FALL SEMINAR SERIES OPENS SEPTEMBER 3, 2009

Financing African Development: Economic and Humanitarian Aid and Sustainable Development in Africa

The Fall 2009 Seminar series opens Thursday, September 3, at 2:30 PM in G08 Uris Hall on the Cornell Campus. The theme for this semester is Financing Africa Development: Economic and Humanitarian Aid and Sustainable Development in Africa.

The issue of aid as it concerns development is not a new one. While development aid has been around for over fifty years, issues surrounding economic and humanitarian aid—are they good or bad for development?—remain contested. In recent months the debate has intensified, focusing specifically on the role of aid in African development. In light of the global financial crisis it is apparent why this is so. Over the past fifty years, Africa has received more than $1 trillion in aid. Aid skeptics express the view that aid has failed or has achieved little and therefore donor countries should turn off the tap. Others argue that the role of aid in economic development is much more complex and multifaceted than the anti-aid advocates portray. It is argued that economic aid has been effective in building productive capacity and institutions that ensure the accountability mechanism by which states deliver needed services, while humanitarian aid for its part has alleviated human suffering. While conceding that there have been instances where aid did not achieve its intended purpose, aid advocates point to many countries that have used aid wisely with respectable growth rates resulting. The debate, however, is far from over.

Our speakers for this semester include experts in agricultural economics, international law and international relations, high-level administrators from NGOs such as The Hunger Project and Catholic Relief Services, an economist from the Commission on Effective Development Cooperation with Africa, the Chief of the African Peer Review Mechanism Support Unit, and the Coordinator of a new initiative in the UN World Food Program. A complete schedule will be available soon on the home page of our web site.

Contact Information
Evangeline Ray
IAD
607-255-5499
er26@cornell.edu