Don’t you find these activity reports from the frontlines
tiring and annoying?
That’s why we development workers know that we have to report on results, to
donors, to our Executive Boards, to the public, and to our bosses.
Many of us find it difficult. That’s why inter-agency task forces have been
formed to simplify and harmonize reporting formats and schedules. But it doesn’t
seem to get better.
Because reporting is the last link in a chain that starts with results-based
programme planning and continues with results-based management.
In other words, where there aren’t any results, don’t try to report on them.
(28 March 2003)