]> http://www.futureofaid.net/taxonomy/term/24/0 en http://www.futureofaid.net/node/488 <p>By Bank Information Centre (BIC)</p> <p>[Introduction]: Since the Chinese economy has taken off and it has increasingly looked to Africa to provide raw materials, the World Bank and IMF have been confronted with the question of how to respond. Recent statements by the institutions have shown that these responses are careful and at times contradictory.<br /> This article comments on the position taken by the WB and the IMF on the increasing presence of Chinese investment in Africa.</p> <p>To read the full article, click <a href=" http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3877.aspx ">here</a></p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Africa Aid Architecture Multilateral and International (governmental) Organisations Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:26:21 +0100 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/474 <p>By Professor Arthur Mutambara</p> <p>In this article Professor Arthur Mutambara stresses that despite the stated intention to assist the poor economies; ostensibly most foreign aid benefits the donor countries. The modus operandi has been that the rich West provides financial assistance or loans to poor nations to engage Western consultants or institutions to carry out unsustainable and useless projects on the continent.<br /> While he admits that there has been abuse, incompetence, and corruption by recipients, these constitute a second order challenge. The problem is that aid and debt have become a control mechanism to ensure that oil, minerals and other natural resources were channelled to serve the interests of Western economies<br /> Instead, aid should aim to build stronger domestic institutions and transfer skills to local leaders, managers and entrepreneurs. There has to be close alignment of aid with national priorities, working hand in glove with African institutions. This approach stresses the effectiveness of aid as transitory support, avoiding long-term dependence.</p> <p>To read the full article, click <a href=" http://www.afrodad.org/downloads/the-paradoxof-foreign-aid[1].pdf<br /> ">here</a></p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Africa Aid effectiveness Capacity Development Effects of aid Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:44:12 +0100 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/461 <p>By Sedat Aybar and Costas Lapavitsas</p> <p>A highly unsatisfactory mobilisation of savings by the liberalised financial systems of Sub-Saharan Africa has severely constrained investment and growth in the region. To a large degree, Sub-Saharan savings are directed towards non-financial assets and the informal financial sector because:<br /> • one can demonstrate status and wealth this way<br /> • the financial environment is typically risky<br /> • there are few formal options<br /> • minimum deposit and balance requirements as well as the time and administrative effort needed to access the formal sector are too high<br /> The paper highlights the need of improvements in access, adequacy and reliability of financial assets as well as more effective public mechanisms to mobilise savings.</p> <p>To read the full paper, click <a href=" http://www.undp-povertycentre.org/pub/IPCOnePager50.pdf ">here</a></p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Africa Aid linkages Domestic Resource Mobilisation Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:04:55 +0100 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/460 <p>By Inyambo Mwanawina, AERC, February 2008</p> <p>This study provides information on the size, structure and significance of China-Zambia relations. It examines the nature and scope of Chinese investment in Zambia, looking at the pattern and magnitude of trade between them as well as the characteristics of Chinese development assistance to Zambia.<br /> China’s engagement with Zambia is based on the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which has created new opportunities and challenges in Zambia’s development effort. The opportunity provided by China to tap on its experience in acquiring technology and financial resources needed to scale up the country development effort and move rapidly towards increased wealth creation and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The challenge lies in turning and regulating Chinese interests in the country to the mutually benefit of both China and Zambia without endangering the country’s social-cultural heritage and environment.</p> <p>To read the full paper, click <a href=" http://www.aercafrica.org/documents/china_africa_relations/Zambia.pdf ">here</a></p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Africa Aid organisations Bilateral Donors Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:00:55 +0100 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/459 <p>By Nancy Dubosse, AFRODAD</p> <p>As the issue of aid effectiveness takes centre stage in the context of the looming deadline of the Millennium Development Goals, a spotlight shines on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lending practices to low-income countries; particularly those in Africa.<br /> This paper provides a brief survey of Africa’s indebtedness and the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) programme and an identification of the main conceptual points of disagreement with the Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (PRGF) programme, which is a requirement of HIPC, demonstrated with country examples, and recommendations.