The idea that transfers of funds directly to governments for development purposes has been long ridiculed and renounced even by proponents of foreign aid. They decided to focus on “new” methods like ensuring the creation of “techniques” that solve the easiest and yet costly problems. For example, the cost of high mortality because of malaria infections can be fixed easily with DDT spray of mosquito nests, bed nets and pyrethoids in the residences. However, did that really work?
It was advocated since 1938 under the League of Nations. The only difference is a somewhat fancier use of words to advance the argument. Sometimes, it is just better to let institutions bred techniques and knowledge out of human action, not human design (the exact contrary of foreign aid)
African Problem to be Addressed | African Research Survey, 1938 | UN Millennium Project, 2005 |
---|---|---|
Malaria | “mosquito bed-nets …malaria control by the spraying of native huts with a preparation of pyrethrum” | “insecticide-treated nets…. insecticides for indoor residual spraying …{with} pyrethroids” |
Nutrition | “…the African suffers from deficiency of Vitamin A” | “Malnutrition {is also} caused by inadequate intake of … vitamin A” |
Soil fertility | “methods of improving soil fertility {such as} green manuring” | “using green manure to improve soil fertility” |
Soil erosion | “increasing absorption and reducing runoff on cultivated land {through} the use of terraces” | “Contour terraces, necessary on sloping lands… when furnished with grasses and trees…{to avoid} soil erosion” |
Land tenure | “… legal security against attack or disturbance can most effectively be guaranteed by registration” | “security in private property and tenure rights … registration of property” |
Clean drinking water | sinking boreholes | “Increase the share of boreholes” |
Via William Easterly