Are you an aid worker or volunteer? If so, you are in one of the most powerful positions to catalyze change! Reconsider the ways in which you approach your work and start a dialogue with your colleagues and program recipients about possible ways to improve your practices.

Not all non-profit organizations are created equal. Before giving money to an international aid agency, be sure to do your due diligence! Do not be swayed by mere percentages of overhead costs (these numbers are easy to fudge and are rarely the best indicator of an organization's real impact). Talk to people who have encountered the organization in the field to find out what their impressions were.

Don't be afraid to ask critical questions. Aid failures have gone under the radar for decades. It's time that we start asking more questions about how the field of international aid can be improved and transformed.

Have you heard of U.S.-sponsored aid projects that are failing to help communities in need? Let policy makers in Washington know about it! In some cases, taxpayer money is being used to support aid projects abroad, so you have a right to demand better outcomes for these initiatives.

Engage your friends, family, and colleagues in dialogues about aid effectiveness! Consider starting an aid-related book club, film group, or discussion circle. The more we dialogue about these important issues, the more likely we are to see positive change in the future.