Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo

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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:58 pm

I read this book just before Christmas and it was a very interesting read.
The author argument basically is that Western Aid hasn't helped the African continent at all, it has done nothing but promote corruption.

Worth a read.

Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:09 pm

I second this opinion. They became addicted to aid, and then what? perpetual aid?
They have been self sufficient a long time ago. They have to learn again how to do it.
Give a man a fish, he wil eat it, then ask another fish. Give a man a fishing pole and knowledge, he will catch his own fish.

Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:44 am

The version I heard goes, "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for life."

And then my son has another version, "Build a man a fire, keep him warm for a day. Set a man on fire, keep him warm for life."

Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:53 pm

i think that the problem of giving money to political leaders, only for it to disappear, is well known.
a lot of aid is now delivered to communities by ngo organisations, which reduces (but doesn't eliminate) the scope for frauds.

there are other ways in which badly-delivered aid can damage african economies.
fx, when we donate food or goods, an unfortunate side-effect is that local businesses supplying similar products are completely undermined.

probably the best things we can do as western societies to help africa is stop dumping subsidised produce on their markets and stop imposing tariffs which prevent them from competing in our markets on a fair basis.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

I've also held that opinion for some time. Give it directly to people who can benefit, and even at that, it shouldn't be an expected payment from a government. Charity only.

I to believe education is the way forward, we can't keep dig them out of holes, we can give them the shovel but they need to do the rest for themselves.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 2:55 pm

Education is definitely the way to go.
One of my colleague is married to a woman who was grown in Africa.
I discussed about it with her, and from what I heard, I effectively think that given help was finally worse than better...

And on a funny note, the above citation was transformed by a Belgian humorist in:
"Give a man a fish, he'll eat one day. Give a man the picture of a fish, he'll be able to look at it for the rest of his life".

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 4:27 pm

Teach a man to get a job, and he can buy fish at the store.