Comments on: The Three Worlds of an Aid Worker in Lagos http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/ just asking that aid benefit the poor Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:48:08 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jeff Barnes http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/comment-page-1/#comment-5135 Jeff Barnes Tue, 26 May 2009 15:40:02 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/#comment-5135 To Adam Jackson-- Actually I have spent 15 years working in developing countries and 10 working in Washington in support of developing countries. While working in the countries (Mali, South Africa, Niger, Ivory Coast) I had much greater confidence that I was making a difference and could see positive results. However, I often felt that those results depended rather artificially on me as an individual and the degree of control I exercised over my work. Since I have been in Washington, I feel my supporting role is more appropriate, but I have a lot less confidence that I am making a difference. I think what I have struggled with as an individual is something the aid industry as a whole has not gotten right-- striking the right balance between supporting and driving. I hope the article will provoke others to think about this dilemma. To Adam Jackson– Actually I have spent 15 years working in developing countries and 10 working in Washington in support of developing countries. While working in the countries (Mali, South Africa, Niger, Ivory Coast) I had much greater confidence that I was making a difference and could see positive results. However, I often felt that those results depended rather artificially on me as an individual and the degree of control I exercised over my work. Since I have been in Washington, I feel my supporting role is more appropriate, but I have a lot less confidence that I am making a difference. I think what I have struggled with as an individual is something the aid industry as a whole has not gotten right– striking the right balance between supporting and driving. I hope the article will provoke others to think about this dilemma.

]]> By: LetUsHavePeace http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/comment-page-1/#comment-5134 LetUsHavePeace Sat, 23 May 2009 07:41:31 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/#comment-5134 Government paid-for aid is like war. It costs money, but it cannot be justified by any financial calculus; and it is always a loser for the people who actually pay for it. It may, in some ultimate sense, be justified by the good it does; but that good is a byproduct. What keeps the game going is that aid is a clear winner for (1) the people like the Gates who want to be self-righteous about their private wealth while avoiding death taxes and (2) for the hundreds of thousands of people whose academic pedigrees do not qualify them to do anything remotely practical but whose snobberies demand that they be given ample salaries and pride of place as the people who are "helping to save the planet". What these people share with planners of all stripes, public health officials (those who never do anything so mundane as actual nursing or dispensing of medicines and care), and the millions of regulatory bureaucrats who can prescribe rules for actions (driving a truck, digging coal) that they themselves never do is the ability to produce a prose so deadly that even Jesus would find hard to forgive. "We have many programs that are agreed with the local government", indeed. Government paid-for aid is like war. It costs money, but it cannot be justified by any financial calculus; and it is always a loser for the people who actually pay for it. It may, in some ultimate sense, be justified by the good it does; but that good is a byproduct. What keeps the game going is that aid is a clear winner for (1) the people like the Gates who want to be self-righteous about their private wealth while avoiding death taxes and (2) for the hundreds of thousands of people whose academic pedigrees do not qualify them to do anything remotely practical but whose snobberies demand that they be given ample salaries and pride of place as the people who are “helping to save the planet”. What these people share with planners of all stripes, public health officials (those who never do anything so mundane as actual nursing or dispensing of medicines and care), and the millions of regulatory bureaucrats who can prescribe rules for actions (driving a truck, digging coal) that they themselves never do is the ability to produce a prose so deadly that even Jesus would find hard to forgive. “We have many programs that are agreed with the local government”, indeed.

]]> By: Adam Jackson http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/comment-page-1/#comment-5133 Adam Jackson Fri, 22 May 2009 20:37:50 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/#comment-5133 "The big constraint is that so much aid is given in the context of bilateral diplomacy and no government will invite foreign aid which makes its own life more difficult by increasing the demands placed on it by its own citizenry." I work for a bilateral organisation, and this simply is not true. We have many programs that are agreed with the local govenrment, as all programs must be, and that seek to boost civil society structures of acountability. I'm not really sure what the purpose of the article is. Are you based in a developing country? Or have you been for considerable periods in the past? That's the only way, in my view, one can even begin to understand the complexity of development and aid. “The big constraint is that so much aid is given in the context of bilateral diplomacy and no government will invite foreign aid which makes its own life more difficult by increasing the demands placed on it by its own citizenry.”

I work for a bilateral organisation, and this simply is not true. We have many programs that are agreed with the local govenrment, as all programs must be, and that seek to boost civil society structures of acountability.

I’m not really sure what the purpose of the article is. Are you based in a developing country? Or have you been for considerable periods in the past? That’s the only way, in my view, one can even begin to understand the complexity of development and aid.

]]> By: Jeff Barnes http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/comment-page-1/#comment-5132 Jeff Barnes Fri, 22 May 2009 07:51:29 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/#comment-5132 A few quick responses: Matt: I completely agree about Aid workers spending too much time in World 1. But it is not the perks and the hotels that is the problem, it is the fact that the major development institutions are based in Washington, New York and Geneva instead of in developing countries. Snazzy: Private sector is the high end of world 1 in my narrative, but I do think its hold more potential. My work focuses on private sector solutions, but i can tell you that there is often a culture clash between the development way vs. the private sector way of doing things. Adam: I think you are right that Aid should do more to make World three more accountable. The opposite seems to be too often the case, with some happy exceptions. The big constraint is that so much aid is given in the context of bilateral diplomacy and no government will invite foreign aid which makes its own life more difficult by increasing the demands placed on it by its own citizenry. No donor government will support activities which create diplomatic problems. thanks for you feedback A few quick responses:

Matt: I completely agree about Aid workers spending too much time in World 1. But it is not the perks and the hotels that is the problem, it is the fact that the major development institutions are based in Washington, New York and Geneva instead of in developing countries.

