Edith Jibunoh: “Let Africans say when they’ve had enough aid”

May 15th, 2009 10:05 AM UTC
By Edith Jibunoh

The Financial Times published a letter from ONE’s Senior Manager for African Outreach, Edith Jibunoh.

Let Africans say when they’ve had enough aid
Published: May 13 2009 03:00 | Last updated: May 13 2009 03:00
From Ms Edith Jibunoh.

Sir, Rwanda is an example of a country where focused government leadership has delivered striking successes against poverty, disease and illiteracy (“Africa has to find its own way to prosperity”, Paul Kagame, May 8). But this leadership has been backed by sizeable injections of donor cash.

In just one example, malaria cases and deaths have been cut by two-thirds nationwide, thanks in large part to the effective distribution of millions of bed nets provided by the Global Fund to Combat Aids, TB and Malaria.

Given this success, President Kagame’s endorsement of calls for a rapid shut-off of most overseas assistance appears puzzling. He does, however, raise two crucial issues: when to finally turn off the aid taps, and how best to support the African entrepreneurial flair that will ultimately drive the continent’s growth.

Put simply, the scope of aid should be determined by developing countries – governments and citizens. It is they who should define at what point its goals have been achieved and when it should be ended. Until then, it should be carefully monitored, and reduced or expanded based on evidence, not ideology. All aid programmes should have a built in exit strategy.

As for supporting African dynamism, last week’s Investing in Africa’s Emerging Markets conference at London’s Chatham House was a perfect showcase for why canny investors should bet on Africa. Speakers from across the continent described the dizzying growth and investment successes of the past decade, and the alchemy being created by Africa’s young entrepreneurs.

They also acknowledged that, in Africa as elsewhere, a healthy, educated workforce is essential to underpin economic growth. This is where “smart aid” comes in – aid that is well managed, that is driven by local priorities and which supports African citizens to hold their governments accountable for the delivery of results.

Edith Jibunoh,
Senior Manager,
Africa Outreach,
One,
Abuja, Nigeria

TAGS: Dead Aid is Dead Wrong, Policy News, Uncategorized