African Arguments

Top Menu

  • About Us
    • Our philosophy
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter
  • RSS feed
  • Donate
  • Fellowship

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Country
    • Central
      • Cameroon
      • Central African Republic
      • Chad
      • Congo-Brazzaville
      • Congo-Kinshasa
      • Equatorial Guinea
      • Gabon
    • East
      • Burundi
      • Comoros
      • Dijbouti
      • Eritrea
      • Ethiopia
      • Kenya
      • Rwanda
      • Seychelles
      • Somalia
      • Somaliland
      • South Sudan
      • Sudan
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
      • Red Sea
    • North
      • Algeria
      • Egypt
      • Libya
      • Morocco
      • Tunisia
      • Western Sahara
    • Southern
      • Angola
      • Botswana
      • eSwatini
      • Lesotho
      • Madagascar
      • Malawi
      • Mauritius
      • Mozambique
      • Namibia
      • South Africa
      • Zambia
      • Zimbabwe
    • West
      • Benin
      • Burkina Faso
      • Cape Verde
      • Côte d’Ivoire
      • The Gambia
      • Ghana
      • Guinea
      • Guinea Bissau
      • Liberia
      • Mali
      • Mauritania
      • Niger
      • Nigeria
      • São Tomé and Príncipe
      • Senegal
      • Sierra Leone
      • Togo
  • Climate
  • Politics
    • Elections Map
  • Economy
  • Society
  • Culture
  • Specials
    • From the fellows
    • Radical Activism in Africa
    • On Food Security & COVID19
    • Think African [Podcast]
    • #EndSARS
    • Into Africa [Podcast]
    • Covid-19
    • Travelling While African
    • From the wit-hole countries…
    • Living in Translation
    • Africa Science Focus [Podcast]
    • Red Sea
    • Beautiful Game
  • Debating Ideas
  • About Us
    • Our philosophy
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter
  • RSS feed
  • Donate
  • Fellowship

logo

African Arguments

  • Home
  • Country
    • Central
      • Cameroon
      • Central African Republic
      • Chad
      • Congo-Brazzaville
      • Congo-Kinshasa
      • Equatorial Guinea
      • Gabon
    • East
      • Burundi
      • Comoros
      • Dijbouti
      • Eritrea
      • Ethiopia
      • Kenya
      • Rwanda
      • Seychelles
      • Somalia
      • Somaliland
      • South Sudan
      • Sudan
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
      • Red Sea
    • North
      • Algeria
      • Egypt
      • Libya
      • Morocco
      • Tunisia
      • Western Sahara
    • Southern
      • Angola
      • Botswana
      • eSwatini
      • Lesotho
      • Madagascar
      • Malawi
      • Mauritius
      • Mozambique
      • Namibia
      • South Africa
      • Zambia
      • Zimbabwe
    • West
      • Benin
      • Burkina Faso
      • Cape Verde
      • Côte d’Ivoire
      • The Gambia
      • Ghana
      • Guinea
      • Guinea Bissau
      • Liberia
      • Mali
      • Mauritania
      • Niger
      • Nigeria
      • São Tomé and Príncipe
      • Senegal
      • Sierra Leone
      • Togo
  • Climate
  • Politics
    • Elections Map
  • Economy
  • Society
  • Culture
  • Specials
    • From the fellows
    • Radical Activism in Africa
    • On Food Security & COVID19
    • Think African [Podcast]
    • #EndSARS
    • Into Africa [Podcast]
    • Covid-19
    • Travelling While African
    • From the wit-hole countries…
    • Living in Translation
    • Africa Science Focus [Podcast]
    • Red Sea
    • Beautiful Game
  • Debating Ideas
Covid-19PoliticsUganda
Home›Covid-19›Aid has failed. COVID-19 both exposes this and offers the chance for a reset.

Aid has failed. COVID-19 both exposes this and offers the chance for a reset.

