Aid vs. Trade
This was one of the more compelling TED talks I personally had ever watched. Okonjo-Iweala’s personal expertise on the issues she discussed was illustrated beautifully when she recounted saving her sister’s life by walking over 20 kilometers to a visiting doctor and breaking into the church through a window when everyone else was trying to use the door. I really liked how she balanced this story with her own arguments and opinions because it kept the talk very engaging throughout. In one of my other PPPM classes this term that focuses on fundraising we have talked multiple times about the power of the personal story over statistics or facts, and this is definitely a good example. That said, the facts from Okonjo-Iweala about the lack of opinion research in Africa resonated with the William Easterly article as well, and I agree with them both that a lack of interaction with the public receiving foreign aid definitely seems like the biggest flaw in the design of the system.
Why Does Foreign Aid Fail?
Like the previous article, William Easterly seems to think the biggest problem with foreign aid might be us. We aren't listening to what those we are helping really need, and we aren't concerned with what happens to the money we spend so long as the check gets deposited - as Easterly rhetorically says in the interview, "Well we spent 2.3 trillion to help the world's poor, so our job is done." The lack of accountability is unfortunate.
Millennium Development Goals
I used the MDG's extensively in PPPM 327 my sophomore year and remember a lot of class discussion focusing on whether or not they were as praiseworthy as they seem. I think ultimately they have created a great deal of positive change for many underserved populations, and that these successes should not be discredited completely as some arguments against the MDG's might claim. However, as I recall from that class, there is little recognition of how the MDG's were established and why those specific measurements were chosen. Coincidently enough, after looking a bit more into William Easterly after reading his article, I discovered he feels the same way:
I have heard of Mercy Corps before but never visited their site or read much into them, so it was a pleasant surprise to see that they had headquarters in Portland and do such great international relief work. The timeline of their projects was my favorite piece of their website because it showed how involved they've been in some of the biggest events in my own lifetime.
I also liked Mercy Corps for their immediate work in the communities they are present in. I think it is easy to get overwhelmed with amount of social problems and the many needs that have yet to be address. It is nice to see that small efforts that affect people right here can make such a difference.
ReplyDeleteI liked the quote you brought in from William Easterly, it was one that stuck with me too. The fact that merely spending the money is considered enough is ridiculous in and of itself, but the amount of money that has been spent and yet so little change is appalling. This is part of why I am beginning to think that effectiveness measure can play a huge role in the future of social service and global nonprofit work.
ReplyDeleteI like your take on the MDG's, thanks for the preview of 3PM 327, I'm taking it next term :). I was a little skeptical of their successes, your post cleared up some of my questions. It was really interesting to me that most of the readings this week pointed out that the recipients of aid having the weakest voice. I think it's hard for the US to understand the perspective of people in other nations when our basic rights are the norms. I've had quite a bit of real world experience and until attending the U of O, this type of info never came into my view, or if it did, I just thought to myself, if they don't like it, why don't they just go find something different, like anyone in the US would do. I think the only way we can effect change is by making these issues more mainstream.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the positive spin on the Millennium Goals. I wonder how much progress has been made since you discussed them your sophomore year. Since this was the first I had heard of them, they seemed rather far fetched. It is true though that the fact that time was taken to put these goals into place, thought toward the future is happening and that is a positive sign.
ReplyDeleteI completely loved Okonjo-Iweala’s talk and personal story. I wish mainstream UO students were more exposed to powerful people like her. Not only is she a brilliant woman but she is a leader in her country. Hearing her speak was very powerful.
I agree that the lack of accountability when it comes to those people and organizations handling foreign aid is unfortunate but it is also unacceptable in my mind. I don't understand where exactly the ball has been dropped? Is it us like Easterly says or is it when we place our aid in the hands of foreign politicians?
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