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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bangabandhu (talk | contribs) at 19:09, 14 January 2019 (signed). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

I have added a Conflict of Interest tag as I am concerned that another editor is affiliated with the subject on the basis of their changes and user name. Their edits expunge nearly all of the references I have added from impartial sources and replace them with many sources that are published by the organization itself. I hope to develop an article that complies with WP:COI, WP:NPOV Bangabandhu (talk) 22:49, 17 January 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Edits resulting in fundamental inaccurate and incomplete, misleading profile

I am the Vice President for Communications for IRD and obviously an interested party concerning the profile of this organization. I have attempted to update the profile several times, solely with accurate information. Those additions have been repeatedly deleted.

The profile does not reflect the current status of IRD, including the salient fact that the suspension of IRD and the allegations of cost accounting improprieties have been established by independent auditors to have been largely baseless. This is reflected in the undeniable fact that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered on August 3, 2015 that the suspension of IRD be vacated from its inception and that USAID communicate that all assertions that the suspension was appropriate and lawful were false (statement available on their website at usaid.gov).

The relevant court documents are a matter of public record and have been reported through independent media outlets, including the Washington Post and Devex (a development trade website/journal).

Detailed information on changes to the organizational structure and leadership have also been repeatedly deleted.

The users of Wikipedia are poorly served by reflexive and ill-informed editing of our repeated attempts to provide accurate information to the Wikipedia community. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 38.111.196.26 (talk) 16:59, 15 October 2015 (UTC)[reply]

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Unsourced text

I'm removing the following text from the article as it lacks even rudimentary sourcing. I'd welcome its inclusion once that's provided.

Democracy, governance, and community development

Successful development programs require collaboration among citizens, government, and civil society organizations. By mobilizing Iraqis into community action groups as part of the Community Action Program III (CAPIII), IRD encourages people to identify, prioritize, and address their development needs. Through training programs, IRD helps government officials be more transparent, effective, and responsive. "

Health

Good health strengthens communities. IRD programs help communities meet basic health needs, rebuild infrastructure, train providers, educate citizens, and raise awareness of health issues. In Zimbabwe, USAID supported IRD to install rainwater harvesting systems and other stable and safe water sources for homes and schools.

Infrastructure

New roads and refurbished bridges and schools stand as physical symbols of progress. They also mean new jobs, renewed purpose, and steady incomes. IRD’s Rapid Impact Emergency Program, funded by the UN Development Program in Southern Sudan, enlists local residents to build or improve health clinics, schools, and water and sanitation facilities while creating economic opportunities and improved access to local services.

Relief and humanitarian assistance

IRD provides emergency relief while planning for and addressing long-term humanitarian problems. For example, in 2009, war forced 2 million Pakistanis to flee their homes. Then in 2010, devastating floods struck some of the camps for these internally displaced persons, making an at-risk population even more vulnerable. With funding from USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), IRD responded to the emergency needs of displaced families while promoting collaboration and peace building among various tribes.

Sustainable food and agriculture systems

IRD uses agricultural advancements and technologies to tackle short-term nutritional needs and long-term food production issues. In Cambodia, IRD supported the creation of a comprehensive chain of improvements to food quality and availability. From better crop production, to expanded output at local mills, to the sale of wheat-flour noodles fortified with vitamins and minerals to vulnerable families, the US Department of Agriculture-funded Better Foods for Better Lives program is strengthening low-income communities."

Adding Blumont Info

Hi all. I would like to update this page to reflect more up-to-date information on Blumont/International Relief and Development, but have some concerns as far as adding these updates. International Relief and Development became Blumont in 2016, but one user (Bangabandhu) has consistently changed edits reflecting updated information regarding Blumont while citing sources from nearly 10 years ago regarding information like annual budgets. I'd like to add qualifiers to this information, while also adding current numbers from outside (non-company) sources. I also propose changing the title of this article from International Relief and Development to Blumont, or to "Blumont (formerly International Relief and Development)" to avoid misleading/outdated information. Any thoughts? User78953 (talk) 16:03, 1 June 2018 (UTC)User78953[reply]

