Faith in Progress

Robert Louis Stevenson summed up how many of us feel when he wrote; ‘The world is so big and I am so small, I do not like it at all, at all.’

The world faces a giddying array of problems. At times they seem to dwarf hope, intimidate courage and undermine action.

I work in International Development. One of the great challenges we face is convincing partners, supporters and stakeholders that progress and real accomplishment is possible. We need not be on the losing side.

The Make Poverty History coalition was a testament to that. Hundreds of organisations, hundreds of thousands of individuals energised and enthused with a freshly articulated vision.

Inspiring confidence that we can make a serious dent to poverty is critical. Every generation has to re-discover this idealism. Every generation has to decide how highly it values changing the world.

However sympathetic people are to cause, if they are not convinced that progress can and will be made, their support will not be forthcoming. And without that belief, the chances doing something extraordinary vanish.

A pre-cursor to change is a credible and intelligent vision that harnesses the latent hope inside every human heart. Development agencies have a special role to play in that. Their mission is to be David, fighting against a mighty Goliath, undeterred and confident of success despite the odds.

I was recently involved in a competitive application for a seven figure sum of money with 20 other charities. The private donor wanted to fund 3 or 4 charities. They wanted to be presented with clear value propositions which under-girded the proposals that each charity submitted. 8 charities were invited to make a presentation following the proposal phase.

In the end, only two charities got the funds. Only two had been able to inspire, to articulate with conviction the case for support. I was delighted that our presentation was one of the two successful bids.

It reminded me though that people are willing to be convinced. There is a no law that dictates that injustice and poverty need always be with us. Perhaps more than other, development agencies need to promote a faith in progress in order to change the world.

ENDS