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“When I joined the civil service in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh, I learned the rhythm: cut the ribbon, unveil the plaque, nod for the camera and quietly disappear. At first, it all felt vaguely absurd. After reading David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs, his term for roles even the workers secretly believe are pointless, I felt certain that I, too, was trapped in a cycle of meaningless work dressed as development. Nevertheless, then came Ikiru, and, for a moment, I believed I could create something that would last. Surprisingly, even that hope has begun to fade because I have grown sceptical, yes, even of playgrounds. I keep wondering: is this really for the children, or just another soft performance of bureaucratic populism, a plaque for people to remember but not a space to use?”

Established in September 2010, the Devpolicy Blog provides a platform for the best in aid and development analysis, research and policy comment, with global coverage and a focus on Australia, the Pacific and Papua New Guinea.