[SDI-Africa] "If Anything Goes Wrong, Africa Is Blamed" - Sachs

[Kate Lance]

in contrast to the message I just sent which highlights a commentary about African government accountability, this news item argues that it is donor accountability that is largely to blame.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38292
"If Anything Goes Wrong, Africa Is Blamed" - Sachs
Development plans like the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are "just words" if financing is not made available to implement the plans, says Jeffrey Sachs, head of the Earth Institute at New York's Columbia University.

Sachs is critical of the lack of donor accountability. The MDGs are very specific and require specific interventions, he said. But these interventions are not being implemented because there is no public accountability. "Jobs do not depend on the achievement of the targets so there is no sense of urgency (on the side of developed countries)," said Sachs. "If anything goes wrong, Africa is blamed. And then the response is to build capacity." 

Sachs is convinced that donors have over-emphasised capacity building as a goal in itself. "It is everybody's favourite. But it is a lazy way of thinking," said Sachs. "Too much money is spent on meetings, conferences and workshops that lead nowhere."  [.... well, on this front, both this news item and the previous message to the SDI-Africa List agree]


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