Each year I teach a module on ‘international development’ (with a particular focus on WASH) to a postgraduate class drawn from many countries. We discuss both the ideas and concepts which underlie development and disaster risk reduction, and also some of the practicalities and realities of these challenging endeavours. Teaching and being questioned by bright and enquiring individuals who come from a wide range of professional and cultural experiences presents a welcome opportunity to reflect again on what this work is all about.

Agenda For Change <www.washagendaforchange.net> [accessed 16 March 2018].

Anderson, M.B., Brown, D. and Jean, I. (2012) Time to Listen: Hearing People on the Receiving End of International Aid [online], Cambridge, MA: CDA Collaborative Learning Projects <http://cdacollaborative.org/publication/time-to-listen-hearing-people-on-the-receiving-end-of-international-aid/> [accessed 16 March 2018].

OECD ‘The Paris Declaration’ <www.oecd.org/dac/effectiveness/parisdeclarationandaccraagendaforaction.htm> [accessed 16 March 2018].

The WASH Sustainability Charter <https://washcharter.wordpress.com> [accessed 16 March 2018].

United Nations ‘The Sustainable Development Goals’ <https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs> [accessed 16 March 2018].

UN-Water ‘Human Rights to Water and Sanitation’ <www.unwater.org/water-facts/human-rights/> [accessed 16 March 2018].

Agenda For Change <www.washagendaforchange.net> [accessed 16 March 2018].

Anderson, M.B., Brown, D. and Jean, I. (2012) Time to Listen: Hearing People on the Receiving End of International Aid [online], Cambridge, MA: CDA Collaborative Learning Projects <http://cdacollaborative.org/publication/time-to-listen-hearing-people-on-the-receiving-end-of-international-aid/> [accessed 16 March 2018].

OECD ‘The Paris Declaration’ <www.oecd.org/dac/effectiveness/parisdeclarationandaccraagendaforaction.htm> [accessed 16 March 2018].

The WASH Sustainability Charter <https://washcharter.wordpress.com> [accessed 16 March 2018].

United Nations ‘The Sustainable Development Goals’ <https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs> [accessed 16 March 2018].

UN-Water ‘Human Rights to Water and Sanitation’ <www.unwater.org/water-facts/human-rights/> [accessed 16 March 2018].

Agenda For Change <www.washagendaforchange.net> [accessed 16 March 2018].

Anderson, M.B., Brown, D. and Jean, I. (2012) Time to Listen: Hearing People on the Receiving End of International Aid [online], Cambridge, MA: CDA Collaborative Learning Projects <http://cdacollaborative.org/publication/time-to-listen-hearing-people-on-the-receiving-end-of-international-aid/> [accessed 16 March 2018].

OECD ‘The Paris Declaration’ <www.oecd.org/dac/effectiveness/parisdeclarationandaccraagendaforaction.htm> [accessed 16 March 2018].

The WASH Sustainability Charter <https://washcharter.wordpress.com> [accessed 16 March 2018].

United Nations ‘The Sustainable Development Goals’ <https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs> [accessed 16 March 2018].

UN-Water ‘Human Rights to Water and Sanitation’ <www.unwater.org/water-facts/human-rights/> [accessed 16 March 2018].

Agenda For Change <www.washagendaforchange.net> [accessed 16 March 2018].

Anderson, M.B., Brown, D. and Jean, I. (2012) Time to Listen: Hearing People on the Receiving End of International Aid [online], Cambridge, MA: CDA Collaborative Learning Projects <http://cdacollaborative.org/publication/time-to-listen-hearing-people-on-the-receiving-end-of-international-aid/> [accessed 16 March 2018].

OECD ‘The Paris Declaration’ <www.oecd.org/dac/effectiveness/parisdeclarationandaccraagendaforaction.htm> [accessed 16 March 2018].

The WASH Sustainability Charter <https://washcharter.wordpress.com> [accessed 16 March 2018].

United Nations ‘The Sustainable Development Goals’ <https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs> [accessed 16 March 2018].

UN-Water ‘Human Rights to Water and Sanitation’ <www.unwater.org/water-facts/human-rights/> [accessed 16 March 2018].