Foreign Aid and Sustainable Development in Africa

I sat around thinking about a topic of sustainability that I was interested in addressing. I was torn between the ideas of Sustainable Mobility and Sustainability of U.S Foreign Aid to Africa. As you can tell by my title I chose to write about Foreign Aid and Sustainable Development in Africa. I knew that this topic would take me longer and also be a little more challenging but I am very interested in the state of Africa, and what predicament the whole continent is in. Before you can begin this sustainability assignment you must know what it means, how it connects to your topic and what outside sources you can bring in to establish support for your topic.

I found that the concept of sustainable development has been distorted into many different directions. It seems as though that was a disaster that was unavoidable.

Though I’m not quite sure though if it was a disaster in itself. The idea of sustainable development encourages the "interconnection" of our economy, natural

resources and social justice. Basically everything. Sustainable development has been woven deep into the minds of human rights groups, large chemical plants, nuclear power plants and many nations. www.foreignaffairs.org (1)is an aggressive cite toward the notion that these groups have "overspecialized" and geared sustainable development toward their own "meaningless checklists and targets." Which could be easily argued. Those "targets" aren't all geared for their own self interests. Today people are more aware of our global economy and global warming then in the past. Social Justice is being tested everyday through wars and blood shed. Sustainable development is not ever going to be perfect, but we as humans can strive to achieve this perfect concept that has turned supposedly into a "harmful" consensus. People can achieve this concept by learning about these issues and participating, through donations or raising awareness.(5)Democracy and Sustainable Development have become dominant themes in discussions of development problems in Africa.”(2) The majority of people around the world are aware of some immediate problems that Africa has. Some examples are, lack of education and resources, AIDs, which is practically consuming the continent, apartheid in South Africa, and orphanages, which are becoming so immensely overcrowded, that it’s become more of a problem then being a helpful

cause. All of these are areas of concern. But most people are aware of the political dangers that Africa carries, for instance the deep political corruption that has proven the domino theory and the constant ethnic violence. Most underlying problems can only be addressed through a political solution, which ironically is where Africa’s problems commence. Unfortunately, these political dangers cause most people to look the other way. Why? They feel that they should worrying about the problems in their own community first and worry about the rest of the world sometime in the future, meaning never. Due to these problems and others, countries around the world have committed themselves to help aid Africa.

In 2004, The Bush Administration’s proposal for the Millennium Challenge Account, which is a program to help support economic growth and poverty reduction in the poorest countries, was passed. “The MCA represents a tremendous opportunity to fight global poverty and make U.S. development assistance more effective.”(3) Their action causes foreign aid to increase by $5 billion per year. By 2006 it doubled and is expected to double again in 2010. The MCA is “directed to enlighten governments to create incentives for policy reforms worldwide and help avoid wasteful spending on corrupt, illiberal regimes.” So far its primary goal is being achieved but at unsustainable costs. Basically it’s hindering long-term economic development by raising economic growth. Though, attempts are being made by the majority of countries. To the public, an increase like that of the MCA makes you wonder whose hands this foreign aid is falling into. You don’t hear much about where all this money is going, but where it’s being sent. “Africa is often highlighted as an area receiving more aid, or in need of more of it, yet, in recent years, it has seen less aid and less investment etc, all the while being subjected to international policies and agreements that have been detrimental to many African people.” (4) Year after year, targets and agendas, made for foreign aid, that were set by most rich nations were never met. The United States target each year is .7% but continuously only meets .2% of this .7% quota. The American people seem to be far more giving than their own government. “The American donors give at least $34 billion -overseas—more than twice the US official foreign aid of $15 billion.”

“Donors are keen on sustainable development as an all-embracing development strategy which takes account of a whole range of issues such as population growth, reduction of income inequities, maintenance of ecological balance, the application of appropriate technology and participation of the poor in decision making processes.” (2) Most Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) are increasingly interested in sustainability. They’re realizing that local development initiatives can only be sustainable when they hold complete support of a developmental system on the national level. That is why they are paying more attention to local and national governments that support and uphold sustainable development policies, and are building out from there. NGO’ s must network their funding in order to solve the issues that they set out to do. Part of their networking consists of: 1. building up relationships with governments, 2. participating in development planning committees at regional, provincial, district and ward levels 3. achieving economic self-reliance and mobilization and 4. building up and expanding constituencies

NGO’s ability to promote sustainable development can be easily brought to a halt by the government and other vested interests. Though most NGOs have ways of getting political space, creating coalitions, and gaining political strength to break down the power of those vested interests that have power over the NGO’s. A downfall to these organizations is that they must create such a building up a large amount of support and an equally an equally large amount of funding while creating a political backing to stay stable. Most organizations find it difficult to achieve the goals they originally set out to do. Many NGO’s have not been able to benefit the poorest of poor, women, and their own organizations because certain international policies and agreements hinder many of the NGO’s targets, which cause the organizations to fall apart and are withholding them from accomplishing a solution to those development issues. To reiterate, those outside fundings determine the flexibility of obtaining a greater outcome on those pressing development issues. On the affirmative side, NGO’s have gained a great amount of international spotlight and are opening up society’s minds and eyes more and more each year. Eventually working at and breaking the hold of those suffocating policies.

Ultimately true sustainability of Africa has to come from its own people. Those people have to take action and create a strong hold so that they are able to push their important issues upon their nation. They must become self reliant in order to obtain full sustainable development. Another issue beholding that solution is sustainable education. Without education, a nation and the people within the nation aren’t able to grow and become strong. Without education, the people aren’t able to voice and involve themselves in democratic decision making. Leaving the politics to those who are not in it for the people. Basically it all begins with education, and once that’s stable, Africa will be able to work to the top and create a complete sustainable environment.

Thats My Narravtive....