To contact the authors for interviews or additional information, email: jennifer (at) thousandcurrents.org
Articles, and Blogs:
Swazi Observer: Small-Scale Entrepreneurs Significantly Contributing to GDP Growth
“Dlamini said ‘Smart Risks’ is also an approach to grant making which builds on the dynamism, self-determination, innovation, and voluntary resources that community groups are able to generate.”
Related article: Swaziland Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre: SEPARC Partners with Author to Launch Book
Gobernar: The Journal of Latin American Public Policy and Governance: Book Review
“This volume can be used in many ways. It can help scholars, practitioners and students of international development think about the aid system differently. It allows scholars, practitioners and students to understand better the need to leverage on the ground community-based efforts…This compilation comes at a good time as we encounter a shifting international aid system.” ~ Susan Appe, Binghamton University
The Whitman Institute: Book Review: What Makes a Risk a “Smart Risk”?
“Smart Risks makes a compelling case that there is real value in a more grassroots approach, one that acknowledges and supports the expertise and leadership within the communities funders want to help. […] It’s really encouraging to see a publication dedicated to so many trust-based grantmaking concepts, and I can see it being a useful resource for individual donors, as well as foundation staff and boards.” ~ John Esterle
Nonprofit Chronicles: Small is Beautiful. Small is also, er, small.
“Smart Risks has stories of solutions generated by local people that could never have been imagined by western grant-makers. […] Smart Risks also delivers practical advice for grant-makers and ideas for individual donors who want to support global development.” ~ Marc Gunther
Global GreenGrants Fund: Tune In: What to Add to Your Reading List (Part II)
“Sponsored by our friends at Thousand Currents, this book features thirty essays written by twenty two authors examining the impacts of grassroots grantmaking in the Global South. For anyone interested in global poverty and social injustice, the book shows how and why relationships with grassroots leaders, organizations, and movements is “worth the risk”.”
Podcasts and Interviews:
Face2Face – Episode #309 Interview with Tanya Cothran (Listen here)
Tanya and Face2Face host David Peck talk about mutual trust, Smart Risks, peace-building, mattresses, innovation and a grassroots manifesto for change.
ChangeMakingWomen – Episode #35 Interview with Jennifer Lentfer (Listen here)
Webinars:
DME for Peace: M&E Thursday Talk – Smart Risks (Watch here)
This is a recording of the M&E Thursday Talk from Thursday, November 16th as Jennifer Lentfer, Daniela Gusman, and Logan Cochrane led a discussion on “Smart Risks: How small grants are helping to solve some of the world’s biggest problems.” This discussion asked critical questions about who defines success, risk mitigation, and the desire for certainty in our sector.
What if “helping” was conceived as directly asking, listening to, and responding to what people actually want? How would M&E change?