International development can’t happen in a bubble. The complexity of problems is only matched by the complexity of approaches. Janet Longmore, Canada’s representative on the Business Leaders Caucus, a senior level advisory group to the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, has a few thoughts on the matter.
The world is looking for leadership in this fragile time and our culture of modesty isn't helping move the global yardstick of multiculturalism forward. Social impact leaders have a pivotal role to help Canada break out of its audacity shell and craft multiculturalism 2.0.
Black and white perspectives, binaries, polarization. For impact-focused leaders, these traps can be everywhere, but as we see, future opportunities can be found at the intersection of seemingly opposing outlooks.
The world is about to experience a massive rewiring of the human-data-machine relationship. Collective intelligence, a new fast-growing field can contribute to recasting knowledge access and mobilization for change.
Technological, mission, and demographic shifts are changing the way international organizations work. For Canada to be at the forefront of addressing global challenges, experimentation must become an embedded capacity in aid and development organizations.
Canada’s role in emerging markets needs inspiration. Deeper engagement with home-grown technology companies could serve as a jumping-off point for Canada’s development organizations working abroad.
