Delicious Governance: Not always an Oxymoron?

In response to demands from African leaders, notably former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Thabo Mbeki, and current Presidents Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal and Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria and widening concerns about slow growth and persistent poverty in Africa former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and then Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown launched an effort to ramp up development aid to Africa. The mechanism created for this initiative was the Commission for Africa whose recommendations were presented to, and approved by, the G-8 Meeting of major industrialized nations in Gleneagles, Scotland in July 2005. A number of Africa experts, including myself, were not convinced that rapidly increasing aid to Africa, without corresponding changes in governance and institutional structures, would achieve the desired development objectives. The book, Smart Aid for African Development is the result of our collaborative reflections. Its publication could not be more timely, given that the resources needed to meet the Gleneagles commitment of doubling aid to Africa by $US25 billion a year between 2005 and 2010, and a further $25 billion between 2010 and 2015, were not forthcoming even before the current global financial crisis. And it should be borne in mind that annual aid to Africa had already doubled from $12.7 billion to $23.7 billion in 2003. So what was agreed at Gleneagles was essentially to complete the quadrupling of aid to Africa during the first decade of the 21st century, and to add a further 50% increase by 2015. Anyone wishing to understand the complexity of the aid business in Africa, and why it so often compounds rather than alleviates the well-known problems of the continent.
One of the promises made by Senator Obama during his campaign is that, under his presidency, the U.S would increase its contributions to foreign aid. When his running-mate, Senator Biden, was subsequently asked during the debate between vice-presidential candidates on October 2nd which items an Obama/Biden Administration would cut from its plans in view of the global financial crisis, he mentioned the promise to increase foreign aid. Under President George W. Bush, the United States has significantly increased its foreign aid contributions. Nigeria has benefited from the important program, the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, which is directed in Nigeria by my colleague Professor Robert Murphy of Northwesterns Feinberg School of Medicine.

Another remarkable chapter in Smart Aid was written by Professor Carol Lancaster of Georgetown University, in which she shows how complicated the aid structures and processes have become in the United States.

For many Americans, even students of international relations, it will be an eye-opener what an unwieldy system has been created. Smart Aid provides an Obama/Biden Administration, and other major aid donors, the framework to pursue smarter, not just bigger aid, the title of a chapter in our book by the UK-based scholar, Paolo de Renzio. I also hope that we can begin shifting the center of development debates, where appropriate, from aid to Africa to support for Africa. The questions to be encouraged include: Which Africa must be supported? Which activities, processes, policies, and institutions should be encouraged?

By promoting smarter growth through the creation and consolidation of enterprise societies, the emphasis would shift from current practices that have deepened aid dependency. A High Level Forum organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Accra, Ghana, September 2-4, 2008 took up the issue of aid effectiveness. Following that conference, media commentaries focused mainly on one aspect of the problem: the need to simplify the mechanisms of transferring aid to Africa. As Joel Barkan demonstrates in his Smart Aid chapter on budget support, simply transferring funds to the central budget of African governments, which accounts in some cases for 40% of their operating budgets, can accentuate many of the governance problems the aid donors have repeatedly made commitments to eliminate. Nigeria can lead the shift in emphasis in international financial transactions with Africa from that of providing more and more aid to accelerating and strengthening investments, trade, and capacity building. In brief, we need to hear more about support for Africa. And when we must speak of aid, outside of humanitarian and military/security arrangements, let us emphasize smart aid and what can be one of its primary objectives: economic growth that is environmentally sustainable, increases productivity and employment, and seeks to lift all boats from distress and dependency.

Actually, governance is an issue in all Governments to a certain degree because of corruption and conflict of interest. Since allocation of funds, creation and passing of bills and movements in the course of any given country are strongly dictated by fund allocation, there always exists the possibility for corruption and improper handling of information, power and funds.

