This is a sampling of actual posts on Twitter that I requested (@bill_easterly) last weekend for “decodings of aid/development jargon” . Inspiration was from 40 Publishing Buzzwords, Clichés and Euphemisms Decoded. I don’t necessarily endorse any implied viewpoint, if any.
“beneficiaries” : the people who make it possible for us to be paid by other people –@monanicoara
“bottom-up” : don’t ask someone what might work, just make something up instead –@thejoeturner
“baseline” : a point which is so low that positive results are the only possible outcome – @ANLevine
“accountability for results” — we keep all our promises by issuing new promises – @bill_easterly
“bottoms-up development”: downing single-malt whiskey in one shot at Davos – @Arvind11d123
“civil society involvement”: consulting the middle class employee of aUS or European NGO –@dangay
“community capacity building” : teach them what they already know –@fauvevivre
“demand-driven approach” – you create the demand and then you respond to it –
“empowerment” : what is left when all the quantifiable variables give non significant results –@MarianaSarastiM
“entrepreneurial” : vaguely innovative and cool, but definitely nothing to do with the hated “market” – @jselanikio
“experienced aid practitioner” : has large number of air miles in account – @thejoeturner
“expert” : I read a book about the place on the plane –@savo_heleta
“field experience” : I can’t bear DC anymore –@MarianaSarastiM
“gender” : counting how many women attend your meeting –@liamswiss
“Global North” : White academics; “Global South” : Indian academics –@Isla_Misty
“innovation” : we’re sexy, you want to be associated with us –@DarajaTz
“leverage” : we’re not paying for all of this –@katelmax
“low overhead” : volunteers run headquarters –@thejoeturner
“low-hanging fruit”: we were already going to achieve this anyway – @Global_ErinH
“mainstreaming” : forgetting – @swampcottage
“microfinance” : not as good as sub-prime lending – @lippytak
“meetings” : our grant said we had to host an event – @Global_ErinH
“per diem”: what we have to pay local officials to attend our meetings – @Afrophile
“participatory stakeholders” : people who should solve their own problems –@UCGHR
“participation” : the right to agree with preconceived projects or programs –@edwardrcarr
“partnering with other institutions” : we’re raising barriers to entry – @JustinWolfers
“political will” : I have no comprehension of the incentives faced by the people who I wish would do stuff I want @m_clem
“practical solutions” : photogenic solutions –@thejoeturner
“pro-poor” : the rich know best –@james_tooley
“RCT” : research method yielding same results as qualitative work at 10 times the cost –@texasinafrica
“rent-seaking behavior” : everything not nailed to the floor will be stolen- @charcoalproject
“outreach” : intrude –@langtry_girl
“ownership” : we held a workshop –@dangay
“raise awareness” : no measurable outcome –@jonathan_welle
“scale-up” : It’s time for follow on grant –@HunterHustus
“sensitize” : tell people what to do –@zw1tscher
“sustainable” : will last at least as long as the funding –@thejoeturner
“tackling root causes of poverty” : repackaging what we’ve already done in a slightly more sexy font –@thejoeturner
“UN Goals”: making up targets for problems we don’t understand paid for with money we don’t have – @jacobhorner
Notes: I have done some very minor editing for spelling and clarity.