The Moyo-Bono Divide: What Are The Opposing Sides?

By Suzanne Fitzpatrick

In 2009, economist and New York Times best selling author Dambisa Moyo published her first book; Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There is Another Way for Africa.

Dead Aid sees Moyo explain how the millions of dollars sent to developing countries from first world nations is, in fact, causing a lot more harm than good to poverty-ridden Africa. Moyo discusses how the constant injection of money and aid into Africa has caused her home country to enter a vicious cycle of dependence and even more intense insecurity.

‘‘Provocatively drawing a sharp contrast between African countries that have rejected the aid route and prospered and others that have become aid-dependent and seen poverty increase, Moyo illuminates the way in which over reliance on aid has trapped developing nations in a vicious circle of aid dependency, corruption, market distortion, and further poverty, leaving them with nothing but the “need” for more aid.’’ [1.]

According to Moyo, poverty levels have actually risen as more and more aid is given to Africa. Of course, these views were received extremely negatively on a global scale. When the book began to circulate, controversy erupted as Dead Aid’s theories were seen to demonize those who set up aid policies; those who were trying to help Africa’s poverty and debt.

Economist Paul Collier described Moyo's suggestions and theories as "over optimistic". Collier claims that "she implies that, were aid cut, African governments would respond by turning to other sources of finance that would make them more accountable. This exaggerates the opportunity for alternative finance and underestimates the difficulties African societies face." [2.]

Although, two sides became divided as support for her views emerged equally as strong as the opposition. Many readers realized what Moyo was saying could be accurate, even if it was a bit shocking.

“Moyo’s arguments are based on basic, even well-known, facts: Europe and the US have sent billion in aid to horrible regimes. Corrupt leaders have seen way more cash than needy citizens. Endless loans left the continent with crippling debt. And most of Africa is actually poorer today than it was a few decades ago.’’

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-Douglas McGray, Journalist [3.]

Dambisa Moyo began to publically criticize celebrities that campaigned to help Africa’s poverty, again stating that the publicity and solutions they were bringing to the situation were making it worse. One well-known figure who did not let this go unnoticed was Bono.

Bono is of course a prize example of a ‘deeply involved’ celebrity. In March 2009, Bono’s advocacy organization, ONE, were said to have sent emails to various high-profile African contacts asking them for quotes in support of ONE’s stance that Moyo’s book was full of ridiculous ideas. Although it would seem Bono and his party got a little over-upset at Moyo’s ‘attack’. In fact, Moyo made in clear in her book that Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s) and humanitarian input were not what she wanted dropped. It was purely the aid funded by governments. ONE is an example of the former. It was also argued by other aid organizations, such as Aidwatch, that collecting opposing thoughts from Africans would not render Moyo’s book any less plausible or important. Like Moyo, ONE claim to believe that heavy debating and research are the only ways to find the most effective way to lower debt. After it was published on www.aidwatchers.com that the organization had contacted African partners to get anti-Moyo support, ONE fought back saying they had not been trying to get a group to ‘gang-up’ on Moyo, but rather try to see it from a broader perspective. A perspective of those actually witnessing the aid in Africa;

“In terms of the emails Aidwatch refer to, yes, we emailed people in Africa who we work with to see what they thought, as many are involved directly with aid-funded initiatives. Their experience is very relevant in thinking through the impact of Ms. Moyo’s claims. So it wasn’t an attempt to shut a conversation down, but an effort to open one up. And it’s succeeded! We’ve also been in a direct and ongoing conversation with Ms. Moyo, before and after the book’s release.”

- Edith Jibunoh, Africa Outreach Manager at ONE [4.]

It’s difficult to understand whether ONE did actually launch an attack on Dead Aid as abruptly as Aidwatchers and Pro-Moyo theorists claim they did. One of the first online posts that was published on ONE’s website (www.one.org) that concerned Dambisa Moyo’s book was really quite civil; as ONE called it, a ‘point-counter-point’ article. Yes, they point out where Moyo is possibly mistaken but they do it in a fair way, not just an open rant about how opposed they are to someone who doubts their abilities as a humanitarian source. They quote parts from Dead Aid where they have seen a problem or misunderstanding and then follow it by ‘The Facts’. For example, ONE point out that Moyo repeatedly quotes large figures with US spending (“$1 trillion”) but doesn’t include any citation with these figures were sourced from. [5.] While ONE do openly disagree with Moyo’s theories, they go a step further by describing, in convincing detail, why she is wrong. Bono and ONE have gone to great lengths and endured a lot of well organized research to write up exactly how and why she is wrong.

But as many humanitarian organizations are against Moyo’s theories, she has managed to grasp a large number of journalists, reporters and fellow writers’ attention and support. This, of course, would also be a growing problem for Bono’s organization as now there are an increasing number of people who are questioning whether or not what he is promoting is the right way to deal with Africa’s debilitating problems.

“I think that African societies need international help to overcome these problems; it is just that the help they need is not predominantly money. Aid is not a very potent instrument for enhancing either security or accountability. Our obsession with it has detracted from the more important ways in which we can promote development: peacekeeping, security guarantees, trade privileges, and governance.