Good article - any article that attempts to address the multiple issues with world governance and particulalry corruption is high up my list of good guys. well done

Anyone wishing to understand the complexity of the aid business in Africa, and why it so often compounds rather than alleviates the well-known problems of the continent. A High Level Forum organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Accra, Ghana, September 2-4, 2008 took up the issue of aid effectiveness.
it will be an eye-opener what an unwieldy system has been created. Smart Aid provides an Obama/Biden Administration, and other major aid donors, the framework to pursue smarter, not just bigger aid, the title of a chapter in our book by the UK-based scholar, Paolo de Renzio.

these things are so hard to police, I guess its just down to the community - due to the size the site operator would not be able to moderate it all

I am not a big fan of Delicious, but I must say that you make a good point with governance there. The worlds developpement needs good and strong fondations.

why only on delicious, what about the other major social bookmark services?

Governance is more a problem in the developing world than in the developed world because the developing world is still trying and testing its strategies on combating poverty, corruption, not so efficient ministers and politicians who think they are more important than the general public. Whereas in the developed world government try to be more transparent, media is powerful and independent of the government. Developed world have tried , tested their strategies, policies for years but they are not perfect either but can be made better. I would define good governance as a government that listens to its people and solves their problems and all life to be equally important irrespective of caste, colour, religion, race, gender, age, sex.

The opposite of Good Governance is Bad Governance. This is what a majority of countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America are grappling with. The Only way which good governace can be recorded in many developing countries will be by making sure that a durable democratic system is encouraged and also by strengthening the anti-corruption agencies in the countries concerned. Politicians mainly contribute adversely to Bad Governance through rigging of elections and stealing directly from the public till.

Will make sure to look out for the governance bookmarks that are created...

Governance truly does matter. It's something that is as important as when counselors govern the GED test to make sure each individual has an equal and fair chance of success.

Actually, governance is an issue in all Governments to a certain degree because of corruption and conflict of interest. Since allocation of funds, creation and passing of bills and movements in the course of any given country are strongly dictated by fund allocation, there always exists the possibility for corruption and improper handling of information, power and funds.

As Joel Barkan demonstrates in his Smart Aid chapter on budget support, simply transferring funds to the central budget of African governments, which accounts in some cases for 40% of their operating budgets, can accentuate many of the governance problems the aid donors have repeatedly made commitments to eliminate. Nigeria can lead the shift in emphasis in international financial transactions with Africa from that of providing more and more aid to accelerating and strengthening investments, trade, and capacity building. In brief, we need to hear more about support for Africa

I have to object a few things. Although the social networks like delicious have been doing well to raise awareness and spread news extremely fast, everytime I see a news spreading like wild fire is something negative. Seems like there is never a good news for the country. Some aspects should be given towards the good news too. After all, the world is not so bad.

I will sign in and check the news. Best wishes from germany

I agree that it is a good idea to have these social avenues for important issues like governance. Look at what is going on in Iran right now, where these social networks are these peoples only way of telling the world what is going on there.

I think it is great... The article was a nice read and governance should definately be in the hands of a democratic society.

This is a good move from your side to start using social bookmarking. I will add you to my delicious account, if i'll have anything governance related i'll add it to your bookmarks collection

A realy do love this site! I was looking for a big while for such publications and at last i found it :) My best regards!

Yes I agree there are many.. Reddit is one..

Great information, but dont stick to just delicious. There are tons of social bookmarking sites that will do great things for your site. Delicious is great, but dont use it as only source.
Thanks.

I was especially interested in your section on governmental corruption. Having lived in several African countries I have seen the devastating effects of corruption in government and I think that the more exposure this scourge gets the better. Some in depth case studies may be a good idea perhaps.

Great stuff there. I could totally relate to it without any issues.

what about the others major social bookmark services?

Though i am not into delicious i like the way things are being discussed in this blog. It is true that most governance are still not perfect and are only filled with corruptions. The worst is the case in developing countries where additional problem still combat the functioning of a proper government.