Most industry observers believe the leaders of increasingly complex development projects must combine subject matter expertise with strong executive skills — a rare combination. Do the leaders we are searching for exist?
One of the most important factors in whether a donor delivers on its objectives is not one likely to come up in conversations about aid effectiveness. The policies and decisions surrounding what type of person gets hired to manage donor-funded development activities — a technical expert versus a strong manager — may not be as glamorous as getting value for money, promoting innovation, or weighing the political economy. But at ground level, there is nothing more important.
The U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.K. Department for International Development and others have long relied on technical experts to manage development projects. In seeking out project managers — chiefs of party or team leaders — it’s not unusual for a donor to ask for decades of experience in a narrowly defined technical area. The system arguably worked well when projects were smaller and more narrowly focused but has not adjusted for the transformation in how aid is delivered.