Space and time for critical reflection and change

In this short paper the author looks at the importance of development institutions providing staff with opportunities for experiential learning and reflection. The prevailing culture tends to be long hours, over-commitment and intensive activity. Even annual retreats are often overloaded, with little or no time allowed for genuine reflection. The focus is alway action-orientated, with no space for learning. The author argues that self critical reflection and respecting the self are a starting point for transforming practice and performance and cites a report from a South African NGO that states not to allow time for this may result in ôdoing things to the poor that are inappropriate, even destructiveö. The paper ends with a note of caution not to swing too far the other way: time spent on reflection and learning should be optimised, not maximised.