Africa: The Aid Industry Needs Reform

The New Partnership for Africa's Development is built on one crucial but unexamined assumption: that more aid will lead to more development. So far, nearly $1 trillion has been spent on aid to Africa, but most of the continent is poorer today than at independence. The Cold War played a big part, keeping aid flowing to loyal but corrupt regimes that should have been cut off from external assistance. War is also a culprit. Only 10 countries on the continent have not had a conflict or coup d'etat. Poor governance and venal political struggles - such as those tearing apart Togo and Côte d'Ivoire today - have destroyed economies and negated the positive effects of aid. Click on the URL provided to read the rest of this article from the South African Insitute of International Affairs.