</p> <p>To read the full paper, click <a href=" http://www.afrodad.org/downloads/Lending_Policies_of_the_IMF%5B1%5D.pdf ">here</a></p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Africa Aid organisations Multilateral and International (governmental) Organisations Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:56:43 +0100 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/453 <p>Author: EURODAD</p> <p>The paper analyses Sierra Leone as an interesting case to see to what extent practices have changed since the Paris Declaration (PD) in 2005. The fact that the government of Sierra Leone is so highly dependent on aid and carries limited weight in the international community clearly poses a challenge for real shifts in power relations to take place. The research focuses on questions of accountability and ownership and it is primarily concerned with whether the commitments agreed to in the PD have translated into a more accountable, democratic and country-driven aid system.<br /> Based on interviews with donor, government and civil society representatives, the paper exposes the situation of aid in the country and finds not so surprising that Sierra Leone has not moved forwards more quickly in improving the aid system and in implementing more efficient and effective aid modalities.<br /> Finally, the paper presents some recommendations that Donors, Government and Civil Society should follow in order to improve the quality of aid.</p> <p>To read the full paper, click <a href=" http://www.eurodad.org/uploadedFiles/Whats_New/Reports/Old%20habits%20die%20hard.%20Aid%20and%20accountability%20in%20Sierra%20Leone.pdf ">here</a></p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Accountability Africa Aid effectiveness Ownership Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:48:09 +0100 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/439 <p>Author: Charles Mutasa, SARPN, June 2007 </p> <p>In this paper the author stresses the fact that while the accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) goals is extremely dependent on financing sources, the capacity to absorb donor funds and implement projects in South African Development Community (SADC) is very limited.<br /> Lack of absorptive capacity has lead to reduced financial support and the use of other channels for assisting regional cooperation. This contributes to SADC’s lack of harmonization and represents a setback to attaining the MDGs and sustainable development in general and tends to weaken aid effectiveness.<br /> The paper explores alternative and additional resources from both domestic and external sources and discusses the challenges to resource mobilization.</p> <p>To read the full paper, click <a href=" http://www.sarpn.org.za/documents/d0002655/index.php ">here</a></p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Africa Domestic Resource Mobilisation MDGs Mon, 12 May 2008 13:20:56 +0100 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/437 <p>Author: Vitalice Meja, AFRODAD</p> <p>While the amount of aid has been significant in Africa, it has not contributed sufficiently to a higher growth neither reduction of poverty or creation of sustainable conditions for economic development. In some cases has even contributed to lower growth, corruption, and weakened government internal mechanisms. In this paper, the author describes the main obstacles for aid effectiveness in Africa.<br /> While improving aid architecture under the Paris and Rome agreements could mean a dramatic change for African countries, there is concern over the lack of progress towards the coordination, alignment and harmonisation between and among donors with the African governments.<br /> The paper outlines some of the underlying factors behind these failures and discusses some action points that the African governments and donors could consider towards a better aid architecture.<br /> The paper concludes that aid architecture must address political interests of both donors and recipient as well. Aid would only work with good public institutions and if policies are nationally-owned. It is also needed to address weak public finance management systems, to achieve respect for public systems by donors and the engagement with non-state actors and parliaments.</p> <p>To read the full paper, click <a href=" http://www.afrodad.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=250&amp;Itemid=38 ">here</a></p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Africa Mon, 12 May 2008 13:05:48 +0100 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/417 <p>By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, Senior Legal Officer for Africa, Open Society Institute, AfriMAP</p> <p>Ahead of the forthcoming tenth summit of the African Union (AU), to be held in Addis Ababa in January 2008, this article sets out the legal foundations and principles that should inform the decisions of the AU and international community in responding to the allegations and issues arising from the current situation in Kenya.</p> <p>Click on the attachment below to read the full article</p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Africa Governance Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:15:33 +0000 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/385 <p>Source: AllAfrica.com</p> <p>This article looks at the how local politics around corruption and foreign direct investment coincided with visits from VIPs from the Commonwealth fraternity. The UK's Douglas Alexander, the Secretary for International Development during his visit expressed concern for large sums of money being paid out fraudulently to local and foreign companies from the Bank of Tanzania. But he also said the UK would double its aid to Tanzania. Regarding the issuing of mining contracts, the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, agreed with his Tanzanian counterpart that the Tanzanian government needed to negotiate with investors in the mining sector in order to reach a 'win-win' situation. He too announced increases in aid, saying that Canada would donate $105 million over 5 years as part of the $500 million health improvement program for Africa and Asia.