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African churches find it difficult to deal with AIDS
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BMZ suggests utilising new dynamism in Africa
Development assistance rising
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Austrian Development Agency starts working
Expert discussion: Speed up poverty reduction
40th GDI training course
3/2004
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[ Africa policy ]
BMZ suggests utilising new dynamism in Africa
The German Development Ministry (BMZ) sees a new political dynamism in sub-Saharan Africa that calls for new emphases in development cooperation. In a position paper presented in mid-January, the BMZ noted five sectors which it considers of prime relevance. These include consolidation of democracy and good governance, greater coherence in poverty reduction measures, strengthening African capacities in peacekeeping and, finally, the promotion of business-friendly general conditions and of the private sector. As the main obstacles to progress in Africa, the paper names – among other things – the AIDS pandemic, discrimination against women and the insecurity and instability, which in many places define the economic, political and social situation.
At the operational level, the paper suggests focusing on the respective strengths of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. It states bilateral cooperation should be reinforced by programme financing, in other words: funding the partner countries' sectoral budgets. The paper lists good governance and democratisation, the water sector, and the promotion of the private sector as priority fields for bilateral action. On the other hand, multilateral approaches are considered appropriate for trade promotion and the sectors of infrastructure, basic education and AIDS. At the international level, development friendly trade policy is considered a prerequisite for successful development cooperation.
The paper's content has met mainly with approval. Its focus on structural policy issues and call for greater harmonisation of bilateral and multilateral cooperation is welcomed in particular. Africa researchers, however, say it assesses the willingness for reform in Africa too optimistically. In addition, the paper is blamed of applying a classic model of the state, which can no longer be taken for granted in Africa. Therefore, they say, more thought must be given to alternative forms of governance in Africa.
Critics also say the paper’s main shortcoming is that its draft was not discussed with the implementing agencies nor with the other federal ministries. This procedure does not contribute to a coherent German Africa policy. BMZ staff, however, say that the paper was not meant as a developmental concept of the Federal government, but as the ministry’s input for the German contribution to the G8 Africa Action Plan. From that point of view, no agreement with other ministries was required. The paper's importance should not be overrated, the BMZ adds, as it merely serves as a “base for discussion”. (ell)
An English translation of the BMZ position paper is posted on the web: www.bmz.de/en/topics/africa/index.html
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