I’ve recently been learning about Nick Laing’s impactful work and, as a Ugandan newly introduced to Effective Altruism (EA), I’m gaining a deeper appreciation for its principles. However, I’ve noticed that the rigorous frameworks often employed by larger organizations can sometimes be based on inadequate or overly academic data, typically derived from peer-reviewed journals. Such information, although scientifically credible, often prioritizes the interests of journals and reviewers rather than fully capturing the real on-the-ground contexts. This approach frequently leads to an idealistic rather than realistic representation of local situations, reducing the effectiveness of funded projects. Furthermore, there tends to be a bias towards global contexts, which may attract more attention but overlook critical local nuances. As a result, the interventions supported can sometimes become disconnected from practical realities, diminishing their applicability and effectiveness on the ground. I would greatly appreciate insights or suggestions on how we might bridge this gap and ensure our frameworks and strategies more accurately reflect and respond to local needs.
I’ve recently been learning about Nick Laing’s impactful work and, as a Ugandan newly introduced to Effective Altruism (EA), I’m gaining a deeper appreciation for its principles. However, I’ve noticed that the rigorous frameworks often employed by larger organizations can sometimes be based on inadequate or overly academic data, typically derived from peer-reviewed journals. Such information, although scientifically credible, often prioritizes the interests of journals and reviewers rather than fully capturing the real on-the-ground contexts. This approach frequently leads to an idealistic rather than realistic representation of local situations, reducing the effectiveness of funded projects. Furthermore, there tends to be a bias towards global contexts, which may attract more attention but overlook critical local nuances. As a result, the interventions supported can sometimes become disconnected from practical realities, diminishing their applicability and effectiveness on the ground. I would greatly appreciate insights or suggestions on how we might bridge this gap and ensure our frameworks and strategies more accurately reflect and respond to local needs.