Weekly Poll: Is Aid bad for Ethiopia and Africa?

Jimma Times

The Economist Dambisa Moyo recently said AID is hurting Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular. She said the "aid model" has not worked for Africa, and African governments need to utilize innovative ways to generate growth and reduce poverty. Because of this, the New York Times labeled her "anti-Bono."

Dambisa was also featured on a BBC program but she was challenged by supporters of aid to Africa. Most of them say aid is important for the continent especially as a partner in development and as an interventionist policy. Therefore, as an emergency and short-term intervention policy, they say ignoring Aid could be a reckless life-or-death decision. For example, when many Ethiopians in Shashemena, Oromia were starving to death last year or when nearly half a million Ethiopians in Tigray/Eritrea died in famine in 1980s, rejecting aid could be seen no less than a death sentence ruling on the victims.

Thus, some people say there is a need for a balance when it comes to the topic AID to Africa. Both sides of the argument have supporters. Dambisa says the "bandaid solution" of food aid is not helping African countries to get out of poverty.

(Picture: more Addis breadlines )

A Jimma Times contributor in Addis Ababa recently captured devastating images of homeless and poor people at a bread line in the capital city. Just as rich Western countries give short-term "band-aid solutions" for poor African countries, some rich Ethiopian businessmen in Addis Ababa do a replica by giving "bandaid" solutions to help homeless people in Ethiopia.

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According to JT contributor, some of these rich businessmen in Addis Ababa even invite hundreds of poor people in the capital city's streets and handout food to all of them for one day in order to allegedly show off their wealth and advertise their generosity in public. Such acts of "generosity" also become an incentive and encourge or increase beggary in the country. Ethiopian critics say that some of these businessmen in Addis Ababa become rich through corruption or through connections, therefore they are uneducated and unaware of better or sustainable ways of helping the poor and the homeless population.

(Picture: a guard threatens JT Cameraman)

Addis Ababa is only one of the several cities in Ethiopia that are suffering under urban poverty. Bad federal policies, urban displacement, high unemployment, high food prices and increased rural-to-urban migration have increased poverty in several cities and towns. Small business sector growth, Job creation mechanisms and long-term solutions are needed in Ethiopia. According to a World Bank (WB) affiliated report on urban poverty, "access to microfinance institutions helped households to improve their welfare in Mekele and Adama but not in Bahir Dar, Awassa or Jimma."

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But how can Ethiopians and Africans determine when aid is bad or when exactly it is just about enough? This hot topic of AID is even more complicated by econo-political policies of both African governments and donors. If some Africans agree that aid should play a decreasing complementary role, how do Africans carefully monitor this decrease in its role so that Africans don't become addicted to it?

Today, Oromia region is said to have the largest number of on-going aid projects and nearly 45 percent of CSO/NGO resources in Ethiopia. But after the war-torn Ogaden region, the recent drought has hurt the Oromia region the most. 

Is Aid bad for Oromia/Ethiopia?

Have your say and Vote

• VOTING IS CLOSED - FINAL RESULTS

- 41% SAID "Yes"

- 36% SAID "Good only in Emergency"

- 23% SAID "No"