Lesson Aims

I will learn

1. The role of the African Union in promoting development in Africa.

2. The role of the United Nations.

Aims of the African Union

Case Study Zimbabwe

The AU is heavily criticised for not dealing with the regime in Zimbabwe.

Despite international outrage about vote rigging in the 2002 election – AU observers approved the result.

There is a common view held within the AU that the USA and EU should not be allowed to dictate to Zimbabwe.

July 2002 – AU decided not to make public a report on Human Rights by the AU commission that was highly critical of Zimbabwe

The African Union

Successes CriticismsDealing with conflict•Burundi•Sudan

DemocracySetting example by encouraging democracyHas powers to investigate countries that fail to meet standards eg Zimbabwe – observers were sent in

Social/Economic Development - NEPAD

Finance – cannot afford troops/equipment – Darfur not as successful as it should have been

AU seen as a dictators club – many members are involved in authoritarian regimesPoor leadershipAU – reluctance to get involved in Zimbabwe – endorsed 2002 election results

Hard to assess – will take a long time – Lack of funding and expertise makes it difficult.

The United Nations

The United Nations

One of the Main aims of The UN is to promote social and economic development.

Specialised agencies

UNICEF in Ethiopia

•Food has been distributed to drought affected areas. Fifty feeding stations have been set up to give nutrition to children who do not get enough to eat.

•A training programme has been set up to teach health workers how to deal with children who are malnourished.

•Vaccination programme against meningitis, measles and polio.

•Water sanitation projects have reduced the number of children becoming sick

UNICEF in Sudan

Working to increase safe drinking water. Water pumps have been repaired and wells are being dug.

Helping children to receive an education by building schools and providing resources textbooks, pencils, boards, notebooks etc.

Mosquito nets have been provided to protect children from Mosquitoes which carry malaria

Criticisms of the United Nations

Excellent track record, however it is argued that more could be done.

FinanceUN and all its agencies spend $10 billion each year, this works out at $1.70 for each of the worlds inhabitants and a tiny fraction of what governments spend on military budgets.

WFP estimated they need £78m to do their job properly – to date it has only received £28

UN has been forced to cut back spending over the last 10 years due to a financial crisis.

Member states are not paying their contributions eg The USA currently owes $1.5 billion to the UN.

BureaucraticThe UN can be overly bureaucratic in its decision making – too many rules and regulations. Too much paperwork – too slow.

UN criticised for being too slow to act in Ethiopia and Sudan where millions were facing famine.

2004 – FAO wanted £9m to spray locust larvae in the Sahel in the Sahara

The money did not come larvae became locusts – crops destroyed – FAO needed £100m to repair damage

Cotonou Agreement was signed in 2000

Agreement between EU countries and 70 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

20 year programme working to improve conditions in ACP countries.

The EU aims to help countries•Balance their economies•Improve social services•Integrate into the global economy – Free Trade•Promote equality between men and women•Improve democracy

The EU can impose sanctions on countries that abuse human rights

Criticisms of The Cotonou Agreement and EU Aid

Free trade can damage the economies of many African countries

Free trade means that import and export taxes are taken away.

African countries will be flooded with EU goods and local businesses will lose out.

Department for International Development (DFID)

Managed by the British government

Douglas Alexander – Secretary of state for international development.

DFID – Aims to help achieve the MDGs and eliminate world poverty

DFID works Bilaterally and also in partnership with other governments, the UN, The EU, The World Bank and NGOs

Lesson Aims

I will learn

1. How NGOs help promote development of African countries

2. Criticism/failures of NGOs

Non Governmental Organisations

•Non Profit•Non Political•Non violent•Voluntary•Free from government control – although have a great deal of contact with governments

NGOs are run by volunteers and ordinary members of the public (although some people do get paid).

NGOs often work in partnership with African governments/Rich countries eg UK government and International bodies (EU and UN).

NGOs will often deliver food organised by EU and UN

Where do NGOs get money?

•Fund raising events•Donations

In some cases NGOs are funded by the government – DFID and the EU are involved in funding Oxfam projects all over the world

Successes/Advantages of NGOs

Many success stories

Bring expertise and experience

Have helped millions of people by providing•Short term and long term aid•Emergency relief•Teachers/doctors/nurses•Schools•Hospitals•Training programmes

Disadvantages/Criticisms

NGOs often act as a business – employ workers and compete for funding from the public. (BINGOs)

Too much money is spent on administration and therefore promises are often not delivered

NGOs often lack the experience and expertise of government and international agencies like the UN.

NGOs can cause problems when they do not consult governments – can start a project but are unable to see it through

NGOs can prolong conflict by feeding rebel groups and soldiers – by stepping in to assist corrupt states some NGOs are thought to be legitimising the actions of the government

NGOs can cause conflict in many cultures by lobbying for western values eg feminism/contraception/fidelity

NGOs are unelected and therefore are unaccountable – only held responsible to themselves.

NGOs are also criticised for creating a culture of dependency in many Africa Countries.

Moeletsi Mbeki a famous South African economist suggested to Bob Geldof after Live 8 that the core problem in many African countries is bad governance. Only when this is tackled can aid make a difference.

•NGOs are not free completely from government control – 25% of Oxfam's budget comes from the British government and the EU.

•Medecins San Frontiers – approximately 46% of budget comes from government sources.

•NGOs act as agents or contractors for the UN or Western governments in the distribution of relief – most of the humanitarian assistance provided by the World Food Programme is distributed through NGOs (this is often a more efficient/cheaper/less dangerous way for donor countries to operate this way)

How effective are NGOs?

Advantages

Non profit, voluntary and free from government control – money from donations

Can act as a pressure group – influence government decisions – eg Make Poverty History

Go to places where governments or organisations like the UN cannot or will not go – eg Darfur

NGOs are often first to respond to disasters or emergencies – do not have to go through the same long procedures that the UN or governments have to

Disadvantages

Often act act like a business – BINGOs. Compete for funding from the public – need to pay some workers – not all money donated goes directly towards aid projects

Unelected and unaccountable – NGOs can have their own agenda and are answerable only to themselves

Limitations to the work that can be done – limited numbers and resources – Lack expertise and experience of agencies like the UN

Long term commitment may be problematic due to lack of funds – can start a project but unable to follow it through

Advantages

Helped in the fight for free primary education eg TanzaniaHelped fight for empowerment of women and equality

NGOs often work in partnership with African governments/Rich countries eg UK government and International bodies (EU and UN).NGOs will often deliver food organised by EU and UN

Aid is delivered to people regardless of political or religious views

Disadvantages

NGOs have been accused of causing conflict by lobbying and promoting western values – feminism/contraception/fidelityWhereas aid workers should always respect culture and custom

When working for governments NGOs must follow their rules and regulations

NGOs have been accused of causing and prolonging conflict by feeding rebel groups and armies

Advantages

Have helped save thousands of lives through distribution of healthcare, food and clean water. Examples Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Mozambique etc

Helped support the Edna Adan Maternity hospital (Somaliland)– offering healthcare and training

Disadvantages

Created a dependency culture – Moeletsi Mbeki – main problem is corrupt government 1 trillion dollars given in aid since 1960s – only limited improvement

Africa needs to learn to do things for itself

Homework question –

Examine the effectiveness of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in responding to problems in Africa.

You should provide arguments to show that NGOs are successful and also outline any criticisms or limitations of NGOs – use examples where possible