Florian Costa
WLH Period 2
Ms. Tompkins
March 13th, 2015
Africa’s Over-dependence on Foreign Aid Impedes its Development
When we donate to organizations and the government that work to help those in need in Africa, we do it thinking that we are helping the African people and that hopefully, one day, Africa will be free of its troubles. However, this is surprisingly not the case, as foreign aid in Africa is irresponsible used and is not a long-term solution for the growth of the continent.
Throughout Africa, the calls for more aid are becoming louder and louder, whether it be for food, money, or for humanitarian purposes. Many rich countries take this opportunity to give Africa a helping hand not only because it seems like a great way to end Africa’s problems, but because governments want to look good and enforce well supported ambitions from the people. A recent Wall Street Journal article written by Dambiso Moyo describes a generous $1 trillion of “development-related” aid transferred into Africa. Furthermore, the article describes advocates pushing for doubling the roughly $50 billion international assistance to Africa each year. Ironically, this excessive aid has left African countries in even more debt to their donors, makes them more inflation-prone, makes them more weaker, and makes them more unattractive to international investment. Zaire’s president from 1965 to 1997, Mobutu Sese Seko, is known to have stolen at least $5 billion from his country - much of which came from foreign aid. As of 2002, the African Union estimated that the corruption of African governments was costing the continent $150 billion a year, as international donors were unaware to the blatant fact that the aid money was fueling much corruption (Moyo). It is far too easy for the aid to be used for anything the African governmental officials want it to be used for, resulting in it being rare for the aid to be used as originally intended. The unstable African economy needs to be able to be have a government that is more transparent and accountable to meet the needs of the people.
In order to see improvement in Africa, the people need jobs and need to be able to believe in the future of their country. An article from CNN written by Bob Gendolf notes that Africa has one of the fastest growing populations, and therefore it is absolutely necessary that it is able to create jobs to keep its unemployment rates from rising. The surplus of aid has only shown that countries are not able to make efficient use of the aid that is being provided. Africa’s easy access to money is an ideal way to keep a bad governments in power. Many international figures aware of this dilemma state that “Africa needs trade, not aid” (Why). With extreme poverty all around the continent, it is crucial that Africa makes use of the natural resources it has access to, as well as using supporting the local industries to be able to boost the economy, and expand trade. In a report by the Africa News Service, Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe urges Africa to move away from the “over-reliance” of international aid. Additionally, he states that Southern Africa must “wean itself from exporting raw materials and create value chains that will lead to the exportation of finished products.”
It is the African governments’ responsibility to be able to honorably make use of the hundred billion dollars worth of aid flowing into the country from international organizations and friendly governments. If the governments in Africa are able to step up, we all will no longer have any doubts as to whether our government’s donations with be effectively put to good use. With stronger, less corrupt governments, and the help of a strong economy, the continent will no longer have to depend on international aid for its success.
Works Cited
"Democratic Trajectories in Africa: Unraveling the Impact of Foreign Aid." WIDER Angle Nov. 2013: 57. Global Issues In Context. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
Gatune, Julius. "Africa's Development beyond Aid: Getting Out of the Box." Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 632.Perspectives on Africa and the World (2010): 103-20. JSTOR. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
Mosley, Paul. Foreign Aid Its Defense and Reform. N.p.: U of Kentucky, 2015. JSTOR. Web. 9 Mar. 2015.
Moyo, Dambisa. "Why Foreign Aid Is Hurting Africa." WSJ. The Wall Street Journal, 21 Mar. 2009. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.
"Mugabe - S. Africa Must Reduce Reliance On Foreign Aid." Africa News Service 19 Aug. 2014: n. pag. Global Issues In Context. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
"Why Africa Still Needs Aid." CNN Wire 5 Apr. 2013: n. pag. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
Main take-away:
ReplyDeleteI had never thought about the negative impacts of foreign aid to Africa, and how that might be causing more harm than good to country and its people in the long term.
How this relates to my life:
Though I guess it makes sense that throwing aid at the problem won't solve it. I guess this is just a larger scale version of asking for too much help. People need to be independent to be successful, so I guess that applies to countries too.
Follow-up question:
You talk about making the Africa government transparent. Can that be done? Is something being done currently?
Your essay is really good. It is suprising that even when people are in need. How some people can still be so corrupt it also suprise me how the US doesn't know about this to. and continues to send aid to them.
ReplyDelete1. My favorite aspect of this article was the unique perspective. The article made complete sense, and was a thought that had never occurred to me.
ReplyDelete2. This relates to my life because one of those nations that gives extensive aid to Africa is the United States. I think that it is a multi-faceted problem, as you addressed, because the U.S. and those living in it feel that it is their duty as a humanitarian to assist those that have less than we do, but it appears that this does just as much harm as it does benefit.
3. One follow up question would be about the government in Zimbabwe. One of your quotes is from the president, and though you addressed that some of the governments are corrupt, it appears that this one isn't. I think it would be interesting to elaborate on that and explain maybe what the other nations are doing as well as this one.