At the Coalface
At the Coalface is a series of conversations hosted by Phil Rose.
Phil’s guests share stories about their life beyond the headlines of international affairs. They look for lessons learned about making an impact in the world as practitioners in diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism and the private sector.
Many of Phil’s guests are connected by their common experience of taking time away from work to attend Fletcher School's Global Master of Arts Programme.
At the Coalface
Eileen Barber - Impact and Impermanence and What It Takes to Keep Aid Working
In this episode, I speak with Eileen Barber about her career in international development and the transformative years she spent in Colombia helping farmers improve their livelihoods. We explore the power of foreign aid programmes rooted in strong community engagement, and why it's just as important to communicate their impact back home to sustain political and public support. Eileen reflects on how shifts in U.S. political leadership disrupted this work and how she navigated a pivot toward more private-sector-oriented development. We discuss the evolving landscape of aid, and the resilience and adaptability required to keep making a difference in a changing world.
Connect with Eileen on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/eileen-barber-9377916.
Instagram: @at.the.coalface
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