. Normally, disbursal of these funds and procurement of the nets would take about 32 weeks. Through PGH, the funding was received in about 6 weeks, and 88% of the nets were delivered within 2-3 weeks of the project being announced, reaching the areas of highest need.
PGH, and other Innovative Financing methods, help make aid far more effective, and more efficient. Another aspect of this is results based finance, in which rather than provide all the funds up front and have disjointed inputs, if an organization (or in this case clinics) are successful at carrying out their program, then upon completion they receive some extra funding to further their programs. This doesn't cost anything extra, but rather makes more efficient use of funds already provided. It does this by creating a chain of actions for success rather than a bunch of separated, discordant inputs, by focusing on the outputs of the program.
It's tough for me to provide a very complete analysis of these programs, because this is really the first time I've encountered them, (so maybe I should be waiting on this post), but at first glance they seem like a really good idea. To be certain, they are no silver bullet, but I don't think there is any 1 silver bullet solution. I think that Innovative Finance probably is a good thing, and I hope to see it contribute to improved aid effectiveness.
more on this once I know more about it...
IN OTHER NEWS...
Did anyone see this (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/50019.html#comments) story? Justin Amash (our US Representative) has voted "present" 5 times in the last week alone. Voting "present" basically means abstaining, because it signifies "present, but not voting." To compare, Vern Ehlers (please come out of retirement Vern!) voted present only 4 times IN THE LAST 8 YEARS! What exactly does Amash think he was elected to do? Sit around and enjoy DC? I don't think so. Oh, and his excuse "he wasn't given adequate time to read the bill." Well guess what, EVERYBODY ELSE READ IT (or there staffers did), so get with the program buddy, you got elected, now do your job (on second thought, maybe it's better that he doesn't vote, since I'd disagree with most of his votes anyways.
Time for Bible study...adios
Friday, December 10, 2010
Closing Time
Closing time - time for you to go out, go out into the world.
So I'm sitting here at Opportunity International, for my last half-hour of my fall 2010 internship experience. It's been a good one, and I've learned a lot. I can't even say how thankful I am for this experience that I've had. The staff here have been so incredible, making sure all along the way that this was an educational experience for all of us interns. I learned so many things, developed many skills, and got to know what it's like to work in a non-profit organization.
We closed off today with the first ever Opportunity International Chili Cook-Off, hosted by the fall 2010 interns. It was a great time, and we raised over $120 for Opportunity South Africa. This group of interns was a ton of fun to work with, and we had a blast, while teaching and learning from each other all along the way.
Closing time - time for you to go back to the places you will be from...
I'm excited to go home tonight, back to Grand Rapids, back to my own house, to my own room, to my own bed. Mostly I'm just excited and thankful that I get to spend the next almost 2 months spending time with family and friends. It's been tough being away this semester, especially with the fact that I've been away from Kristen for most of the last 6 months now. I can't wait to get to just enjoy spending time with her this break.
Closing time - you don't have to go home but you can't stay here.
I'm not quite at the point of really thinking about DC yet, but at the same time I'm excited for the experiences I'll have living in DC and interning at InterAction. I'm confident that this internship at Opportunity has prepared me well, and I'm excited for all that I'll learn in DC as well.
God has been so good to me all of my life, but especially in this year as I've gotten to gain internship experience while living and learning in the great city of Chicago. Chicago Semester really was an awesome time, and I'm so thankful for all the friends I made and the great times we had.
So now we're closing up the semester, and we're all getting ready to head home, then graduate later this year and go out into the world. Some of us are going home, but others are going to be spread out around the world.
Goodbye to everyone at Opportunity, it's been great working with you. Goodbye to all my CS friends, it's been a blast. Goodbye to Grevengoeds, and thanks so much for having me live with you, you really were a blessing. Goodbye Chicago, I'll be back sometime.
Closing time - every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end...
So I'm sitting here at Opportunity International, for my last half-hour of my fall 2010 internship experience. It's been a good one, and I've learned a lot. I can't even say how thankful I am for this experience that I've had. The staff here have been so incredible, making sure all along the way that this was an educational experience for all of us interns. I learned so many things, developed many skills, and got to know what it's like to work in a non-profit organization.