But we must hope that Moyo's thesis is right: Britain has just implemented the sharp cuts in aid that she wants to see. Although this was achieved inadvertently, as a result of the sharp depreciation of the pound rather than by a cut in the sterling-denominated budget, it will have the same effect.”

- Paul Collier , Professor of Economics at Oxford University and Author. [6.]

Now branded as ‘The Anti-Bono’, Dambisa believes that should governments cut off aid within five years, it will not leave millions of people without the food and medical support on which they are now dependent as many believe to be the case. Speaking ti the ABC News, she says; “most Africans do not see any of the aid that you are alluding to. It’s again, their best case scenario on some projects is 20 cents in the dollar that actually makes it to an African – and that’s best case. Effectively, if we continue down this path, we will have many more Africans living in poverty in many… in a few years to come, and that is really the problem – that there are no jobs coming out of an aid model.” [7.]

As well as her theories that sending money to Africa is only damaging it further, Moyo sees that the involvement of celebrities, like Bono or Bob Geldof , usually holds “too many vested interests” for those individuals. She believes organizing solutions for Africa’s debt problems should not be glamourized by the association of celebrities who’s actions are more often than not self-perpetrating.

“Africans stand in the hot African sun to elect their leaders and it’s those leaders who are charged with the responsibility of delivering social services and being accountable to their people. There clearly was a vacuum that has allowed the celebrity culture to seep in, but it would seem to me that no society would appreciate their whole policy and the future of their children to be dependent on celebrities that actually don’t live in these contexts.”

- Dambisa Moyo [8.]

Since Live Aid in 1985, the number of celebrities getting involved in aid and humanitarian work in Africa has rapidly increased. Live Aid raising millions of pounds for Africa but at the same time it was seen as a prolific moment for a large number of various artists to come together and collaborate. Of course, this is a great idea to most and seemed revolutionary at raising aid and awareness to most people, but Moyo believes it’s somewhat unnecessary and celebrities mostly do it for their own self image or peace of mind. The same goes to be said about Live 8 in May 2005, the same set up as Live Aid; gigs around the world with A-list artist collaborating with other A-list artists, many of whom had played at the original Live Aid. But this time there was more pressure and emphasis on the world leaders as it co-incited with the G8 Summit (hence the name Live 8). It’s hard to really think that all the artists involved were doing it to promote self-image, but considering the publicity one gets…

There were a number of criticisms thrown around after Live 8, that linked with Moyo’s interpretations of the event and its motives. As well as the concert being criticized for a lack of black presence (particularly by Blur front man Damon Albarn), it was pointed out that the event was more of a catwalk for ‘oldie’ bands and a chance for them to revive their career. Again, plugging personal motives rather than concern for Africa as their reasoning. It was also thought by many to be hypocritical; so many bands and artists who played have excess amounts in their bank accounts yet they’re pushing to ‘Make Poverty History’? Whatever angle you look at these kind of fundraising events, it’s fairly easy to see where Moyo is coming from. It makes sense that celebrities often get involved in humanitarian work out of self-fulfilment or even guilt. Then again, they could genuinely ‘want to give something back’, as we so often hear.

“Basically aid has become an industry. There are just way too many vested interests and by and large the criticisms that my book has been receiving are coming from those quarters, people who actually have a vested interest to see the continual cycle of Africa in despair so that they can justify their existence.”

- Dambisa Moyo [9.]

Either way, Moyo has a point there that doesn’t really need citation as such. And as one can imagine, Bono and Geldof would not be impressed with this view of them being publicised.

And so the debate goes on, as debating is seemingly the only way to solve problems. Is Moyo over-optimistic and missing key facts? Or is it that NGO humanitarian aid groups are missing the point and over-doing it? Both arguments seem valid but one thing is for sure; it isn’t likely that Dambisa Moyo will be getting a Christmas card Bono or Bob Geldof this year.

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References

1.] Sourced from: http://www.dambisamoyo.com/deadaid.html on March 22nd, 2010.

2.] From ‘Dead Aid, By Dambisa Moyo: Time to turn off the aid tap? ; Paul Collier: The Independent: 30 January 2009. Sourced at http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/dead-aid-by-dambisa-moyo-1519875.html on March 22nd 2010.

3.] From ‘Dambisa Moyo: Cut Off Aid To Africa’: Douglas McGray: Wired Magazine: September 21^st 2009: Sourced at http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/17-10/ff_smartlist_moyo.

4.] From: http://aidwatchers.com/2009/03/one-responds-to-bono-vs-moyo-round-two/ ; Statement from ONE to Aidwatchers, published on March 31^st 2009 on Aidwatchers website.

5.] From: The Facts about Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo; http://www.one.org/c/us/policybrief/911/.

6.] Quoted from The Independent; Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo (Review); January 30^th 2009; sourced at http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/dead-aid-by-dambisa-moyo-1519875.html

7.] From: Is Aid Killing Africa? By Phillip Williams, March 17^th 2009; Interview transcript; http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2009/s2520029.htm.

8.] Quoted from Dambisa Moyo interview transcript, March 17^th 2009 at http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2009/s2520029.htm.

9.] From: Is Aid Killing Africa? By Phillip Williams, March 17^th 2009; Interview transcript; http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2009/s2520029.htm.

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