Comments on: Cash for Coffins? What happened when Oxfam gave poor Vietnamese a lump sum http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226 duncan green poverty to power oxfam development Tue, 21 May 2013 15:45:19 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Jim http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226&cpage=1#comment-16376 Jim Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:27:16 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226#comment-16376 Duncan, thanks for this interesting analysis. If it's still possible, I'd like to receive a copy of the entire report. Thank you. Duncan: On its way, Jim! Duncan, thanks for this interesting analysis. If it’s still possible, I’d like to receive a copy of the entire report. Thank you.

Duncan: On its way, Jim!

]]> By: AK http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226&cpage=1#comment-3388 AK Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:24:03 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226#comment-3388 PF, I received a one off cash payment when my father died. I didn't learn business principles, develop a sense of ownership or show dignity by being able to reciprocate in some way. However it did enable me to put a deposit on a flat, something that otherwise was completely out of my reach. I don't think I have cruelly raised expectations of an unsustainable lifestyle and I'm certainly not dependent on my father... but maybe I need to be evaluated? PF, I received a one off cash payment when my father died. I didn’t learn business principles, develop a sense of ownership or show dignity by being able to reciprocate in some way. However it did enable me to put a deposit on a flat, something that otherwise was completely out of my reach. I don’t think I have cruelly raised expectations of an unsustainable lifestyle and I’m certainly not dependent on my father… but maybe I need to be evaluated?

]]> By: PF http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226&cpage=1#comment-3274 PF Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:06:41 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226#comment-3274 An interesting article but I think we need to bear in mind that this approach will have positive effects in time that it takes an NGO to do an evaluation (i.e. of course there’s going to be a decrease in poverty-related statistics initially) .I agree with Remi, surely there are other models for spending Development money more effectively, such that there are long- AND short- term benefits. I’m interested to learn how this approach guards against dependency… What happens when Oxfam can’t give more money in 5 years time?… Have the local people in An Loc learned business principles, developed a sense of ownership, been shown dignity by being able to reciprocate in some way (this isn’t emergency relief after all) or have they just spent well-meaning Westerners’ donations having a bit of a party? (Good for them I suppose!). Is this really ‘empowerment’ or cruelly raising expectations of an unsustainable lifestyles? Any thoughts?! An interesting article but I think we need to bear in mind that this approach will have positive effects in time that it takes an NGO to do an evaluation (i.e. of course there’s going to be a decrease in poverty-related statistics initially) .I agree with Remi, surely there are other models for spending Development money more effectively, such that there are long- AND short- term benefits. I’m interested to learn how this approach guards against dependency… What happens when Oxfam can’t give more money in 5 years time?… Have the local people in An Loc learned business principles, developed a sense of ownership, been shown dignity by being able to reciprocate in some way (this isn’t emergency relief after all) or have they just spent well-meaning Westerners’ donations having a bit of a party? (Good for them I suppose!). Is this really ‘empowerment’ or cruelly raising expectations of an unsustainable lifestyles? Any thoughts?!

]]> By: Cash is King http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226&cpage=1#comment-3270 Cash is King Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:14:15 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226#comment-3270 Thanks for this blog Duncan. of course it seems to me now the only responsible thing for Oxfam to do would be a massive scaling up of the approach, with an accompanying policy advocacy effort around targeting social protection and welfare payments in developing countries. If distributing cash can accelerate poverty reduction from 5% pa to 20%, shouldn’t this change the core organizational strategy of Oxfam? Thanks for this blog Duncan. of course it seems to me now the only responsible thing for Oxfam to do would be a massive scaling up of the approach, with an accompanying policy advocacy effort around targeting social protection and welfare payments in developing countries. If distributing cash can accelerate poverty reduction from 5% pa to 20%, shouldn’t this change the core organizational strategy of Oxfam?

]]> By: Remi http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226&cpage=1#comment-3268 Remi Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:53:49 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226#comment-3268 Hello, Very interesting indeed. However it would be interesting to compare with what would have happened (in terms of longer-term poverty reduction, gender equality, asset increase, etc.) if the same amount had been used in another way, such as revolving loans or community-managed projects / funds. Not that I am criticizing cash transfers at all! But then the aim is to have a maximum impact for a given amount, isn't it? I would also love to receive a copy of the evaluation. Thanks, Rémi Hello,

Very interesting indeed. However it would be interesting to compare with what would have happened (in terms of longer-term poverty reduction, gender equality, asset increase, etc.) if the same amount had been used in another way, such as revolving loans or community-managed projects / funds.

Not that I am criticizing cash transfers at all! But then the aim is to have a maximum impact for a given amount, isn’t it?

I would also love to receive a copy of the evaluation.

Thanks,
Rémi

]]> By: Claudia http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226&cpage=1#comment-3256 Claudia Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:45:08 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226#comment-3256 Duncan, I totally support cash transfers whatever people do with it. I am not talking about bank's micro finance but the money given for free. Can you believe it even gives men peace enough to help at home. Sounds great, C. Duncan,

I totally support cash transfers whatever people do with it. I am not talking about bank’s micro finance but the money given for free.

Can you believe it even gives men peace enough to help at home.

Sounds great,

C.

]]> By: Kara Valikai http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226&cpage=1#comment-3251 Kara Valikai Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:53:04 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226#comment-3251 Hi Duncan, I currently work in the microfinance industry as a social rater of microfinance banks. I would like to receive the full evaluation. Thanks, Kara Valikai Hi Duncan,

I currently work in the microfinance industry as a social rater of microfinance banks. I would like to receive the full evaluation.

Thanks,
Kara Valikai

]]> By: J http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226&cpage=1#comment-3250 J Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:00:01 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226#comment-3250 Mr. Green, Anthropologists have similarly argued that investment in burial and other religious ceremonies are important to maintain social networks, as people use the occasion to donate/receive donation and interact with long-lost relatives. I would love to receive a copy of the evaluation to forward to a professor of mine who discussed this in class, but I'm not sure I found your e-mail address on this page. Thank you! Mr. Green,

Anthropologists have similarly argued that investment in burial and other religious ceremonies are important to maintain social networks, as people use the occasion to donate/receive donation and interact with long-lost relatives. I would love to receive a copy of the evaluation to forward to a professor of mine who discussed this in class, but I’m not sure I found your e-mail address on this page. Thank you!

]]> By: Pushpanath K http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226&cpage=1#comment-3248 Pushpanath K Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:25:48 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226#comment-3248 Very interesting results. I wonder if there is any information on loans/credits people already had.I suspect there was an existing debt in most families outside the official credit that they might have accessed. Very interesting results. I wonder if there is any information on loans/credits people already had.I suspect there was an existing debt in most families outside the official credit that they might have accessed.

]]> By: Angela Lovell http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226&cpage=1#comment-3246 Angela Lovell Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:55:58 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=226#comment-3246 Hi Duncan What an inspiring story. It just goes to show what happens when you empower people and release them from the pressures of poverty. They will not only improve their own condition but that of others. I follow your blog and wish everyone could read it. Hope you don't mind me sharing this story with as many people as I can. Angela Lovell. Hi Duncan
What an inspiring story. It just goes to show what happens when you empower people and release them from the pressures of poverty. They will not only improve their own condition but that of others.
I follow your blog and wish everyone could read it.
Hope you don’t mind me sharing this story with as many people as I can.
Angela Lovell.

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