Thilo Thielke makes a bold statement in this recent piece from Spiegel Online: “No one has to starve in Africa. Hunger there results from the failures of unscrupulous rulers — and their friends in the West. Paradoxically, it is the aid workers who are standing in the way of progress.” Obviously, I wouldn’t have started Appfrica if I didn’t believe in the power of personal perseverance, free market competition and entrepreneurship. These things are hard to nurture in an environment where everything is handed to you before you ask. Thilo goes on to make a strong case against Aid programs and what he perceives to be the end result:
These developmental aid workers, whose reports largely shape our image of Africa, behave this way to a certain extent out of an instinct for self-preservation that they believe the Africans don’t have. Without help, they say, all the Africans will starve. And, indeed, without aid, all the helpers would also be out of a job.
And what happens when the help comes? First the merchants complain because the cost of food drops through the floor. Nor is it worth it, under the status quo, to build up any surplus stocks. Then, the farmers complain because their crops become worthless. The people who cozy up with the aid workers are the ones following better advice. You can get everything for free there and you don’t even have to lift a finger.
He’s not alone, you might remember that Andrew Mwenda passionately echoed this thought on stage in Jun 2007 at TED. He famously got into something of an argument with U.S. singer turned philanthropist, Bono who is well known for his efforts to champion aid program in Africa.
It really is an interesting dichotomy: the more aid, the less African governments have to do for themselves while the less intervention from outside nations the more unrest and civil conflict. Listen to Andrew Mwende speak below, listen to his argument and then post a comment.
About the author: Jonathan Gosier is a software developer, writer and social entrepreneur. He currently lives in Kampala, Uganda where he incubates and invests in East African entrepreneurs as the CEO of Appfrica Labs. He's also a TED Fellow.
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Is Developmental Aid Stifling Africa’s Growth?
Thilo Thielke makes a bold statement in this recent piece from Spiegel Online: “No one has to starve in Africa. Hunger there results from the failures of unscrupulous rulers — and their friends in the West. Paradoxically, it is the aid workers who are standing in the way of progress.” Obviously, I wouldn’t have started Appfrica if I didn’t believe in the power of personal perseverance, free market competition and entrepreneurship. These things are hard to nurture in an environment where everything is handed to you before you ask. Thilo goes on to make a strong case against Aid programs and what he perceives to be the end result:
He’s not alone, you might remember that Andrew Mwenda passionately echoed this thought on stage in Jun 2007 at TED. He famously got into something of an argument with U.S. singer turned philanthropist, Bono who is well known for his efforts to champion aid program in Africa.
It really is an interesting dichotomy: the more aid, the less African governments have to do for themselves while the less intervention from outside nations the more unrest and civil conflict. Listen to Andrew Mwende speak below, listen to his argument and then post a comment.
Tell us, what do you think?