Introduction
I have decided to reduce the amount of consultancy work I am doing in order to leave more time for other interests, and Mick Foster Economics Limited therefore ceased trading at the end of December 2010. I will continue to be involved in development as a Senior Research Associate of the Overseas Development Institute, and as a part time education specialist for AusAID's Education Resource Facility. I may also take on a few other consultancy assignments as an individual, but do intend to spend much less time in airport terminals than in recent years.
At risk of being pompous, I would like to say a heartfelt thankyou to all of the wonderful people I have had the pleasure of working with during the eight years of MFEL, and the 36 years of my career in development. The greatest pleasure of this long gypsy career has been the opportunity to meet thousands of people from every continent and every type of background. I have always taken a rather optimistic view of human nature, and on the whole I have found it to be justified. It is difficult to be an honest person in a dishonest system, but for every corrupt bureaucrat there are numerous dedicated people trying their best to deliver services to poor people in the most challenging environments. Sometimes people have elements of both, bending as far as they have to but still trying to make things work. Trying to understand the moral maze we work in, and to find ways to get better outcomes in the world we inhabit rather than the world we wish existed has been one of the most fascinating aspects of the job.
One of my retirement projects is to write a book that will be part memoirs, part reflections on nearly 40 years of development. Mainly for me, to help me remember a career that was enormous fun as well as (on the whole) very rewarding. Grateful if anyone with memories or anecdotes I might have forgotten could get in touch.
I will keep the web site open to maintain access to reports and papers, and hope to update it with new papers when other interests permit.
Mick Foster February 2011