Aid
on Shona in Sierra Leone (Sierra Leone), 25/Jun/2011 09:03, 34 days ago
Concern, Goal, CRS, IRC, ICRC, VSO, ODI, AGI, HPA, IFAD, Marie Stopes, Oxfam, Mercy Ships, Emergency, USAID, DfID, GIZ, UNDP, Unicef, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNEP, WHO… These are just some of the many UN agencies, NGOs and GOs (non- and governmental organisations) who have a presence in Sierra Leone. I know what most of them stand for, or at least what their logos are (emblazoned across their White Land Cruisers and Land Rovers they are ever identifiable). Butwhat do they all actually do?Aid in Sierra Leone is all about“capacity building” in a “post-conflict environment”. We’re past the “humanitarian disaster”. Now we focus on “empowerment”, “sustainability”, and “governance.” It’s all woolly enough that it’s difficult to actually measure the “outputs”, “goals” and “indicators” (whatever all that means).I know a lot of people who are professional development workers. They work their way up the ladder of“volunteer”, “project development assistant”, “project manager” and “country director” attending various “workshops” along the way. All the local staff receive a daily allowance plus food and drink, to attend the workshops. I’ve been at various workshops myself. I’ve even helped to organise one.There is a massive dependence culture in Sierra Leone. I’ve said before that there are half the number of local doctors working in the hospital compared to when I started here – is that because the Ministry of Health reduced numbers of local doctors as NGOs increase theirs? I see it on an individual level as well as societal. The nurses are constantly telling me how hard working I am. I think “yes I’m trying to show you a good work ethic, trying to help you do your job better, and not just do your work for you….”It is often asked,“What would happen if all the NGO’s left and aid money stopped?” I expect it would be absolute chaos for a while. Thousands of children would likely die needlessly. Would it be better for Sierra Leone in the long run? I don’t know the answer.Sometimes“implementation” of aid is questionable. There are some groups who come here for one to two weeks to “do good and save lives” as Sandra put it. There are many terrible incidences when aid has gone badly wrong; food aid being used as a political weapon, or to sustain soldiers and militia during times of war.Who’s paying for aid? We all know that the British government are stumping up $1.3 billion for the vaccines initiative. I know many people in the UK are wondering why so much money is being spent on the developing world when there are cuts in our own NHS. Perhaps though it’s better investing in development aid than have military intervention when things go wrong? Development aid is almost certainly cheaper. I think its good value for your money. I am costing the UK taxpayer far less by being here than I will be costing them as a paediatric registrar in Oxford. Babies in the neonatal unit in the UK cost thousands of pounds a day. Vaccines cost pennies. And will save many more lives in the long run.I believe in aid. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. Nor would I be quoted as saying so in various British newspapers…. But it’s healthy to have a bit of scepticism and to continue to question what we are all doing here and what we are achieving. I also believe aid is not the answer to Africa’s problems; of course Africa needs to help itself.So why do I still believe in aid? It’s a Christian value. Moral responsibility. It’s “The Right Thing to Do”. Guilt. The wish to help others more disadvantaged than myself. Everyone is human and I believe we have a responsibility to share our wealth in order to make the world a better place. There are many charities and NGO’s which I think do an amazing job, particularly the ones who work in partnership with the government (e.g. VSO and Welbodi). So I will continue to take my bricks to go building some capacity and hold my stake to advocate for others. At least until I have to cost you more, saving babies back home inOxford!