Yes, Aid is Dead!
From narrations on how aid dies before it
is flown and shipped in, to a very compelling case on the need to end aid to
Africa, Dambisa Moyo has been quite consistent in her criticisms of the aid
industry. To a very high extent, I agree with my Zambian sister (a great
economist). Having worked in aid (nonprofit sector) well, I do have reasons to
believe aid will never move Africans out of the “African problem.” Good governance;
better and effective management of public affairs will. Aid is necessary and good to the extent that it is
humanitarian assistance, in which case it applies anywhere anytime. Development
aid, on the other hand, is only helpful, in my view, to the extent that few
Africans will be employed in aid agencies, of course, not at top carder but at
a certain “known and respected level” based on unannounced rule. When I dwelt
in that space, I recall very well that whenever jobs could be advertised we
used to jokingly talk about which ones belonged to locals and which ones for
our “expatriate” colleagues. And there was a phrase that you had to grow used
to: “money must be accompanied.” A lot of expatriates, with the exception of a
few, actually quite literally did/do accompany money.
Here is the thing, beyond the few
employment opportunities that some Africans benefit from this industry,
development aid is, in the words of Dr. Moyo, dead. We, the peoples of Africa
must decide if we want to keep on “kumenya muhogo uliofunda” (peeling a rotten
cassava) - as depicted in Said Ahmed Mohamed’s play, “Amezidi” or we are going
to rise and report to work. Ending mediocrity in management of public affairs
is our job and indeed our urgent calling. We got a choice folks: we either do
it or perish. If we want to do it, there is urgency. We got to do this now.
Yes, Aid is Dead!
Reviewed by Ibrahim Magara
on
December 06, 2018
Rating:
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