Aiding is Abetting
With thanks to former team mate Rick Gray who passed this on . . . . .
Here’s the link to an interview with the author Moyo that I spoke of in my last post. http://www.guernicamag.com/interviews/953/aiding_is_abetting/
Any thoughts??
I heard Moyo interviewed on NPR about 2 months ago and I was so impressed by her thesis. I believe she is absolutely right.
The concept she raises is not totally unique but it is refreshing to hear somebody from an aid receiving area make the observation as it removes the stigma of not being well to try from the equation. Two issues might be raised – aid in many forms used to be made for a specific purpose and the recipient was held accountable. Then “experts” argued that the recipient knew better what was needed and so block grants with little or no accountability were the rage. But knowing what is best and doing it proved (not unexpectedly) to be two very different things. The second point is that while it is the best to generate funds internally this takes time – and there is such a measure of impatience – of needing to “catch up” NOW – of being “entitled” to payment for past abuses. It’s so very difficult to inculcate this long-range, incremental, self-sustaining thought and action matrix. Not that we should not try – but we must realize that it will result in many instances in frustration, impatience and periodic set-backs. But it is a way of wisdom if it can be carried on by those wise and respected enough to motivate and direct change.
That’s funny — I guess Mom and I listen to the same things on NPR.
I thought her ideas made sense.
I think she makes a strong case for weaning Africa off aid. It makes sense to me.