Jacqueline Novogratz & Dambisa Moyo debate the efficacy of foreign aid
July 6th, 2009 by admin
Jacqueline Novogratz and Dambisa Moyo discuss whether Africa would be better off without foreign aid and alternative solutions for creating jobs and economic growth. CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS show (July 5, 2009).
http://www.twitter.com/jnovogratz
http://www.acumenfund.org/
http://www.twitter.com/dambisamoyo
http://www.dambisamoyo.com/
Posted in Steve
July 19th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Hi,
I honestly think that we need to balance what is Aid and not Aid.
Innovation cannot take place in Africa if people are not feed, watered and educated. Some people in Africa need “Bednet” for Free, right now. Yes there is room for innovation as Jacqueline said and I don’t see how a very poor and fragile man in the rural Tanzania will not welcome a BedNet tomorrow morning, By the time Damisa Moyo’s ideas on Dead Aid is implemented, that poor man will Die. We need to balance what we are saying here; the reality is here, otherwise it will be on the detriment of millions of people living in the real Africa I know of. People with no money to live in the rural Senegal right now will welcome anything in order to survive.
Whist I understand and concur with Damisa Moyo that we need to look into how aid is distributed in Africa, have good policies and review the whole concept, we cannot rule out Aid totally. Charities like Acumen and the Gates Foundation are doing extraordinary well. They are not pumping money to African villages neither to governments; they are working with the local villages to help them become self-reliant. I spend lots of time in the Rural Africa where their work is tremendously appreciated and remarkable. These organisations are doing what the local governments are not doing. If they stopped the Aid Dambisa Moyo is talking about they will suffer terribly. Aid is not 100% a total failure in Africa, especially in the rural village, the real failure is lack of clear policies and transparency. Aid to Africa has helps million of people in the last 30 years. Now, The real solution is Education. The Funds that are going into certain development programs need to have the emphasis Education and training. Yes Africa is not charitable and Education and Training are the right tools. Education and Training needs to be replaced by Donation and Aid.
Africans are born Entrepreneurs, they are self-resilient, they fight for their lives every second, the ones with the right tools succeed and become self-sufficient.
If Acumen focuses its energy on social entrepreneurship, it will be an excellent vehicle for a sustainable change to Africa.
For the last 4 years I have been reinventing the world of social entrepreneurship and dreams, and it does work. I am honoured to see what Jacqueline is doing, as I truly believe that she understand the real problems millions of voiceless African people are facing today.
Best Regards
Marieme Jamme
Social Entrepreneur