Hi, my name is Elaine Baker and I've written this page to find people who I would be interested in working with, and who would be interested in working with me.
I am from Kilbride, which is a small village near Dublin in Ireland. I am 23 years old. I went to college in Cork, Ireland and then in the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, and I am now working in the Ministry of Finance of Tanzania on a two year contract.
I have been very interested in developing countries and sustainable development issues for the past seven or eight years. My interest stems both from an appreciation of different cultures and ways of life, and from a sense of injustice that many people do not have the opportunities and well-being I enjoy due to where they are born. I decided to study economics in order to understand more about resources and choices in society and about global economic issues. In order to understand different perspectives on causes of and solutions for global poverty and injustice, I read as widely as I can, and talk to people with different perspectives and views.
In college in Cork, a friend and I revived the One World Society, a student campaign group on global justice issues. For us and for the other students who joined us, it is a way to work together in bringing about change through raising awareness and lobbying. In London I've been involved with campaign work through a number of organisations, including People and Planet, Oxfam Campaigns Network and Campaign against Climate Change. Through campaign work I have had the opportunity to exchange views with and work with a range of people and organisations.
I am especially interested in public policy and in the roles of different types of organisations and government institutions locally, nationally and globally. For this reason, I studied for a masters in Political Economy of Development in the School of Oriental and African studies in London.
I also enjoy working with computers and using the internet as a research tool, both at work and in my spare time. I have acquired computer skills both in my spare time (by teaching myself with books and experimentation) and through college courses.
I am now working in the Ministry of Finance of Tanzania under the Overseas Development Institute fellowship scheme. I work as part of the Tanzanian civil service, in the Policy Analysis Department of the Ministry of Finance. I am taking part in this scheme in order to learn about and experience policy-related development work, and life in general, in a developing country. I also enjoy working hard using the organisational, research and analytical skills that I have had the opportunity of learning.
I live in an ordinary (not well-off or ex-pat) area of Dar es Salaam - Amana. I like getting to know people from a wide range of backgrounds in Dar es Salaam, and exchanging ideas and perspectives. I like learning and practising Swahili, as it enables me to communicate more fully with a wider range of people. I also have a philosophy of living in a simple, non-materialistic way.
My contract will end shortly, in October 2003, and I am now thinking about my options for the future. In work, my primary objcetive is to contribute to development in the way which makes best use of my skills and makes the most real difference. It is also important to me to be in a stimulating environment work-wise where I am challenged, where I am seeing progress and the results of my work.
One area I am interested in is affecting change in global and northern institutions relating to developing countries. This could take the form of work in advocacy NGOs, or working in global or northern governmental institutions themselves. As an Irish and a European person I am interested in the positive and negative effects of the North on many global and developing country social, economic and environmental problems. I would be interested in contributing to change from this direction. Institutions I am particularly interested in include the United Nations and the European Union. I believe change in global institutions is necessary to make the way in which global inequalities and problems are dealt with fairer, more effective and more democratic.
Another area I am interested in is continued work in the institutional development of developing country governmental organisations. This could take the form of working for a developing country governmental institution directly, or of working as part of support and assistance programmes for such institutions. I believe that long-term development hinges on visionary, strong, effective and accountable government institutions in developing countries.
However, I am very open-minded and would also like to explore other options. I am also open-minded about where to work, whether in Africa, Europe or elsewhere. I would appreciate any contact from people who would be interested in working with me, or people who have ideas for work I may be interested in.