Rethink Fragility

Alex is an independent researcher who strives to build better bridges between the global North and South, promoting constructive dialogue and putting power imbalances higher on the agenda than they currently sit. This is a tough ask in a sector that is pretty much defined by imbalances — between those who pay, and those who are supposed to benefit. And that also has its more than its share of old-fashioned attitudes to human resources. For more you can find Alex’s personal website here: https://www.alexmartinsdev.com/ Show notes: [02:20] The life of a consultant researcher. Complicated accents that attract gentle mockery no matter where you are. [07:00] Early days in the development sector. Bottom-up and top-down perspectives, and seeing structural challenges and disparities. [17:00] Barriers to entry and advancement in the development sector for people from the global South. [22:00] How “expertise” is defined and produced, the real role and importance of formal qualifications, and the place of econo