on the positive side, could the end of USAID help change perspective on Africa? Isn't the helping mantra outdated? Doesn't Africa need self-governance, universities, and development, rather than humanitarian aid? I do not know enough about USAID but I saw many international help initiatives who went astray. Here is one, the Great Green Wall: https://nomadicmind.substack.com/p/the-great-green-smoke?r=31fxoh
Certainly there are silver linings even in the most dramatic of changes, such as the end of USAID. Those who worked within the largest humanitarian aid and USAID offices would be the first to say those institutions were inefficient, donor incentives often don't align with beneficiaries, and a wake-up call was overdue. The challenge is how do we seize the opportunity of this moment.
Yes, it is possible this is the rallying call we needed in order to tackle the misconceptions about Africa. To build self-sufficiency, invest in local talent, promote self-governance, and back the entrepreneurs and leaders who can shape these countries better than anyone. I'm working on multiple fronts to seize this opportunity and would be delighted to collaborate with others on this.
But this change won't happen on its own. With a leaner US government in place, the onus is now more than ever on individuals and institutions who believe in Africa's development to step up and back the entrepreneurs, the universities, and the civil society organizations who can drive these changes. The end of USAID, on its own, doesn't transform the Africa story. It doesn't give this movement the firepower we need to demonstrate a better way.
on the positive side, could the end of USAID help change perspective on Africa? Isn't the helping mantra outdated? Doesn't Africa need self-governance, universities, and development, rather than humanitarian aid? I do not know enough about USAID but I saw many international help initiatives who went astray. Here is one, the Great Green Wall: https://nomadicmind.substack.com/p/the-great-green-smoke?r=31fxoh
Certainly there are silver linings even in the most dramatic of changes, such as the end of USAID. Those who worked within the largest humanitarian aid and USAID offices would be the first to say those institutions were inefficient, donor incentives often don't align with beneficiaries, and a wake-up call was overdue. The challenge is how do we seize the opportunity of this moment.
Yes, it is possible this is the rallying call we needed in order to tackle the misconceptions about Africa. To build self-sufficiency, invest in local talent, promote self-governance, and back the entrepreneurs and leaders who can shape these countries better than anyone. I'm working on multiple fronts to seize this opportunity and would be delighted to collaborate with others on this.
But this change won't happen on its own. With a leaner US government in place, the onus is now more than ever on individuals and institutions who believe in Africa's development to step up and back the entrepreneurs, the universities, and the civil society organizations who can drive these changes. The end of USAID, on its own, doesn't transform the Africa story. It doesn't give this movement the firepower we need to demonstrate a better way.