@User78953: I have also tried to update this page to have a broader view of IRD and Blumont and Bangabandhu has relentlessly reverted the edits. The article is currently solely focused on the sensational articles published in 2014/2015 about exec salaries and some people seem intent on keeping it that way. NVM that all investigations into the company and staff found no irregularities, and NVM that IRD was founded in 1998 and had an excellent performance record until the USAID debacle, and NVM anything Blumont. -knoxinbox

Country info

The following irrelevant info was added, while I haven't been through all the references, not a single one I've checked makes any mention of Blumont. For an organization known for its fraudulent activities and misrepresentations, this is even more unacceptable than in other entries. Blumont's website is not a reliable source. The text is saved here.

Countries & Programs

Afghanistan

Blumont implements programs in Afghanistan with funds from USAID, focusing on victims’ assistance, infrastructure, and agriculture.[1][2]

Through a partnership with USAID and the Afghan government, IRD’s Afghanistan Vouchers for Increased Productive Agriculture (AVIPA) project distributed seed and fertilizer vouchers to farmers and trains them in modern agriculture methods. IRD had sought to take credit for a bumper harvest of locally grown wheat and a reliable source of food for rural families.[3][4][5]

Colombia

Blumont has implemented the Closing Emergency Assistance Gaps to Aid Displaced Populations in Colombia since 2009. It is funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM).[6][7][8]

Iraq

Blumont is providing humanitarian aid and providing essential services to internally displaced persons and refugees in Iraq through programs funded by UNHCR, USAID/OFDA, and PRM. Many programs include work inside refugee camps such as camp management and protection activities, as well as work improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions in Iraq.[9][10][11]

Jordan

In [[Jordan] and with funding from UNHCR, Blumont provides camp management and community mobilization services to refugees in Za'atari Camp, which, in February 2018, housed nearly 79,000 persons of concern.[12][13][14]

Lebanon

Blumont programming in Lebanon, funded by UNHCR, has focused on human rights and legal protection for Syrian Refugees, shelter, WASH, and community mobilization.[15]

Pakistan

Blumont programming in Pakistan focuses on infrastructure and education, such as in the USAID-funded Sindh Community Mobilization Program. The five-year program began in August 2013 and aims to sustain community mobilization and school based management in Sindh province.[16]

Syria

Blumont has implemented programs in Syria focused on critical infrastructure, governance, and emergency response.[17]

West Africa

Blumont has implemented programs in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad. Funded by DFID, Blumont’s Wati Yelema Labenw project aims to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable Malians against climate disasters and promote resilience.[18] Blumont also implemented the Peace Through Development II program with funding from USAID, which focused on countering violent extremism in Africa’s Sahel region.[19][20]

West Bank/Gaza

With funding from USAID, Blumont is implementing several infrastructure/construction contracts to improve essential public works for Palestinians.[21][22]

Yemen

Blumont has implemented programming in Yemen, funded by UNHCR, to improve protections for refugees and internally displaced persons. [23]

References

  1. ^ "Kandahar Food Zone Program (KFZ)". www.usaid.gov.
  2. ^ "Kandahar Food Zone (KFZ) - Blumont". Blumont.
  3. ^ Nordland, Rod (8 June 2010). "New York Times". Afghanistan Strategy Focuses on Civilian Effort. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  4. ^ Chandrasekaran, Rajiv (31 May 2010). "Washington Post". In Afghan region, U.S. spreads the cash to fight the Taliban. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  5. ^ Trofimov, Yaroslav (18 May 2010). "Wall Street Journal". U.S. Hires Afghan Farmers to Hold Off Taliban. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Colombia". U.S. Department of State.
  7. ^ https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/265231.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ^ "Closing Emergency Assistance Gaps to Aid Displaced Populations in Colombia - Blumont". Blumont.
  9. ^ "Iraq". U.S. Department of State.
  10. ^ "Situation Iraq CCCM Overview". data2.unhcr.org.
  11. ^ http://www.govwiki.info/pdfs/Non-Profit/VA%20International%20Relief%20And%20Development%20Holdings%20Inc.%202016.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ "Zaatari Refugee Camp - Factsheet, February 2018". ReliefWeb.
  13. ^ "Regional Refugee & Resilience Plan 2016-2017 in Response to the Syria Crisis - (January –December 2016) – 18 December 2015". UNHCR.
  14. ^ http://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/UNHCR%20Jordan%20Zaatari%20Camp%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20April%202018.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ^ "Syria Regional Response Plan Update 5 - Full document". UNHCR.
  16. ^ "Sindh Basic Education Program (SBEP)". sbep.gos.pk.
  17. ^ "Research and evaluation support to Syria Essential Services II". Integrity.
  18. ^ "Wati Yelema Labenw: Strengthening community initiatives for resilience to climate extremes | BRACED". www.braced.org.
  19. ^ https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/PDEV%20II%20Fact%20Sheet%20(Nov%202016).pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ^ "Overview". PDEV II.
  21. ^ https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1883/WBG_2017_EGI_Factsheet_Final.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. ^ https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/Active_IDIQs_as_of_05.01.2018.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. ^ https://ops.unocha.org/Reports/daily/CAPProjectSheet_993_56310_2018619.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