We closed off today with the first ever Opportunity International Chili Cook-Off, hosted by the fall 2010 interns. It was a great time, and we raised over $120 for Opportunity South Africa. This group of interns was a ton of fun to work with, and we had a blast, while teaching and learning from each other all along the way.
Closing time - time for you to go back to the places you will be from...
I'm excited to go home tonight, back to Grand Rapids, back to my own house, to my own room, to my own bed. Mostly I'm just excited and thankful that I get to spend the next almost 2 months spending time with family and friends. It's been tough being away this semester, especially with the fact that I've been away from Kristen for most of the last 6 months now. I can't wait to get to just enjoy spending time with her this break.
Closing time - you don't have to go home but you can't stay here.
I'm not quite at the point of really thinking about DC yet, but at the same time I'm excited for the experiences I'll have living in DC and interning at InterAction. I'm confident that this internship at Opportunity has prepared me well, and I'm excited for all that I'll learn in DC as well.
God has been so good to me all of my life, but especially in this year as I've gotten to gain internship experience while living and learning in the great city of Chicago. Chicago Semester really was an awesome time, and I'm so thankful for all the friends I made and the great times we had.
So now we're closing up the semester, and we're all getting ready to head home, then graduate later this year and go out into the world. Some of us are going home, but others are going to be spread out around the world.
Goodbye to everyone at Opportunity, it's been great working with you. Goodbye to all my CS friends, it's been a blast. Goodbye to Grevengoeds, and thanks so much for having me live with you, you really were a blessing. Goodbye Chicago, I'll be back sometime.
Closing time - every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end...
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
The Decision
No LeBron James doesn't have another 1 hour special on ESPN to announce that he's taking his talents to South Beach. I'm talking about my decision.
Today was decision day for me in regards to my internship in Washington, D.C. for this upcoming Spring semester. I had been offered a position at the ONE Campaign, and was waiting to hear back from InterAction after also having an interview there. Pressure was on, because ONE had said they needed a decision by the end of the day today. The only problem was that InterAction was my #1 choice, and ONE was second (so ONE was really two, haha bad joke). I went into the day having decided to hold out as long as I could to hear back from InterAction before responding to ONE.
When I got to work this morning at Opportunity, there was a surprise in my email inbox. InterAction had responded, offering me the internship position. Excited, and glad that I didn't have to spend today stressing about The Decision, I responded that I would love to accept the position.
Soooo, I'll be interning this Spring with InterAction, an alliance of International Development Organizations that does coordination, organization, and advocacy.
Stay tuned, more to come later on...
Today was decision day for me in regards to my internship in Washington, D.C. for this upcoming Spring semester. I had been offered a position at the ONE Campaign, and was waiting to hear back from InterAction after also having an interview there. Pressure was on, because ONE had said they needed a decision by the end of the day today. The only problem was that InterAction was my #1 choice, and ONE was second (so ONE was really two, haha bad joke). I went into the day having decided to hold out as long as I could to hear back from InterAction before responding to ONE.
When I got to work this morning at Opportunity, there was a surprise in my email inbox. InterAction had responded, offering me the internship position. Excited, and glad that I didn't have to spend today stressing about The Decision, I responded that I would love to accept the position.
Soooo, I'll be interning this Spring with InterAction, an alliance of International Development Organizations that does coordination, organization, and advocacy.
Stay tuned, more to come later on...
Opportunity International Amazing Race
I'm in the middle (more like on the home stretch really) of a competition among interns here at OI. We get points for different things we do (read a book on poverty, comment on a blog post, write on Opportunity's Facebook page, write a blog post for the Opportunity Blog, etc.). For most of the semester I had a good lead, but in the last 2 weeks one of the other interns has almost caught me.
The great thing about this is that all the things we can get points for only help to spread the word about Opportunity International and microfinance in general.
I hope I win, but more than that I hope that all the writing and "liking" and commenting I'm doing makes someone take a second look and consider supporting the transformational work of organizations like Opportunity.
The great thing about this is that all the things we can get points for only help to spread the word about Opportunity International and microfinance in general.
I hope I win, but more than that I hope that all the writing and "liking" and commenting I'm doing makes someone take a second look and consider supporting the transformational work of organizations like Opportunity.
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