African Poverty: To Aid, or Not to Aid

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Main argument
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Africa continent is well known for its high rates of poverty. This kind of poverty exhibited is worse such that about nine million children die annually due to this extreme poverty and diseases (Jeffrey). It is pitiful for human to die of diseases, which can be treated and prevented.

Nevertheless, poverty makes it difficult for majority of impoverished African governments to solve such epidemics on their own. Most of the international communities are very much ready to help solve this problem via international aid directed to Africa. Such global agencies and organizations include for example; the global fund, which aid in fighting against malaria and AIDS (Jeffrey).

Moreover, the global alliance on vaccination and immunization is another international organization that targets on saving lives of millions of poor children living in Africa by offering their services at a very low cost. Many critics support the fact that African poverty was developed by their own selfish government leaders who create poor government policies which hinder developments.

Such poor government policies cannot boost the countries economy but only make the politicians squander the money received on aid instead of implementing developments. High rates of corruption exhibited by African leaders also make it hard for the continent to develop even with aid support (Jeffrey).

Main argument

Africa does not deserve aid

Many critics have strongly opposed the foreign aid being poured on Africa, stating that it is wastage of money. Most African countries still wallow in extreme poverty even after receiving foreign aid for decades. For example, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda himself confessed that his country for more than a decade has been depending totally on international financial aid (Jeffrey). In fact almost half of Rwanda’s budget approximately 70% depends on international funds.

It is clear that immediately this aid is stopped, then Rwanda would immediately collapse. The question is how long shall they depend on foreign aid? There is no country worldwide in history which has ever been successful in ending poverty and improving its economy via aid finances. Very few developing countries can survive without foreign aid. India is one of the countries which was able to creatively utilize the little financial aid it received for shorter periods, to plan on how to improve its economy.

In Africa, this is different because such aid finances are completely squandered by selfish leaders who encourage corruption. This is the major cause of inflation and extreme poverty in Africa, whereby, the real beneficiary doesn’t get the aid and instead, the money is swallowed by corrupt selfish leaders.

This precisely is the key factor that contributes to underdevelopment, increased poverty and huge depts throughout the continent. The only way to help Africa as far as this concept is concerned, is to stop such foreign aid support (Dambisa).

Africa to some extend really doesn’t necessarily need developmental aid. This is because such finances are misused by most African governments and only cater for military organizations and building of corrupt regimes (Dambisa). Supporting the main argument, critics still insist that this foreign aid should be stopped to save Africa. Historically, it is clear that no country globally has ever fully depended on aid and succeeded.

If such aid is stopped, probably African governments would be creative enough and adapt to the situation by creating employments and developing good governing policies and strategies basically to improve the economy. Sometimes, it is better to teach the poor how to fish rather than giving them fish.

There is nothing wrong by denying African children aid to purchase mosquito nets but the best way is to train them on how to make their own bed nets. This would furthermore create more employment opportunities to the same Africans and indeed the economy will grow from selling the nets locally to internationally (Dambisa). Such strategies when supported always end up boosting the country economy by reducing poverty.

Africa deserves aid

In my own opinion, Africa really deserves international aid support. It is through this financial assistance that the poorest African governments will come up with creative strategies of achieving better economy and in eradication of poverty. Though some say that funding Africa is like pouring a cup of water in the desert, to some extend, it also has beneficial impact. For example, an aid funded scholarship on education.

This will ensure that the African child has access to school in order to acquire formal education (William). In most cases, the only weapon used to fight poverty is education. Whenever people are learned, it becomes so difficult to be oppressed especially by corrupt governments since they know their rights. Although it is not guaranteed that with education there is no poverty, the fact remains that literate people are always smart and would criticize those corrupt and selfish leaders and even vote them out of leadership.

Although many critics are against continuation of African aid, honestly, the continent needs western help. It is evident that poverty in Africa came about as a result of primitiveness, poor infrastructures and lack of formal education. This is because the continent has been in the dark for long since most countries were colonized by the same western countries.

Furthermore, it is true that for many years, Africa has been receiving international aid but has never improved because most countries still depend on aid. If in any case this aid would be stopped, then it means the death of Africa because of poverty (William).

International aid agencies like WHO always carry out global immunization and other health exercises without discrimination. This aid has contributed to great reduction of infant mortality rates in Africa due to eradication and prevention of killer diseases. Without such support, disease like smallpox and measles would have cleared so many infants and adults in Africa (William).

What will happen to Africa when educational aid is stopped?

Extreme poverty and death are the most sensitive impacts among many others that would hit Africa incase educational aid is stopped. It is always said that education is the only key to success and that if you don’t go to school; your future is not guaranteed. In my opinion, granting educational aid to Africa is one of the best strategies required by African economies and eradicates poverty.

Big western countries like Germany and Japan were able to rebuild their economies quickly after the world war, simply because they invested on education (Shantayanan). About 80% of African population is illiterate. This means that they will forever be blocked from accessing professional or skilled employments thus poverty. Stopping educational aid support to Africa is comparatively like killing Africans softly. Education should be best employed to boost the economy of Africa.

Due to poverty, majority of African students don’t make it up to colleges and universities (Shantayanan). Instead, they end up dropping out of school and back to the village, marry and begin struggling to live. In my opinion, scholarships to such students to advance their education would be an open gate to success. This is because after education, the person is guaranteed of a skilled professional job both locally and internationally.

Moreover, such a success can always be a role model for other students who will struggle to attain the same level. Stopping educational aid in this context won’t help Africa out of poverty. In addition, education can be used as a tool to reduce mortality rates in Africa. It is clear that once an individual is subjected to formal education, the person becomes civilized and stops retrogressive traditional and cultural beliefs.

Such a person will always support western exercises such as immunization and family planning. Infants who are immunized always gain stronger immunity against many childhood diseases and survive. Contrary, if there was no educational aid, over reproduction, poverty and high mortality rates would be experienced in the so called black continent (Shantayanan).

As a means to fight poverty, educational funds granted would ensure there are enough proper training institutions within the country. More colleges and poly-techniques will be set up basically to promote high skilled professionalism. Training of skilled nurses and doctors will help the country in fighting mortality rates.

Furthermore, it is important to train farmers on modern systems of agriculture and animals keeping. This will not only boost the farmer’s knowledge, but will as well increase the countries’ productivity and exportation of agricultural products hence improving the countries’ economies (Shantayanan). In this case, all this developmental efforts would never be there if the international community would stop granting educational aid to Africans who desperately need it for self development.

Conclusion

In summary, African poverty is the greatest weakness of the so called black continent. Although a lot of international support is directed to Africa, there is still need for Africans themselves to work extra hard so as to become self dependable. Corruption and selfishness should be eradicated for economic success to be accomplished.

Works Cited

Dambisa, Moyo. “Dead aid: why aid is not working and how there is a better way for Africa.” huffingtonpost.com. Huffingtonpost. com, 2009. Web.

Jeffrey, Sachs. “Aid ironies.” huffingtonpost.com. huffingtonpost.com, 2011. Web.

Shantayanan, Devarajan. “Why aid to Africa must increase.” blogs.worldbank.org. blogs.worldbank.org, 2009. Web.

William, Easterly. “Can foreign aid save Africa?” csbsju.edu. csbsju.edu, 2005. Web.

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