Dead Aid: why aid is not working and how there is another way for Africa

To buy, click here

This book by Zambian economist Dambisa Moyo generated a lot of buzz when it came out in 2009. Given the buzz and the fact that it became a best seller, I expected something more solid, a data-heavy book like The Lords of Poverty perhaps. With only 150 pages to go over the history and the culture of aid and its impact on a whole continent, the book felt a bit on the lighter side.

It might be unavoidable. Of course, it’s extremely difficult to talk about a complex issue such as this without making generalizations. Then, there will be always at least one example that contradicts any statement or claim made, more so when it’s a heavily politicized and ideologically-charged topic.Which is not to say that the author has some very valid points.

Initially, the author seemed to have ben misinterpreted as saying that all aid in any circumstance was to be avoided—which she then clarified as not being the case. But even then it’s easy to see why some NGOs and donors jumped to attack the book and responded defensively. Let’s Moyo illuminate why that might be the case. She points out that, taken together, about half a million people, between the IMF, UN agencies, charities and NGOs, and government aid agencies, are employed in the aid industry:  

“Sometimes they make loans, sometimes they give grants, but they are all in the business of aid ... Their livelihoods depend on aid ... [In addition, f]or most developmental organizations, successful lendings is measured almost entirely by the size of the donor’s lending portfolio, and not by how much of the aid is actually used for its intended purpose. As a consequence, the incentives built into the development organizations perpetuate the cycle of lending to even the most corrupt countries. Donors are subject to ‘fiscal year’ concerns: ‘they feraed the consequences within their agencies of not releasing the funds in the fiscal eyar for which they were slated’ (Ravi Kanbur). Any non-disbursed amounts increase the likelihood that their subsequent aid programmes will be slashed. With the added corollary, of course, that their own organizational standing is placed in jeopardy.” (Moyo 2009, p. 54)

The little glitch in the aid industry is that NGOs and donor agencies, if they were to be successful, they should be working to make themselves redundant and to disappear. Once established, very few organizations and/or people are willing to do that (jeopardizing their existence or jobs/positions). And so the wheels keep on turning...

Most of the book, though, is forward-thinking, as Moyo proposes a number of alternatives to aid. Worth considering.

Organic gardening: dealing with pests III

Infested leaves

There are few things as frustrating as seeing your beautiful plants eaten by bugs. After all the effort you put into composting and preparing the soil and taking care of the seeds and the little plant! As soon as the plant is looking good: bugs!!!

Luckily, you don’t need to be an expert to try to get rid of them. Worms, I pick them out of the plants one by one (the moment of zen, an opportunity for meditation practice). The beetle-like bugs that were eating my bellpepper plants, though, were more difficult to grab, so, it was time for some brewing.

Concoction time!

I’ve tried some different things, but the general rules is that they don’t like anything strong-scented. So, garlic, coffee, rosemary it is. In this particular case, I added a little bit of hand soap for good measure.

 

The solution: garlic-rosemary + soapy water

Took a few days of spraying and scattering used coffee grounds, but it worked!

Razões para re-pensar o sistema de transporte em Maputo e Moçambique

Ainda tem lugar no chapa?

Perigoso e insuficiente

Ego vs. Eco

Enough said

The Lords of Poverty: The Power, Prestige, and Corruption of the International Aid Business

Not a new book but one that you need to read if you are thinking about (or already are) working in international development.

Published in 1989,  but it still applies.

Bike ride around Richmond

When I discovered Let's Go Biking! I was thrilled to find tons of information on where to bike in and around Vancouver, for pleasure, and away from cars.

Had to give it a try and the first ride was around Richmond, for one simple reason: it is flat!


Saw turtles and a fox, herons, eagles and fish, mountains and sea planes, historical sites and one of the new Olympic buildings, farms and hidden hippie communites.

It’s about 95% away from cars, and in some places you really feel you’re on holidays far away from the city. Just brilliant!