Pier and I met six years ago in Beirut. I was working in a development consultancy firm led by Lebanese activists while he was working for an international business magazine. After we both left Lebanon, our professional trajectories seemed to switch. I worked in business journalism while he went down the path of international development. This path has seen him work across Africa, in Mozambique, Burkina Faso and currently in Zambia.
We spoke just at the moment Trump obliteration of USAID was announced and, although Pier does not work directly for USAID, such are the ramifications of the cuts to international aid that the development sector in Zambia has been affected.
In this conversation we explore how he got into the industry, his awareness of what are the shortfalls of international aid and the potential for greater decentralisation. We also touch on the legacies of colonialism and the types of privilege you engage with as a European working in Africa.
Happy listening!
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