Hmmm. Interesting opinion on aid to Africa.
. . . development aid weakens the local markets everywhere and dampens the spirit of entrepreneurship that we so desperately need…
Why do we get these mountains of clothes? No one is freezing here. Instead, our tailors lose their livlihoods. They’re in the same position as our farmers. No one in the low-wage world of Africa can be cost-efficient enough to keep pace with donated products.
- Kenyan economist James Shikwati
“For God’s Sake, Please Stop the Aid!”
Before you say this is crazy . . .
I think before anybody says “that’s crazy” they should read the article. You just might come away from it believing that the United States is contributing more to Africa’s problems than it is doing to help them. I have to say that it’s pretty convincing.
He also suggests that Aids, hunger, etc… are marketed so strongly by certain groups in the country because it helps keep the aid coming, which they waste, use for their own pleasure, etc….
My personal take?
This is something new I had never thought of or heard of, and I brought it up with two extremely smart people today who agreed 100 percent with Shikwati’s assessment. I’ve been thinking a lot about it today, and I’ve realized it’s not possible for me to understand every situation that exists, but I completely understand where he’s coming from. Again, read the article. The part that really got me was hearing how countries will send grain to Africa that is taken by political leaders who give it to their tribes and dump the rest into markets at prices that are so cheap African farmers can’t compete. As a result, nobody has any reason to work to produce grain . . .
6 comments ↓
well, actually, I also haven’t thought about this from such perspective until I met a highly educated african man, who opened my eyes on this issue.. the problem is very vast and sophisticated, starting with governance system of most of the states, especially of those with french colonial past, when those people who rule, are not those the most educated ones, and the bureaucracy elite is such a closed circle, that there is almost no chance of any well and specially educated person to enter it, if there are no connections for him.. overall, his message was similar - let africans decide on their own, what to do and how to live and manage things in their countries, after all - most of nations there have long history of tribal intercommunication.. the analogy with the child who cries for babysitter was superb!
In my mission, I saw instances where the aid being sent to the people (in Honduras) was withheld by government officials, and often sold (yes, sold) to businessmen to sell on the street. There is far too much corruption in these thirld world countries, and it’s for that reason that any aid should be delivered straight to the people.
I liked the article, though I disagree with his stance that all aid should stop. Certainly there is much good to be done, but again, the assistance should be given directly to the people in order to ensure that they actually get it. And any help we provide should help them be self-sufficient rather than crippling them through welfare and doles.
I must agree with many of the points made here. I was in Kenya earlier this year and there were piles of cloths at the local markets. I was told there was a tax to be paid on cloths sent into the country and it made presents to individuals uneconomic.
I was talking to an Evangelical Minister whose church had supported many new churches in Kenya. He told me that often the churches collapsed once his church stopped financially supporting the minister. His plan was to ensure the new churches would be self supporting and his church’s support would only create the infrastructure and the ministers and congregations would provide the running financial support locally. The Trade not Aid concept we have adopted in the charity 26000 bricks for Africa. Where we intend to build clinics and schools for Traditional Medicine/ Complimentary and Alternative Medicines. These clinics charge for the health care provided, low cost, but not free (there are exception for HIV/Aids and really underprivileged.
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[...] HT: Russell Page [...]
I am so glad to finally find people that have the same concerns. The (usa) people have been donating to this continent for decades. The corruption that continues in each of the 54 countries is mind boggling. We should stop the giving and add these countries to our list of goverments not treating their people fair or giving them a chance in life.
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