Famine, disaster, and inequitable dependencies
>> April 19, 2010
written by Nathan
NGO’s are growing up. NGO’s are growing up like the modern teenager - awkwardly. With little family or moral grounding, materialistic, and unaware of consequences grave and perilous. Ethiopia is seeing a new questioning of purpose for NGOs. Since the 1984 famine that toppled the socialist Derg government, NGOs have seen Ethiopia as a proving ground for their efforts or beliefs. Lately, though, conversations have shifted to sustainable, locally-managed projects.
In my opinion, the damage done by NGOs in Ethiopia has surpassed any positive intentions. Looking around, a first impression of Africa, through the lens of Ethiopia, we are viewing the powers of western guilt. It is manifest in the International NGO here. On the surface, belts and socks, coffee shops, government, shoe shops and hair salons, are the industry of Ethiopia - all powered by accessible minibus transportation systems. Darting in between the tuk-tuks and minibuses are the logo-emblazoned SUV’s of NGOs.
Why does the UN need a $80,000 tricked-out SUV to serve Africa’s underserved children? Do ‘Save the Children,’ USAID, and other NGO compounds need concrete buildings and barb-wired parking lots to ensure effective operational success? How can we as citizens and benefactors raise questions and illustrate opportunities within our own cultures that will foster more locally-owned and culturally relevant stabilizing and sustainable democratic actions from our power and resources dispensed abroad?
NGOs like UNICEF talk a lot of talk. Talking is good, but actions are better. When UNICEF uses 96% of all of its annual budget to overhead and only 4% make it to projects, why should we support them? Should UNICEF accept its role as advertisement and propaganda only? How do we steward our giving? Should we not be responsible before, during, and after making gifts an be active proponents for actionable change and responsible budgeting?
In my opinion, the damage done by NGOs in Ethiopia has surpassed any positive intentions. Looking around, a first impression of Africa, through the lens of Ethiopia, we are viewing the powers of western guilt. It is manifest in the International NGO here. On the surface, belts and socks, coffee shops, government, shoe shops and hair salons, are the industry of Ethiopia - all powered by accessible minibus transportation systems. Darting in between the tuk-tuks and minibuses are the logo-emblazoned SUV’s of NGOs.
Why does the UN need a $80,000 tricked-out SUV to serve Africa’s underserved children? Do ‘Save the Children,’ USAID, and other NGO compounds need concrete buildings and barb-wired parking lots to ensure effective operational success? How can we as citizens and benefactors raise questions and illustrate opportunities within our own cultures that will foster more locally-owned and culturally relevant stabilizing and sustainable democratic actions from our power and resources dispensed abroad?
NGOs like UNICEF talk a lot of talk. Talking is good, but actions are better. When UNICEF uses 96% of all of its annual budget to overhead and only 4% make it to projects, why should we support them? Should UNICEF accept its role as advertisement and propaganda only? How do we steward our giving? Should we not be responsible before, during, and after making gifts an be active proponents for actionable change and responsible budgeting?
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