The Paradox of the Development Industry

Abstract

This paper scrutinizes the inherent paradox within the international development industry, where efforts aimed at shifting power imbalance often unwittingly reproduce and reinforce existing disparities. Drawing on two decades of field experience and partnership brokering, the author dissects the multifaceted power imbalances between Western donors and local agency, challenging the sector to undergo a profound transformation. Despite initiatives for reform, such as 'decolonizing aid' and 'localization,' the entrenched power structures within development partnerships largely remain intact. The author posits that development practitioners, while positioned as agents of change, frequently find themselves upholding the status quo due to entrenched operational norms and financial dependencies. The paper explores strategies to counteract institutional, material, structural, and ideational power imbalances, emphasizing the need for critical self-reflection and systemic change within the development practice. It advocates for a reimagined approach that centers on genuine collaboration, local empowerment, and equitable distribution of power. By highlighting the paradoxes faced by development practitioners and offering a candid assessment of the sector's challenges, the paper contributes to the discourse on creating a more just and sustainable framework for international development.