Progress in Haiti means listening to Haitians

Listening is key for successful development work in Haiti, according to Robert Maguire, professor of international affairs and director of the Latin American and hemispheric studies program at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. Maguire talks with Devex reporting fellow Jeff Tyson about Haiti, USAID, Rajiv Shah and OTI.

By // 16 January 2015

Aid workers and development professionals shouldn’t go to Haiti with answers. They should go with questions.

That’s the advice from Robert Maguire, professor of international affairs and director of the Latin American and hemispheric studies program at George Washington University’s Elliott School.

“And find a way of posing your questions to Haitians, not to foreigners,” Maguire told Devex.

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About the author

  • Jeff Tyson

    Jeff Tyson

    Jeff is a former global development reporter for Devex. Based in Washington, D.C., he covers multilateral affairs, U.S. aid, and international development trends. He has worked with human rights organizations in both Senegal and the U.S., and prior to joining Devex worked as a production assistant at National Public Radio. He holds a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in international relations and French from the University of Rochester.

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