NGOs have not kept silent in their response to the proposal. In fact, around 2000 European based NGOs protested these cuts in a letter to the powerhouse countries of the EU, declaring there is no good reason to cut these funds as it only costs citizens around 1.87 Euros a month to save millions of lives.
The letter pleas for the EU to fulfill their commitments of aid funds they once promised. Directors of widely known NGOs such as ONE are personally speaking out against the cuts, claiming they would only setback development and cost lives of those underdeveloped.
As we have been learning in class, foreign aid is a highly debated topic: how should it be channeled, and is it truly effective? Without any profound conclusions, I believe that aid works best when aid funds are in the hands of NGOs. Thus, these European NGOs working in areas such as sub-Saharan Africa can focus on smaller specific projects opposed to big ideas. In the article, it's conveyed that European NGOs receive money from the EU. If aid was cut off to these organizations, would projects and further development in sub-Saharan Africa come to a halt, as advocates propose? It is hard to know for certain, as we see aid incredibly difficult to measure its impact and evidence of helping growth. However, since in this instance aid is not directly channeled from government to government, rather through the role of an NGO in Africa and other impoverished areas, I side with the NGOs in opposition to Van Rompuy's aid cuts to the EU development budget with optimistic hopes if aid continues it will be spent with intelligence.
NGOs appeal to EU leaders to scupper Van Rompuy's 'aid cuts'
The Parliament November 21st, 2012.
http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/ngos-appeal-to-eu-leaders-to-scupper-van-rompuys-aid-cuts/#.ULkfoKXA_ao
Given the current economic climate in Europe in climate i'm not surprised. After all we dont have to look far for rhetoric of cutting foreign aid, as was seen during the presidential debate. What does will this mean for African countries? how do you think they will they be able to over come this if it is implemented? I do not necessarily see this as a big threat to be honest, the countries will be able to adjust and if Europe plans to keep its interests in the region it will directly send funding to countries to keep stability.
ReplyDeleteBut even then Othman, if the EU begins to cut NGO funding in favor of directly funding countries in the region, as you suggest, that WILL have an impact. We've seen in class how different money is handled by NGOs and individual governments, respectively.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion on the topic of foreign aid, especially aid that is going to Sub-Saharan Africa is that it is good if it coming from the right people and the money is being spent on the things that the countries actually need for development. I believe this aid cutback from the EU will have major consequences for the countries that receive aid from them. Some of the countries claim that the aid they are getting is not helpful and they don't want it, but it might be helping them in more ways than they can see considering they have been getting money from the international community for over 50 years. I agree with the NGO's in this article because I think aid can help developing countries for the better. They money just needs to be spent on what the African country actually needs.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a lot of the countries receiving foreign aid from the EU are dependent upon this aid. Would you say it is more detrimental or beneficial for them to be receiving aid if they are vastly dependent upon it? Could the economies grow and prosper without it or significantly less of it? I do think there will be dire consequences, but at the same time, it might serve as an incentive for these countries to try and economically prosper more independently.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great point. I think that if aid is being handed to NGOs and NGOs are then using the money wisely, for example grassroots development projects through empowerment and participatory methods it is not necessarily creating a dependence on the aid. The saying, "don't give a man a fish, teach him how to fish" I believe is applicable in the topic of aid and how it is utilized.
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ReplyDeleteReiterating a point from an earlier comment, the EU is having its own financial woes. It's only logical that it will prioritize its own countries by tightening the budget. I understand the vital role of these NGOs, but that in itself is such a broad term. Perhaps the EU could improve how it monitors NGOs and rates their impacts. Certain NGOs with significant measures of positive impact could be prioritized and continue to receive normal funding while others not pulling their weight face cutbacks. Looking at the future of NGOs in general, this is a good context to assess their importance in regions like Africa that aren't necessarily benefitting from decades of foreign interference.
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