By Bobi Wine & Greg Mills
April 16, 2020
3818
16
coronavirus aid

Coronavirus has laid bare the failures of aid. Instead of it being wasted or used to prop up big men, it must now serve the people’s interests.

coronavirus aid

Representatives from the World Bank, Tanzanian government and UK Department for International Development sign an MoU. Credit: Robert Beechey / World Bank.

Read all our COVID-19 coverage 

COVID-19 has changed the world.

Among other things in Africa, it could lead to significant setbacks in the fight against poverty as developed countries turn inwards. The nature of aid as we know it may change. This is a concern, but more so an opportunity. This reset does not have to be a bad thing if African countries learn to own their problems and be their solutions.

The harsh treatment of African nationals in China, where the pandemic began, illustrates the extent to which the continent’s wellbeing lies in its own hands. Africa should not be dependent on the generosity of others, making it vulnerable to changes of circumstance or whim.

The limits of aid

As African leaders scour world capitals looking for funding to arrest the effects of the coronavirus, we should be reminded of the limits of aid.

Africa receives more than $60 billion every year in aid. Much of this is not spent on Africans themselves, of course, but on services from donors, such as Western management consultants. Around one-fifth of total bilateral aid in 2012, for example, went back to donor countries or took the form of debt relief.

Much aid, too, is wasted by going to regimes that lack the governance or policies to further development. Rather than using it for the benefit of their populations, this much-needed funding is used instead to shore up political power.

Aid today is also increasingly being spent on “soft power” initiatives. These focus on culture and values rather than military strength or financial transfers, and allow donors to co-opt rather than coerce their partners. The UK uses the British Council to promote its values; Germany, the Goethe Institute; France, the Alliance Francaise; China, Confucius Institutes; and Russia, the Russkiy Mir Foundation.

Soft power is also why Africa has been the site of so many leadership visits and summits in recent years. China regularly stages its Forum for China-Africa Co-operation; Russia launched its version in Sochi last year; while the UK, France and US have their own similar summits.

There are now various indices assessing the relative soft-power rankings of states. These are fraught with contradiction, however, since those professing to spread their values regularly fund oppressors, variously claiming (as China does) non-interference in sovereign matters or (as the US does with its support for Uganda’s military) overarching strategic interests.

Aid has failed Africa

Coronavirus has laid bare the cost of this aid strategy for Africa. Large-scale funding has historically worked in promoting development, but only when employed in an environment defined by good governance and local ownership. And yet governance is not a donor priority.

Only 6.5% of Western aid to Africa is spent on the promotion of democracy, even though studies show clearly that the more democratic a country is, the better it can further development.

Instead, donor funding helps to keep many African leaders in power with little, if any, accountability. Incompetent and self-interested leaders are essentially let off the hook as outside powers scramble for influence with Africa’s big men.

In much of Asia, countries took ownership of their own development, setting priorities and leading donors. In Africa, we are led by our donors. As a result, many externally-funded roads, railways and ports – especially in the case of China – are motivated by vanity or opportunities for individual profit rather than their benefits for citizens.

The failure of aid can be seen most starkly in terms of Africa’s infrastructural deficit, now badly exposed by coronavirus. Africa has the lowest number of doctors per capita in the world, with the likes of Uganda limited to just 1 doctor per 10,000 people. Sudan, with a population of 42 million, reportedly has just 80 ventilators. Nigeria’s 200 million have fewer than 500. The CAR has three and Liberia has none. Kenya, a relative superpower in Africa, has just 500 high-care beds in a country of 52 million, while Uganda has just 55 of which 80% are in the capital Kampala.

As a direct consequence of weak governance and bad spending habits, we are dependent on the charity of the likes of Jack Ma to obtain testing kits and protective equipment.

Our failure of governance makes the coronavirus even more threatening in other ways too. More than 70% of households in Kampala sleep in a single room. Just over half of Africa’s urban population of 500 million has access to piped water. 85% of the continent’s urban dwellers do not receive a regular wage. The vast majority of informal workers in Uganda, who are now struggling to earn, were below the poverty line to begin with.