</p> <p>The article also sheds light on a <a href="http://www.odi.org.uk/pppg/CAPE/what_we_do/aid_effectiveness/Multilateral_Donor_Effectiveness/p0473_project_briefing.pdf">study</a> by the Overseas Development Institute on effectiveness of development assistance. In this study, 261 senior stakeholders in receipient countries were asked to assess the performance of the African Development Bank (AfDB), European Commission(EU), United Nations Children's Education Fund (UNICEF), Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Bank. Tanzanian respondents in particular took issue with the World Bank accusing it of imposing policies on the government and meddling in project implementation. According to the researchers, the World Bank is perceived as imposing a neo-liberal policy framework. </p> <p>Click <a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/200712050791.html">here</a> to read the full article</p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Africa Corruption Multilateral and International (governmental) Organisations Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:03:12 +0000 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/382 <p><strong>By Opa Kapijimpanga, Institute for Policy Studies, Lusaka, Zambia</strong> </p> <p>The current aid regime is characterized by a disproportionate feeling of ‘power over” by donors in relation to African governments. This expresses itself in donors continuing to impose their understanding of how African economies must be run. As an example, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) is essentially an instrument which the IMF uses to define macro-economic parameters. For example the government wage bill is limited by the MTEF to 8% of GDP. This then sets the limits; including how many nurses or teachers Zambia can employ in a given year. The IMF denies this! Donors have also shown reluctance to directly deal with resolving the development constraints that they also visibly see. Their unwillingness to commit to meeting the MDGs is somewhat unacceptable.</p> <p>The nature and character of the aid regime must therefore change. Some of the processes that might help in doing so include the following:</p> <p>a) Donor support should be directed at supporting national development plans. The MTEF, a rolling three year framework must be the instrument for securing that plan targets are being met;</p> <p>b) The relationship between donors and the recipient country should be based on an Aid Policy and Strategy drawn up by the recipient country. Such an Aid Policy should define the modalities for aid and also include a framework for evaluating the Donors </p> <p>c) Donors, as a group, have to express their commitment to the Plan and Aid Policy through a Joint Assistance Strategy. This will help harmonize their behaviour and procedures; towards a more responsive aid regime; </p> <p>d) Aid must be directed at resolving development constraints. And these are always clearly visible in any given reality. An assessment of how these are being resolved should be made on an ongoing basis.</p> <p><strong>Please send your response to this opinion to coordinator@futureofaid.net or click on 'add new comment' below</strong></p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Accountability Africa Hot Topics National Policy Frameworks/PRSs Ownership Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:04:08 +0000 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/341 <p>Source: <a href=http://www.afrodad.org/">AFRODAD</a></p> <p>"African countries like many other developing countries need external resources primarily to supplement their meagre domestic resources from their economies. The assistance countries receive redress the financial gap that arises from their development needs and act as catalyst and play a complimentary role in the implementation of the national development programs as well as stretegies. The articles concludes by saying that aid architecture must address political interests of both donors and recipient as well. Aid would only work with good public institutions and if policies are nationally-owned. Other important factors include the need to address weak public finance management systems, respect public systems by donors, and the development of Partnership principles are mutually agreed. Lastly engagement with non-state actors and parliaments must be meaningful if Africa is to make head way in improving aid architecture in the continent."</p> <p>Click <a href="http://www.afrodad.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=250&amp;Itemid=38<br /> ">here</a> to read the full article</p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Accountability Africa Capacity Development Conditionality CSOs Economic Growth Governance Harmonisation & Alignment National Policy Frameworks/PRSs Ownership Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:19:53 +0000 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/340 <p>Source: <a href="http://www.cspr.org.zm/">CSPR</a></p> <p>A lot of issues concerning aid effectiveness were discussed by representatives from civil society, government, and the cooperating partners. This dialogue formed a crucial platform to foster coordinated efforts from the three quarters of development stakeholders to ensure that aid becomes more effective. It is also important to note that the workshop signified the recognised valuable role played by civil society in managing and accounting for the aid. </p> <p>Click on the link below