My name is Dmitry Pozhidaev. I have spent the past 25 years of my life as a development practitioner in the Balkans, former Soviet Union, Africa and Asia. My professional career has taken me throughout the entire country alphabet, from Afghanistan to Yemen and Zambia. The development challenges that these countries face are often similar despite significant differences in many other respects, culturally, economically, politically and socially. What has always fascinated me is how (and why) particular solutions work or don’t work although they seem to be based on a solid theoretical foundation and working models from other parts of the world. I’m also active on Twitter: @DDPozhidaev.