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Denis Dragovic
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No Dancing, No Dancing: Inside the Global Humanitarian Crisis Kindle Edition

by Denis Dragovic (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 71 ratings
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What happens to aid projects after the money is spent? Or the people and communities once the media spotlight has left?
No Dancing, No Dancing follows the return journey of a former aid worker back to the site of three major humanitarian crises--South Sudan, Iraq and East Timor--in search of what happened to the people and projects. Along the way, he looks for answers to how we can better respond to the emerging global humanitarian crisis.
Meeting young entrepreneurs striving to build their businesses, listening to tribal leaders give unvarnished views of foreign aid or negotiating the release of a kidnapped colleague, this riveting work brings the reader into the global humanitarian crisis while engaging with questions of cultural imperialism, Western aid models and foreign interventions.
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  1. Print length
    234 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Odyssey Books
  5. Publication date
    February 20, 2018
  6. File size
    2366 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr Denis Dragovic is an author of literary and scholarly works on humanitarian aid and rebuilding countries after war. For over a decade he was at the forefront of international aid efforts responding to major humanitarian crises in Darfur, South Sudan, East Timor, Indonesia and Iraq where he led one of the world's largest aid programs. Seeing slave traders ply their trade, leading efforts to negotiate a kidnapped aid worker or helping to support the establishment of local community groups gives him a unique insight into the humanitarian challenges of the twenty-first century. Denis' on the ground experiences are backed by specialist knowledge as an expert on religion and rebuilding countries after wars. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07DBM71Y6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Odyssey Books; PublishDrive edition (February 20, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 20, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2366 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 234 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 71 ratings

About the author

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Denis Dragovic

Denis Dragovic

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Dr Denis Dragovic is an author of literary and scholarly works on humanitarian aid and rebuilding countries after war. For over a decade he was at the forefront of international aid efforts responding to major humanitarian crises in Darfur, South Sudan, East Timor, Indonesia and Iraq where he led one of the world’s largest aid programs. Seeing slave traders ply their trade, leading efforts to negotiate a kidnapped aid worker or helping to support the establishment of local community groups gives him a unique insight into the humanitarian challenges of the twenty-first century. Denis' on the ground experiences are backed by specialist knowledge as an expert on religion and rebuilding countries after wars. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
71 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

David
5.0 out of 5 stars Behind the scenes ......... An insiders account
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2018
Verified Purchase
In addition to being a 'good read' outlining the authors experiences in places most of us have only ever been exposed to on the nightly television news this book shines an unwavering light on the reality surrounding the 'international aid industry'.

Dragovic's journey back to the places he had originally visited as an aid worker to investigate what the lasting impact of the projects he was involved with was highlighted the faults that undermine the model donors and aid agencies are using when it comes to financing and delivering assistance.

Too often programs are delivered that meet the desires/ needs of the donors and once the boxes have all been ticked and the photos of grateful recipients uploaded they come to a crashing end because the local population either don't have the resources to continue them or alternatively don't see any value in them.

What could be a depressing story is rescued by Dragovic's identification of some ideas/projects where there is a glimmer of hope that a positive difference has been made. Rather than just concentrating on failures he makes reasoned suggestions for a different (more effective) path forwards
10 people found this helpful
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Larry Johnson
4.0 out of 5 stars Informative and Honest
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2019
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The author seems quite sincere and honest about the long-term results of his (and others') efforts to provide help to areas of urgent need in different parts of the world. I would recommend this book to aid workers, administrators, government and international aid policy makers, charitable foundations, missionaries, and mission boards.
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C. Ramsay
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting dive into the long-term results of foreign aid work
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2020
Verified Purchase
This was an engaging travelogue and treatise, as the author revisits sites where he had worked for foreign NGOs in Sudan, Iraq, and East Timor. I got a bit bogged down in some of the place names and unfamiliar history, but I really thought his questions to the locals about what worked and what didn't were quite revealing.

TLDR: foreign governments and most NGOs pour aid money into projects, but require short timelines with quantifiable results. However, the projects usually fall apart once funding and foreign support stops. But if the locals are engaged and trained to take over, and (in the case of establishing a government) able to develop their own sense of civic pride and responsibility (over time) and identify their own needs, the foreign aid can then have lasting effect.
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Beth E.
5.0 out of 5 stars We all need to know this!
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2019
Verified Purchase
When our inboxes are filled with appeals for the latest humanitarian crisis, and the news media give us glimpses of the devastated lives of our fellow humans, this is the narrative we desperately need to know and to deal with.
While in many ways Denis Dragovic's account is deeply distressing and discouraging, his eye for the humanity and unique qualities of each of the cultures and individuals he introduces us to gives hope that he is not alone in this service. We can only hope that his core message of autonomy and local input into the provision of aid will penetrate the institutional practices of what has become an industry often becoming a formula and overtaken by the profit motive. We are all human, but we don't all want or need the same things. Keep yelling from the rooftops, Mr Dragovic!
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Brandon
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2019
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I learned a lot from reading this book and even though I don’t see myself in a position to get involved in the international aid community, this book has helped me see the world in a different way. Not only does the author give clear reasons why international aid often isn’t effective, but he also gives answers to how those problems might be overcome. And I’d say that can apply to an average person when trying to understand unfamiliar cultures and when following politics - being able to have a more educated opinion on international aid.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Very Eye Opening
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2019
Verified Purchase
Very well written and reflective. I learned a lot about the pros and cons of humanitarian efforts, especially this linked to the US government.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful book
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2019
Verified Purchase
I liked this book. I like the author's respect for the actual people he tries to help with his work - no condescending attitude or forced religious views. The book has helped me think hard about the kind of attitude or mindset I should have if I want to help people.
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Yvonne spethAmazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative.
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2019
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed reading of his observations when he returned to those countries. Everyone had the best of intentions. I do support church groups that the members live for years with the people.Hard to understand other countries cultures unless you have interacted with them.
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Top reviews from other countries

Sandra Pfeifenberger
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful
Reviewed in Australia on May 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
Well written account of life as an aid worker. The facts are interspersed with enough anecdotes to make for entertaining reading. The book provides some interesting insights into the workings (and failings) of international aid. Recommended for everyone who has an interest in helping the less fortunate.
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garry johnson
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting.
Reviewed in Australia on March 8, 2019
Verified Purchase
couldn't quite figure out this book . was expecting a lot more. did the writer really believe in what he was doing or was it just another job. was hoping to find out a little more about where my donation dollar lands up. how much gets through to where its needed. from what he says syria will be the pot of gold for everyone. big bucks all round, including himself it seems. other than english or french or german whatever communication back to the home office am not sure what the western " expert " really adds to the game. was the writer worth x times more than ocasio in east timor.
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