NO MONEY FOR DEVELOPMENT

Why do I, after 40 years of experience with development work, not give money for such activities.

Small, personal initiatives by a western women or men aimed at distributing money or materials can benefit some poor people but create feelings of relative deprivation in others. Also, such distribution projects do not change the social structure and personal motivation that create or contribute to poverty. What is more, many of such projects divert energy and talent away from development.

Larger private projects invite for corruption once the donor and receiving organizers get established interests and tend to share more and more money and other benefits jobs among themselves. Large government-to-government programs show the same types of corruption. Also here, projects aiming at distribution of benefits divert energy and talent away from development.

To my mind, the best help that can be offered by westerners is to first of all get thoroughly familiar with the local society and the misery that may exist and learn to not escape from acknowledging or digesting such realities by emotionally motivated interventions. That means, first develop yourself.

Second, mature and wise people, perhaps more to be found among elderly than among youngsters, may stay for longer periods with local populations and support them in their search for feasible opportunities within the given reality by getting your feet on the ground.

There are good examples of experienced, retired couples ready to live for some years among poor people. Hardly any money is needed for such activities.

Now, imagine the situation wherein clean water is not available because upstream a chemical factory discharges industrial poisons or a large plantation applies agricultural chemicals with the result that, downstream, the river and the groundwater get polluted. Then the local victims face powerful companies, along with civil servants and politicians that are bribed or intimidated by such companies.

What the victims’ community may help is the long-term presence of reliable and experienced people who can support the community in their struggle against the polluting companies and responsible authorities. For such struggles not finances but skilful and persistent communicators are needed who contribute to the capacity building of the local population so that these local people can defend their interests better in the future.