WRITING FOR SOCIAL IMPACT
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UNDP “TRIPLE WIN” BROCHURE ON PARTNERSHIPS WITH IFIs: Lead writer and editor of a brochure on “How Governments, IFIs, and UNDP Can Maximize Impact for People and Planet,” published October 2024.
UNDP REGIONAL PROGRAMME FOR AFRICA, 2021 ANNUAL REPORT: I was a contributing writer for the annual report of the Africa division of the United Nations Development Programme, published August 2022.
A REGENERATION: UNDP’S SAHEL OFFER: I wrote and edited the bulk of this document on UNDP’s contribution to the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS), published December 2021.
STORIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS TAKING ACTION: I was a writing coach and editor for U.N. staff around the world who produced stories and blogs about the organization’s work.
See a few of the COVID-19 stories I helped on from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Kenya, Lao PDR, Malawi, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, and Zimbabwe (twice).
I supported stories from such places as Afghanistan (crisis response), the Arab Region (gender-based violence), Benin (hotline to register newborns), Brazil (women migrants with disabilities), Costa Rica (Afro-Costa Ricans), El Salvador (gender-based violence), Ghana (water access), Guatemala (disability inclusion), India (violence against women), Indonesia (shackling of people with mental illness), Iraq (young entrepreneurs), Kosovo (climate change), Malawi (UN 75th anniversary, and again on malaria and again on climate shocks), Mexico (trans women mutual support), Nepal (radio program for youth education), Niger (rural women), Nigeria (farmer-herder conflicts), Nigeria (security and Boko Haram) Myanmar (a career with the World Food Programme), Sierra Leone (women’s leadership), South Sudan (humanitarian hub in area hit by conflict), Syria (ten years of conflict), Thailand (girls in tech), Turkmenistan (disability inclusion), Uruguay (brick-makers go green), Uzbekistan (girls and tech), and Viet Nam (photo contest).
I wrote stories about a disability advocate and scholar from Iran (who works on domestic violence against women and girls with disabilities) and several times about the UN worldwide (2020 year-in-review, the pandemic response, UN reform and the pandemic, and disability access on UN websites).
“PLACE PROFILES” ON RACIAL EQUITY AND HEALTH: Case studies of projects on racial equity and health in seven sites around the United States, funded in 2018-2019 by the Convergence Partnership. Published August 2021.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY PAPERS: Working with UNDP’s Global Policy Network in 2019-2021, I edited papers in the “Development Futures” series for clarity and style.
“HOW TO WRITE WELL IN GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT,” a five-part series for Devex.com on ways you can improve your writing skills to advance your career. January-February 2020.
“PHILANTHROPY AND THE SDGs (SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS),” pair of guides for funders on aligning with the United Nations’ global agenda, April 2019. Guide I introduces the SDGs, and Guide II gives practical guidance on planning, assessment, reporting, and action.
“UNICEF 2018 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,” gathered and organized content from various departments, wrote and revised content, did fact-checking, and worked with colleagues to produce major report in compressed time frame. Published April 2019.
“PRENUPS FOR PARTNERS,” consulting editor on new edition of toolkit for productive partnerships between changemakers, creatives, and funders. Produced by Active Voice Lab, 2018. I was a co-writer of the original edition of “The Prenups,” in 2009, see also below.
“UNDP ANNUAL REPORT 2017,” illustrated annual report of the United Nations Development Programme, microsite version. PDF version also available. Published June 2018.
“THE TEMPLES AND THE TREES: HOW THE FATE OF ONE OF HUMANITY'S GREATEST TREASURES IS TIED TO THAT OF A MOUNTAIN FOREST,” story and photos for the United Nations Development Programme, November 2017.
“LONG JOURNEY TO PEACE: CAMBODIA SETS ITS SIGHTS ON FINALLY BEING FREE OF LANDMINES,” story and photos for the United Nations Development Programme, October 2017. Also available in French and Spanish translation.
“A VEGETABLE TO ROOT FOR,” story and photos for the United Nations Development Programme, October 2017.
“LOOKING FORWARD: UNDP IN FOCUS 2015/2016,” the illustrated annual report of the United Nations Development Programme, microsite version. PDF version also available. Published September 2016.
“PEOPLE AND PLANET: FIFTY YEARS OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME,” United Nations Development Programme, March 2016. I assembled photos and wrote captions and introductory text about the history of the UN's anti-poverty agency. It appeared online, and longer versions appeared in the form of a commemorative book and a photo exhibit, which I curated.
“STORYTELLING AND SOCIAL CHANGE: A GUIDE FOR ACTIVISTS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS,” published by Narrative Arts, December 2015.
NONPROFIT STORYTELLING SERIES, Chronicle of Philanthropy digital edition, 2014 and 2015. A regular column in which I wrote about examples of outstanding social-change storytelling, and answered nonprofits' biggest questions about how to tell great stories.
“A SKEPTICAL VIEW OF STORYTELLING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE,” Chronicle of Philanthropy, July 1, 2014.
“IMAGINE THAT: HOW 'THE VISITOR' HELPS VIEWERS SEE THEIR WAY FROM OUTRAGE TO ACTION,” (PDF) case study of the social action campaign for "The Visitor" film, Active Voice, August 2010.
“COMMUNICATING FOR IMPACT: STRATEGIES FOR GRANTMAKERS,” GrantCraft, June 2009. Co-author with Anne Mackinnon. This guide is also available in Chinese and Portuguese translation.
“THE PRENUPS: WHAT FILMMAKERS AND FUNDERS SHOULD TALK ABOUT BEFORE TYING THE KNOT,” Active Voice, June 2009. Co-author with Ellen Schneider.
“GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS: INVESTING IN PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES,” GrantCraft, April 2008. This guide is also available in Chinese and Arabic translation.
“CALL TO ACTION: HOW PROGRAMS IN THREE CITIES RESPONDED TO THE PRISONER REENTRY CRISIS,” Public/Private Ventures, March 2007.
ADDITIONAL SAMPLES OF GRANT PROPOSALS, REPORTS AND EVALUATIONS are available on request.