to read the full report</p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Africa CSOs Donor Coordination Mechanisms Harmonisation & Alignment Ownership Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:16:33 +0000 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/335 <p>Source: <a href="http://www.sarpn.org.za/">Southern Africa Regional Poverty Network (SARPN)</a></p> <p>This Bulletin is a product of the joint efforts of SARPN and its cooperating partners, the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Services Centre. This Bulletin builds on the work of the first one and is an attempt to fill the niche in the region in terms of intellectual analyses of the MDG policy discourse. It also responds to the need for a regional quarterly and up to date publication which arouses interest, awareness and keeps the development workers in the SADC region (and beyond) informed about and engaged with developments and progress in the fight against poverty in the context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). </p> <p>The MDGs are widely believed and accepted to offer the most comprehensive framework for the reduction of poverty. The SARPN MDG Bulletin is intended as a platform for debate and information exchange on practices and strategies around the framework. The MDG Bulletin is also intended to provide the space for a range of voices to interrogate underlying and emerging assumptions and trends as well as the policies and activities that relate to the MDGs. While the focus of the Bulletin is the SADC region, inevitably, and as a result of the global nature of the MDGs and, indeed, the global nature of poverty, some of the perspectives included may have relevance beyond the region. </p> <p>The content of the MDG Bulletin will comprise a diverse range of articles and stories drawn from distinguished development workers ranging from consultants, academics, individuals working in different types of civil society and private sector organisations as well as policy makers.</p> <p>Click <a href="http://www.sarpn.org/documents/d0002679/index.php">here</a> to read the full bulletin</p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Africa Vertical Programmes/Global Initiatives Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:38:34 +0100 http://www.futureofaid.net/node/333 <p>Source: <a href="http://www.aercafrica.org/home/index.asp">African Economic Research Consortium</a></p> <p>This edition of Research News was the first for Olu Ajakaiye, the AERC Research Director and the first after the launch of the AERC Strategic Plan for 2005 - 2010, whose theme is continuity and innovation. In Policy Forum, Stephen Gelb addresses the feasibility of attaining the Millennium Development Goals in Africa. After reminding us of the abysmal performance of sub-Saharan Africa between 2000 and 2005, as enunciated in the MDGs progress report, Professor Gelb takes issue with the stance of the Millennium Development Project that the binding constraint to ending poverty in SSA is finance. In his view, at least two problems confront this money is the problem argument: The prevalence of states weakened by 20 years of structural adjustment and economic decline and the preponderance of even weaker or missing institutions. Without effective states and strong institutions, he posits that SSA countries would not be able to use the massive amounts of financial support proposed. Professor Gelb suggests that unless poverty reduction, improved health and education, and gender equity are at the heart of policy goals, any coalition to support policy would exclude the interests of the majority of the population and would stand little chance of succeeding politically. </p> <p>Considerable attention is given to 'Collaborative Research' in this issue because the substantive aspects of all collaborative research projects embarked on during the late 1990s have been concluded. Some of the projects were massive – they produced numerous individual country case studies and involved as many as 150 researchers – and as a part of the dissemination process, it is important to articulate clearly the key findings and policy lessons that can be drawn from them. Accordingly, the project coordinators have provided summaries of the major findings and policy lessons emanating from the following research projects:</p> <p>• African Imperatives in the New World Trade Order </p> <p>• Explaining African Economic Growth Performance </p> <p>• Poverty, Income Distribution and Labour Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa (phase I) </p> <p>• Managing the Transition from Aid Dependence in Africa </p> <p>• Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment in Africa</p> <p>The collaborative research project on 'Managing the Transition from Aid Dependence in Africa', coordinated by Samuel M. Wangwe and Carol Lancaster, stemmed from concern about ever higher levels of aid dependence in Africa, coupled with equal concern about the efficacy of aid. The output of this project has already been published by AERC in the form of the report of the dissemination conference organized in collaboration with the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF), the World Bank, and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). The ODC also published a Policy Essay on Managing a Smooth Transition from Aid Dependence in Africa.</p> <p>Click <a href="http://www.aercafrica.org/documents/researchnews/index.asp">here</a> to read the full bulletin</p> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1467975-1"; urchinTracker(); </script><br /> Africa Economic Growth Institutions Macro impacts/Dutch Disease Vertical Programmes/Global Initiatives Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:24:36 +0100