The time for a reset

No African country has deep enough pockets to dig itself out of the economic crisis that COVID-19 has created. Yet the greatest threat to Africa is not posed by the pandemic itself. It’s posed by careless African leaders, abdicating the responsibility for development and care for their citizens.

Many African governments’ responses thus far has been to put together teams of wise and respected figures to tout foreign capitals looking for more aid. But even if they achieve their goals, this will only be a case of throwing good money after bad without good governance and responsible leadership.

If they are serious about developing Africa, donors should help deliver what Africans want. Where two-thirds of the population are under 35, and more than two-thirds prefer democracy to any other form of government, meaningful soft power means support for democracy and educational opportunities abroad. A container full of Beatles albums and a sporting ambassador in cargo pants is not going to cut it.

Africa has to grow up if it is to be the solution and not the victim. We should be looking at COVID-19 as an opportunity to reset our politics, policies and economies. If donors want to be partners to African countries in the long-term, they should reset theirs too.

Previous Article

Sweeping powers and a transition on ice: ...

Next Article

Podcast: Never, ever, explain satire (plus plenty ...

mm

Bobi Wine & Greg Mills

Bobi Wine is a Ugandan MP. Greg Mills heads the Brenthurst Foundation. They recently collaborated on the song about COVID-19 in Africa "Alone Altogether".

16 comments

  1. Luyinda hassan 17 April, 2020 at 13:29

    Really We want Democracy in Uganda.

  2. Julius Batemba 17 April, 2020 at 14:10

    Good piece. Nonetheless. The resetting ought to begin with each one of us. We need to invest in ventures that will eradicate generational poverty at household level which will consequently eliminate societal and national dependency on ‘Aid’ and the ‘donors’ perpetuated by the big men. Education and economic independence are powerful tools. The rest will automatically follow through. What are u doing at individual household level?

  3. Nkuubi Charles 17 April, 2020 at 14:23

    Good presentation, thanks.

  4. mperese. ritah 17 April, 2020 at 15:53

    Well said and indeed Africans need to wake up.
    What hurts me in all this is the over dependency that our African presidents have created. Look at China, it’s taking over Africa. It has mistreated Africans and non of the African presidents stood up to say a word. It’s because they fear to lose the relationship between each other. Then you can imagine. Your making your own citizens feel like slaves in this 21st century. If we don’t open our eyes under this crisis, am afraid, then never.

  5. Kalema Buhari 17 April, 2020 at 15:57

    The fact is that we may not be needing Democracy in Uganda because the word lost meaning as Dictators are using t to paaa their dictatorship affairs
    We need availability of services and good that are supposed to be provided by the government
    The help such as assistance to the Youth with out tribalism or nepotism
    We need medical care and medicine in hospitals
    We need better roads
    We need the rate of corruption to reduce effectively
    I have alot of suggestion and solution and good ways on hlw they can be applied

  6. KALEX 17 April, 2020 at 17:01

    I agree with this cause African has a lot of potential that many Africans don’t get and needs the Right Patriots to put together all the scattered pieces.Thank you for the Coronavirus
    Alert Song love it

  7. Bisaso Ibrahim 17 April, 2020 at 17:06

    Indeed it is a good information to all African nationals if we are to change Africa from a begging continent.

    Most of the leaders we have the look at their families yet their focus should be to the country, and this has affected us so much as African countries.

    To me what we should do is to start believing in ourselves to the extent of funding our fellow nationals other than thinking that whites they will do good for us than ourselves.
    The education system must be revised from the of job seekers to job makers
    Leaders should serve to the interest of their nationals not them selves.
    All leaders should be countable to their mistakes to avoid nationals to be over taxed to loans embezzled by greedy leaders.
    Thanks for the peace

  8. Sirash muge 17 April, 2020 at 17:07

    Thank you Mr President kyagulanyi sentamu Robert for that long sighted piece of agument African leaders need awake in this COVID-19 juncture

  9. Kironde Abdallah 17 April, 2020 at 18:17

    Yes 100 % no aid should be given to African leaders . It has not been used in a right way but rather to oppress the poor people of Africa.
    Maybe if the whites really want to help it should materialistic aid but physical money .