Snazzy: Private sector is the high end of world 1 in my narrative, but I do think its hold more potential. My work focuses on private sector solutions, but i can tell you that there is often a culture clash between the development way vs. the private sector way of doing things.

Adam: I think you are right that Aid should do more to make World three more accountable. The opposite seems to be too often the case, with some happy exceptions. The big constraint is that so much aid is given in the context of bilateral diplomacy and no government will invite foreign aid which makes its own life more difficult by increasing the demands placed on it by its own citizenry. No donor government will support activities which create diplomatic problems.

thanks for you feedback

]]> By: Adam Foya http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/comment-page-1/#comment-5131 Adam Foya Fri, 22 May 2009 02:01:19 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/#comment-5131 I think the problem isnt to foreign aid workers only. What Barners explains, I as development workers ask myself, isnt the life am living and most of elite people in many African cities? That we so comfortable in our World One(which in this case our good homes) we drive in the roads with pots meeting amputee, going to attend meetings and workshops in World three goverment buildings while doing so because at the end of the meetings there will be an envelope with money? Am not saying all doing so, but unless local development workers change our attitude toward World Two, it will take to long to develop our countries. Its high time for delopment workers to work with World two to make World three uncomfortable and accountable. Adam Foya I think the problem isnt to foreign aid workers only. What Barners explains, I as development workers ask myself, isnt the life am living and most of elite people in many African cities? That we so comfortable in our World One(which in this case our good homes) we drive in the roads with pots meeting amputee, going to attend meetings and workshops in World three goverment buildings while doing so because at the end of the meetings there will be an envelope with money? Am not saying all doing so, but unless local development workers change our attitude toward World Two, it will take to long to develop our countries.

Its high time for delopment workers to work with World two to make World three uncomfortable and accountable.

Adam Foya

]]> By: Snazzy http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/comment-page-1/#comment-5130 Snazzy Fri, 22 May 2009 01:57:39 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/#comment-5130 The author thinks of a Nigeria solution in terms of aid workers coming together with the government to solve the problems of the teeming masses. There is no "world 4" showing experiences working with the fledgling private sector. They seem to have no place in his narrative. My issue is that the solutions that have had the greatest impact on Nigeria in recent times are private sector driven solutions, but aid workers seem to be resistant to embrace that view. Let me address his questions. 1) the worlds clearly are not as disconnected as he thinks. After all he is going to conferences with the senior government bureaucrats, though I suppose his lifts work. 2) External calls for accountability work when there is pressure to apply. Nigeria's governemnt is funded in a way as to avoid such pressures 3)They generally have no impact either way The author thinks of a Nigeria solution in terms of aid workers coming together with the government to solve the problems of the teeming masses. There is no “world 4″ showing experiences working with the fledgling private sector. They seem to have no place in his narrative.

My issue is that the solutions that have had the greatest impact on Nigeria in recent times are private sector driven solutions, but aid workers seem to be resistant to embrace that view.

Let me address his questions.

1) the worlds clearly are not as disconnected as he thinks. After all he is going to conferences with the senior government bureaucrats, though I suppose his lifts work.

2) External calls for accountability work when there is pressure to apply. Nigeria’s governemnt is funded in a way as to avoid such pressures

3)They generally have no impact either way

]]> By: Matt http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/comment-page-1/#comment-5129 Matt Thu, 21 May 2009 22:58:10 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/2009/05/the-three-worlds-of-an-aid-worker-in-lagos/#comment-5129 Perhaps the main problem is that aid workers spend too much time in World 1? I can't imagine how anyone believes they'll accomplish something on a "mission" (a short trip to the recipient country), rather than living and working there. They never know the context or the details well enough, and are always ready to push solutions discovered in other countries. Why not have more aid workers firmly rooted in World 3, (where and when they are wanted)? When governments have competent technical assistance, especially the kind that answers to them (and not a country office) they are more likely to use that t.a. for positive change. Ranting aside, to answer Barnes's final questions: 1. They are disconnected because aid agencies support a culture of perks and comfortable living, and still shell out money for ineffective consultancies and missions rather than more long-term experts. 2. No 3. Yes Perhaps the main problem is that aid workers spend too much time in World 1? I can’t imagine how anyone believes they’ll accomplish something on a “mission” (a short trip to the recipient country), rather than living and working there. They never know the context or the details well enough, and are always ready to push solutions discovered in other countries.

Why not have more aid workers firmly rooted in World 3, (where and when they are wanted)? When governments have competent technical assistance, especially the kind that answers to them (and not a country office) they are more likely to use that t.a. for positive change.

Ranting aside, to answer Barnes’s final questions:

1. They are disconnected because aid agencies support a culture of perks and comfortable living, and still shell out money for ineffective consultancies and missions rather than more long-term experts. 2. No 3. Yes

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