Hello, I believe you've misinterpreted a bulk of this information. For many of these sources, IRD is listed. For clarity, I've changed Blumont in the text to reflect that some of these projects are implemented under IRD, by designating it as "Blumont/IRD." I have also removed all sources from Blumont, although they were just supporting documentation and never standalone references.User78953 (talk) 14:55, 20 June 2018 (UTC)User78953[reply]

You're misunderstanding sources. They must directly support the text you're adding. To take just the first entry, Afghanistan you claim that IRD/Blumont is somehow responsible for programs "focusing on victims’ assistance, infrastructure, and agriculture". You then offer a link to a PDF about "KANDAHAR FOOD ZONE PROGRAM (KFZ)" which says nothing about IRD or Blumont, just work that USAID alone receives crtedit. You also link to a contract, which is a primary source and Original Research. We don't know anything about that contract, its relevance, or any fraud, waste, and abuse that likely occurred under the contract. If you wanted to cite an evaluation of the contract that might work. You need to find something credible, sourced to a reliable publication about IRD / Blumonts work if you want to include it. The name issue is complicated but secondary to the use of sound and reliable sources. Bangabandhu (talk) 15:19, 20 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Bangabandhu: You like strict adherence to citation standards, and value having good reference material. This is very good. But then you make statements like:

For an organization known for its fraudulent activities and misrepresentations

and

We don't know anything about that contract, its relevance, or any fraud, waste, and abuse that likely occurred under the contract

Can you provide some sources for these statements? As far as I know all investigations (of which there were a few) into IRD and staff found no irregularities, but maybe you have some new material that I haven't seen. Otherwise you're showing yourself as being completely and utterly biased against this organization. knoxinbox

Information about living persons

I am adding a Biographies of living persons tag to this article because I feel it violates wikipedia guidelines on People who are relatively unknown. Specifically by mentioning Dr. Keys wife and other family members who are not notable in any way other than publicly available salary details. knoxinbox

Beginning Discussion About COI

It appears that this article has been formed around a 2015 scandal involving IRD and USAID, rather than the organization itself. From the beginning of the article to the end, there is an overwhelming amount of information about allegations and wrongdoing. Seeing as how USAID's accusations were found to be unbased, this seems like an excessive amount of focus on the situation for a company that has been in operation for 20 years. I suggest putting information on the scandal in one section, and elaborating on the organization's work and history in the rest of the article.User78953 (talk) 21:09, 28 August 2018 (UTC)User78953[reply] 

    I have cleaned up the page and structured it in a more fair way. Is there any consensus as to whether or not the COI notice on the page should/can be removed?User78953 (talk) 18:19, 4 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Do not revert well-sourced content that you and the other sole purpose IP have deleted without reason . Your characterization of the page is totally baseless. Much of the article is properly sourced to several Washington Post articles about IRD, which do not have anything to do with Lambert's decision.Bangabandhu (talk) 19:09, 14 January 2019 (UTC) 19:09, 14 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Bangabandhu (talk) 19:09, 14 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

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