From Poverty to Power Reader Survey 2012 Sian Jones

Difficulties / Challenges with Language Language occasionally too technical / colloquial / jargony for some. Possibility to include a link to a glossary of development terms? ‘Pop-up boxes with a short definition when technical jargon is used’ ? ‘It’s just very British, so some phrases need Google assistance. But I don’t mind at all!’

Other Main Roles / Jobs Consultants. Research / think-tank.

Other Ways How Found Out About FP2P University lectures / guest lectures ‘Required reading for university course’ (!)

Other Use for FPP Great for interesting links. To follow developments / updates in international development sector Keep up-to-date. ‘Have stuff pointed out that I wouldn’t otherwise see’. ‘Provides me with a daily dose of development talk’. Education. Thought-provoking / ‘challenge own thinking’ / inspiration. ‘Ticks so many boxes – stay up to date, thought-provoking, helps link ideas up, see how what we do to support research and HE connects to wider development debates’.

Comments on Format / Technical Problems ‘Poor internet connection, so low-res options are appreciated!’ ‘Graphics don’t work on mobile’ Several comments regarding problems with graphics / images. ‘Sometimes the images don’t display’. Occasional display / format problems with Google Reader. ‘Sometimes the formatting and Google Reader clash’. Occasional problems with links on iPad. There are requests for a mobile version of the blog. Want to be able to read whole blog in email alert (particularly where problems with connectivity). ‘If the email subscription could in any way be made a little more visually appealing that would be awesome’.

Other Topics/Content Respondents Want FP2P to Post Guest writers and perspectives from global South Writing about local campaigns. Voices from the field. Country-focus articles. ‘The posts that I found most useful have been where you have highlighted an interesting study / book / piece of work that encourages contributors to then post links with counter-factual or contrary viewpoints’. Policies, impacts, government positions Economic policy and impact on poor IMF, WB, trade etc. ‘Theoretical underpinnings of Oxfam’s approach’. ‘Really vital to me is the humour...overall its breadth is part of what makes it valuable, and worth reading... His non-random musings about the world of development, delivered with humour, are my main link to a world whose vast content is usually hard to approach except in silos’.

Other Topics/Content Respondents Want FP2P to Post ‘What I would appreciate is some organizing of topics by target population.’ Children, refugees, smallholders, disability, etc. Contributions from different fields in development, and from people at different stages of their career. Research, monitoring and evaluation / accountability / aid effectiveness. More posts on how change happens. Interventions that failed and why / what works and doesn’t work. MDGs. Work of other NGOs and INGOs that address same issues as Oxfam. Oxfam affiliates. Campaigning / how to get involved. Duncan’s speeches from conferences. Climate change and development.

Respondents’ View on FP2P Guest Posts Good balance ‘Still retains mainly Duncan’s style but with other opinions and expertise’. ‘They put a lot of specialized knowledge into each post’. More guest posts from affiliates. Important to keep conversational tone. Also staying clear and concise; ‘Guest posts often feel corporate’.

Respondents Want More Debate Through FP2P? Respondents appear undecided, with stronger opinions both for and against. General opinion to introduce more debate with care – not forced, not too often, careful choice of topic / question (and contributor), ‘keep the content interesting’. ‘The topic and contributors would have to be chosen carefully to ensure that there is actual debate and not a ‘faux’ conversation masquerading as a debate’. ‘It’s an interesting way to present arguments’. ‘Would like to see more voices from global south in debates’.

Improving the Quality / Usefulness of FP2P Reading lists / ‘What I’m Reading’. Engage with comments more. ‘It’s very good as it is’.

Other Regularly Read Blogs Dani Rodrik Lawrence Haddad Global Dashboard Aid on the Edge of Chaos Wronging Rights

Further Thoughts and Comments More female and global South guest writers. More effective search / navigation mechanism to find older posts. Whole blog in email subscription (re. connection problems). Useful for its links and resources. More ‘accessible’ language. Download versions (for kindle etc?) of book and posts. BUT Strong / overwhelming preference for more of the same / happy with the balance of the blog. Very useful – interesting nuggets of experience, info and analysis’. ‘Don’t assume that a lack of comment/discussion mean people aren’t reading it and finding it useful’. ‘He could write about fashion and I bet I would find it interesting’.