To Peter, Tim and and readers of my open letters at  http://dadamac.posterous.com

Peter and Tim - if you don't already know each other please let me introduce you (I'm sharing your email addresses with each other, but not with everyone)

All - I've been thinking about transparency. Of course openness and transparency are continual themes in the post-web world.

Tim and I spent about an hour yesterday discussing aid transparency and how the work of the techies regarding openness and aid could translate into something of relevance to people who are supposed to be beneficiaries.

Peter has been a tireless campaigner for greater transparency and impact regarding aid spending.  I had an email from him this morning reflecting on progress to date and current work on True Value Metrics.

From where I'm standing the dots aren't all joined up yet - but they are getting bigger and closer and include

  • steps towards greater transparency
  • more connections between top-down and grassroots
  • discussion of value  - not just "amounts spent"
  • wider picture -  tying in with peer-to-peer discussions, the commons and other emerging collaboration and openness themes and memes.

It's being a long hard road but I think we can be encouraged.