“To live like a tree, lonely and free / To live as brothers like trees in a forest”

About Phil Vernon

Phil Vernon is Director of Programmes at International Alert. He is a forester by training and has worked on development, humanitarian and peace programmes in different parts of Africa since 1985.

Articles by Phil Vernon

The swing of the democratic pendulum is slow and long

Phil Vernon 23 December 2012

We haven’t yet figured out how to replace political parties with some other vehicle for democratic participation.

Development is history looking forwards

Phil Vernon 16 May 2012

Ten ideas for lobbying David Cameron as co-chair of the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals High Level Panel

A scorecard from Busan: did the High Level Forum contribute to aid effectiveness in conflict-affected countries?

Dan Smith and Phil Vernon 13 December 2011

The high ambition of getting global agreement tends to lead to an unambitious convergence on the least demanding positions and commitments. How did Busan fare?

What will success at Busan look like for conflict-affected countries?

Dan Smith and Phil Vernon 8 November 2011

The wording of the Outcomes Document from the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid is largely agreed, and reflects much of the new thinking on aid: statebuilding and peacebuilding; human security; transparency and results. But it fails to reflect the huge challenge of promoting and supporting development in conflict-affected countries in a changing world. To do this, Busan must rise to four more challenges.

Moving beyond the Millennium Development Goals: A more honest conversation?

Phil Vernon and Deborrah Baksh 9 September 2010

It is critically important that the heads of state attending the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit consider the best way to support the complex and difficult process of making sustainable human progress in poorer countries. Those working within the development sector who know that the current paradigm is inadequate must take the initiative within their sphere of influence to create a kind of movement for change together that is both principled and politically expedient

Peacebuilding in Burundi: how peace transitions can work

Phil Vernon 19 November 2009

International Alert supports a series of small post-conflict initiatives in Burundi. And some of the values that motivate these are also dear to the liberal hearts of the international community. A reply to Oliver Richmond’s ‘Liberal Peace Transitions’.

Overseas development aid: is it working?

Phil Vernon 9 November 2009

This is a good moment for taking a step back and asking ourselves whether we would call today’s overseas development aid policy and practise successful – successful, that is, in providing sufficient impetus to overcome the strong forces worldwide that keep people poor

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