A Life Half Lived

This is a book for those interested in how we can more effectively end global poverty. the author's solution may surprise you.


By taking the reader through his experiences in six war zones and numerous natural disasters, the author sets out a challenging case for Development Investment over Development Aid as a focus of poverty alleviation. 

Most capital flows from the rich countries to the developing world pass through the private sector, hence the author argues most of our development effort should be with private sector solutions.

"Only employment ends long term poverty", he argues.

Calling out the racism of some in the aid world and the neo-colonialism, the author suggests a re-think of aid.


Covering half a life-time, Andrew MacLeod takes us on a journey from when he was a 'wet behind the ears' idealist entering the aid world to a pragmatist with a vision of partnerships leading to reducing global poverty. With an understanding of some of the deep failings of foreign aid, and some hope from the unlikeliest of sources, military, mining companies, banks and other private sector players, MacLeod challenges us to rethink perceptions of who are the 'bad guys' and who are the 'white knights' in the developing economies.


As a law student, Andrew MacLeod heard a key speaker talk about "a moral obligation to use our skills to better the lives of others". It changed his life's direction. Andrew chose to work in aid, first as a Red Cross delegate in the former Yugoslavia, then in Rwanda and later to the United Nations where he was appointed Chief of Operations in the international response to the 2005 Kashmir earthquake in Pakistan.


Part autobiography and part controversial dialogue, A Life Half Lived is the account of Andrew's life so far on the ground in the world's disaster and emergency zones. From listening to aid workers' responses to humanitarian crises, Andrew has some tough questions to ask, including can the private sector take up the mantle to better solve the lives of people in extreme circumstances?