  10. Jamil 17 April, 2020 at 23:16

    Thank you very much for the article, Africa leaders decided to behave like ‘chiefs in the slavery erra’ they either needs to wake up or never.
    ✊

  11. Kayondo Henry muduuuma 18 April, 2020 at 05:34

    Thanks bobi

  12. Roxanne silencer 18 April, 2020 at 07:21

    Honestly good presentation and very nice ideas Mr Bobi wine

  13. Joe 18 April, 2020 at 09:17

    I salute you bobi wine great piece

  14. Emmanuel 18 April, 2020 at 10:38

    To way to democracy is never through democracy, however it can slowly be achieved. Take a example during the time of Slavery and Partition of African, Those white Men were dictators and imposed on Africans whatever they wanted to sustain to governance for centuries; for the Africans, they tried Democratic means through their representatives the like of Kwawe, Nyerere, Mugabe but all their efforts were unsuccessful till when they used dictatorship alternatives of using Rebellions. This is uncalled for but it’s necessary; because dictatorship regimes have promoted neo_colony interest to stay of power by imposing harsh treatment unto to their people. Through putting individuals of similar interests in the Courts of Law, Police, Army, Health Cares and e.t.c.

    Africa Must Unite.

  15. humphrey 21 April, 2020 at 19:45

    Lets top massaging African unity development. Necessity is the father of discovery. Just make one united Africa and say close imports. We deal with what we have through improvement etc. Lets see how many here feel this can work to reality for African economy.

  16. hydroxychloroquine safe 18 August, 2021 at 18:27

    chloroquine tablet https://chloroquineorigin.com/# hydroxychloroquine 200mg tablets

Leave a reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Politics

    What if Ocampo Indicts Bashir? The Worst-Case Scenario

  • South Sudan 32 states
    PoliticsSouth Sudan

    10, 21, 28, 32, ?: Why South Sudan’s peace might rest on a number

  • Politics

    The Islamism Debate — Abdullahi Gallab Responds

Subscribe to our newsletter

Click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and never miss a thing!

  • 81.7K+
    Followers

Find us on Facebook

Interactive Elections Map

Keep up to date with all the African elections.

Recent Posts

  • Back to the future in the Great Lakes: Who’s backing the M23?
  • Why we’re taking the UK’s asylum seekers: Rwanda’s explanation
  • President Tinubu: An Ambivalent Record?
  • Nigeria’s curious voter turnout problem
  • Cyclone Freddy dumped six months’ rain in six days in Malawi

Editor’s Picks

Editor's PicksEthiopiaPoliticsSociety

Tigray: Our suffering may not be convenient, but it is real

The state’s one-sided narrative has not just shattered Ethiopians’ shared understanding of reality but eroded the social fabric that held us together. I grew up in the 1980s in Asmara, ...
  • Best African books of 2022.

    The best African books of 2022

    By Samira Sawlani
    December 14, 2022
  • Chad: The bed Déby made

    By Helga Dickow
    April 22, 2021
  • kitenge in Kenya

    Can a Chinese import ever be authentically African?

    By April Zhu
    August 21, 2019
  • Some amazing African documentaries, picked with help from Film Africa.

    Amazing African documentaries you’re gonna wanna see

    By Sally Zohney, James Wan, Adam Matan, Oumar Ba & Ketty Nivyabandi
    October 23, 2018

Brought to you by


Creative Commons

Creative Commons Licence
Articles on African Arguments are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
  • Cookies
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
© Copyright African Arguments 2020
By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies.