As a development economist and project director, I have worked mostly in Africa. From rice producers in isolated Ulanga district in Tanzania, to HIV-AIDS activists in urban Senegal, from women farmers in eastern Malawi, to community-based water activists in northern Ghana, my work has focused on links with people trying to reduce poverty and have more impact in their societies. This has meant that I have worked with various institutions at different times -- emerging parliaments in such countries as Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Sudan -- cross-Africa research and finance organizations such as the African Development Bank -- and international bodies such as the World Bank. It even led to nine years as an M.P. in Canada's own governance institutions, to work to make Ottawa more responsive to those who are less well-off.
So how is such work going? Are people's efforts to reduce poverty succeeding, particularly in Africa? Are governance institutions improving for people? That's what my blog aims to consider. Let's look at these questions together.
A former New York Times correspondent and media trainer in Uganda, Chris brings a newsman's perspective to media development policy-making, and how those policies affect people on the ground.
Elaisha Stokes is a documentary content producer specializing in science, environment and international development issues. She holds a BSc from the University of British Columbia in Global Resource Systems and a Masters in Media from Ryerson. Her work has taken her from the Okavango Delta to the Mingan Archipelago, and everywhere in between. She has produced content for CBC radio, Canadian Geographic and the Discovery Channel. Currently Elaisha lives in Toronto.