I was delighted when the early sun smiled at my family on a Monday morning. After the heavy downpour on Friday night in Lagos, the floods swept our house and properties to the streets and in two days, the government of the state came with relief materials like clothing, temporary shelter and some money for us and other stranded citizens. Although I saw the earthquake in Haiti and Japan on television as well as the rescue efforts by the Red Cross, UN and other agencies, this was the first time I experienced how relief materials was given out in a flood disaster area like Lagos. Hence, a true picture of aid and development became real to my family. Nevertheless, according to Oxford Advanced Learner’s dictionary, aid can be defined as the money, food etc, that is sent to help countries in difficult situations. Meanwhile, development in this context is the gradual growth of something so that it becomes more advanced, stronger etc. Therefore, a synergy of both terms earlier discussed can be considered effective if it produces the result that is wanted, intended and becomes successful. As Wikipedia put it, aid effectiveness is the degree to which development works.
On the other hand, there are growing concerns however that the approach to effective aid and development is weak and therefore has not achieved its desired outcome – poverty reduction, access to good health, education, among others. No wonder Peter Bauer remarked that aid is “…an excellent method of transferring money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries”. This statement came on the wake of the proliferation of NGOs in developing countries, overcrowding of similar projects in an area, exorbitant allowances given to aid workers and some other awkward interests between stakeholders. All forms of aid are included in this mess, whether bilateral – aid given by donor country directly to another or multilateral – aid given by donor country to an international organization which then distributes it among developing countries. Examples of these bridging organizations are the World Bank, UN and her agencies, USAID, AusAID, among others.
I was delighted when the early sun smiled at my family on a Monday morning. After the heavy downpour on Friday night in Lagos, the floods swept our house and properties to the streets and in two days, the government of the state came with relief materials like clothing, temporary shelter and some money for us and other stranded citizens. Although I saw the earthquake in Haiti and Japan on television as well as the rescue efforts by the Red Cross, UN and other agencies, this was the first time I experienced how relief materials was given out in a flood disaster area like Lagos. Hence, a true picture of aid and development became real to my family. Nevertheless, according to Oxford Advanced Learner’s dictionary, aid can be defined as the money, food etc, that is sent to help countries in difficult situations. Meanwhile, development in this context is the gradual growth of something so that it becomes more advanced, stronger etc. Therefore, a synergy of both terms earlier discussed can be considered effective if it produces the result that is wanted, intended and becomes successful. As Wikipedia put it, aid effectiveness is the degree to which development works.
On the other hand, there are growing concerns however that the approach to effective aid and development is weak and therefore has not achieved its desired outcome – poverty reduction, access to good health, education, among others. No wonder Peter Bauer remarked that aid is “…an excellent method of transferring money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries”. This statement came on the wake of the proliferation of NGOs in developing countries, overcrowding of similar projects in an area, exorbitant allowances given to aid workers and some other awkward interests between stakeholders. All forms of aid are included in this mess, whether bilateral – aid given by donor country directly to another or multilateral – aid given by donor country to an international organization which then distributes it among developing countries. Examples of these bridging organizations are the World Bank, UN and her agencies, USAID, AusAID, among others.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the author's initial experience related to aid and development?
The author recounts experiencing the impact of aid firsthand after a flood in Lagos. The author's house and belongings were swept away, and they received relief materials from the government, leading to a personal understanding of aid and development efforts.
How are "aid" and "development" defined according to the text?
The text defines "aid" as money, food, or other resources sent to assist countries facing difficulties. "Development," in this context, is defined as the gradual advancement and strengthening of something.
What is the central argument concerning the effectiveness of aid and development?
The central argument is that aid and development approaches are often weak and fail to achieve desired outcomes such as poverty reduction, improved health, and education.
What is Peter Bauer's critical remark about aid?
Peter Bauer's statement highlights a concern that aid can become a method of transferring money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
What types of aid are mentioned in the text?
The text mentions bilateral aid (given directly from one country to another) and multilateral aid (given through international organizations like the World Bank, UN, USAID, and AusAID).
What examples of problems in Nigeria does the author use to illustrate the ineffectiveness of aid?
The author cites examples such as insecurity of lives and property (referencing the UN headquarters bombing), widespread poverty, unemployment, inadequate shelter, epileptic power supply, environmental degradation, poor access to education, weak ICT infrastructure, and widespread corruption in Nigeria.
Why, according to the text, do aid projects often fail to be sustainable?
The text attributes the lack of sustainability to factors like poor monitoring and evaluation, weak strategies, and corruption.
What other factors can hinder aid and development effectiveness?
The text mentions that diplomatic relations and the availability of precious resources in a country can influence whether aid is provided, diverted, or delayed.
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- Kingsley Udoakpan (Author), 2011, Effective Aid and Development, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/203236
