Africa: Discontent Grows Among Donor States Over Aid to Continent

A fundamental rethink of Western aid to sub-Saharan Africa is underway following increasing discontent among donor nations over the way the World Bank and IMF run their operations on the continent. Following last week's World Bank meetings in Washington, where Britain's Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn won a symbolic victory over World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz's policy with regard to linking aid to corruption in Africa, the United Nation Conference on Trade and Development has also weighed in with some forthright criticisms.