17/11/2004

A diverse range of suggestions emerged over the first days of the consultation, including on HIV/AIDS, the ‘brain drain’, women’s participation, and the suggestion that Africa needed a “revolutionary shock” to develop.

For HIV/AIDS, one contributor suggested that more spending was needed on palliative care, including education and training for all professionals working with HIV/AIDS as well as more pain control medicine to improve peoples’ quality of life. Another contributor advocated for a task force which would identify situations where the risk of HIV/AIDS was high, and then bring all parties together to find a solution. The contributor gave a specific example, suggesting that although new nickel and platinum mine developments in Burundi could pose a risk, social housing for workers families’ could be situated near the mines to reduce this. Looking at health more widely, another contributor suggested that the Commission needed to focus more on delivery systems which “affect all health problems, not just those which have acquired international initiatives”.

Turning to the ‘brain drain’ question, one contributor noted the success of one programme of the ‘International Organization for Migration’ that had paid for experts to go to Africa, although it had been discontinued due to lack of funding. She suggested it was important to “provide good opportunities with adequate pay for African technical specialists”. Another contributor stressed the need to develop regional “centres of excellence” to provide specialised education; somewhat echoing this, another contributor argued that adult education needed the same analysis as primary and secondary education.

Gender equity is an issue in education and also in participation across Africa, however old the people involved. One contributor criticised the Nigerian ‘Women-in-Agriculture’ programme, with a clear policy prescription: “Don’t presume and prioritize our agricultural production problems for us”, adding that there was need for dialogue and a willingness to respond to requests. Another contributor appealed to NGOs and grassroots organisations to respond to the Commission for Africa’s consultation(s), suggesting that they “nominate projects that have made a real difference to communities, not just providing relief but helping communities to regenerate”.

Don’t presume and prioritize our agricultural production problems for us

This would, perhaps, counterbalance the claim of another contributor that “with over a century of backwardness Africa is now thought in the minds of an average world citizen as the needy continent”. He argued Africa needed a “revolutionary shock” – for example by considering draconian measures such as turning game parks into manufacturing zones, limiting African couples to have only one child, gradually phasing out aid payments to reduce dependency, and inspiring Africans to look outwards, for example by learning languages used in China and India. Strong measures, perhaps, but what do other people think?

with over a century of backwardness Africa is now thought in the minds of an average world citizen as the needy continent

19/11/2004

Education emerged as a theme in which contributors largely supported the Commission for Africa's analysis. 'Provide appropriate skills' was one message because, as one contributor suggested, "parents may be dissuaded from sending their children to school unless they see school as a route to better employment". The same contributor mentioned the need to support higher education, which had already been noted as missing in the Consultation document earlier in the e-forum. But another contributor provided an example supporting the Commission's analysis advocating "access to local communities". Tanzania's Primary Education Development Program was cited as accountable, robust and flexible. It involved people from the grassroots through school committees including "wide community representatives who identify, plan and monitor activity implementation and resources use for the education projects of their choice".

parents may be dissuaded from sending their children to school unless they see it as a route to better employment

As in education as for health, the suggestion was to "avoid vertical programmes with little sustainability". Referring to the Commission's suggestion for developing WHO guidelines with national health strategies, one contributor stressed the need for "sharing of information among the parties involved, including governments, government linked NGOs, and business oriented NGOs". Similarly, with regards to health provision, another contributor highlighted infrastructure as "the availability and cost of transport are major barriers to the provision of health care services in rural Africa", including "immunisation, disease surveillance and HIV/AIDS education".

Physical access and access to information in both the education and health sectors was mentioned by another contributor, but specifically for disabled groups, where consultation was vital.

Finally, there was a comment on culture: one contributor berated the domination, and imposition, of European culture on the continent (this was seen as being most pervasive in South Africa). Suggested solutions included "accelerating the documentation of African knowledge systems" and "encouraging the use of African knowledge for African libraries" accessible to all Africans, not just an elite. "Africans are tired of being trained in their own countries to be pseudo-Europeans".

the availability and cost of transport are major barriers to the provision of health care services in rural Africa

However, what role can the diaspora play? And hasn’t the renaissance of the African Union had a major part to play in developing “African dignity, well being and prosperity”? These are unanswered questions in the ‘culture and the arts’ sub-topic. Further contributions would also be particularly welcome in the ‘migration and urbanisation’ and ‘participation’ sub-topics.

22/11/2004

Contributors took a critical view of Africa’s relationship with the west. “African governments are not responsible to their citizens, rather to western institutions like the IMF and the World Bank” was one perspective; another contributor said “The G8 governments need to live up to their aid commitments”.

African governments are not responsible to their citizens, rather to western institutions like the IMF and the World Bank

Some examples of problems in Africa were given: a situation in which there was a failure to distribute mosquito nets to prevent malaria; delayed funding of the Global Fund to fight Aids, TB and Malaria; and the inadequacy of educational materials available to teachers and students. In some cases this was due to a lack of consistency, a failure of “social marketing”, or a lack of "real and serious political will" among western and African governments.

One participant suggested that aid needed to be delivered strategically in consultation with “recipient governments, civil society and the research community” and “not just all bundled together as budget support”. But, conversely, it could be argued that a move back to projectised aid might risk dispersing and fragment the effects of development. Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) have engaged civil society around budgeted spending – although how useful have these been?

It should be noted that the Commission for Africa’s consultation document suggests the need to “encourage all donors to structure their work to fit in with Africa’s culture”.

Nevertheless, one contributor highlighted poverty, something which affects all spheres of life, “whether in governance, culture, or education” – as “most African parents’ daily concern is how to feed their children”. Another contributor noted however, “better educated adults result in better educated children”, and pointed out that adult education “embraces community education, work based education and public (e.g. health) education”. It was even a “resource for ensuring the appropriate revival and relevant use of indigenous knowledge”.

better educated adults result in better educated children

23/11/2004

The Commission’s consultation document suggests “culture is taken into account across the Commission’s areas of action”. Culture has been a central theme over the last day of discussions.

The consultation document also advocates “greater community participation, including by women and young people, in shaping donor policies”. One contributor gave an example of this by telling a story: a well-meaning person had decided to build a school for a community but found afterwards that better water and sanitation was the thing that was really wanted. Differences in perceptions, understanding and philosophy are central here.

With regard to this, one contributor noted two very different approaches in agriculture. Western practice has principally aimed for “highest productivity per unit” whereas the traditional African view has assumed the most important thing is “social resilience in the face of frequent climate change”.

In terms of different philosophies, thought, and cultural practices, another contributor suggested that in the past colonial and missionary zeal had tried to “kill the cockroach using a bulldozer but killed the gentle dove” in the process. But was the cockroach really dead, and could the dove be resurrected? The same contributor advocated for Africans drawing more on African philosophers, citing Ifa Corpus as an example.

Many contributors were opposed to “one-size-fits-all thinking”, and the nature and breadth of culture was much discussed. Within Africa, it was noted that there were many hundreds of local cultures. While the “traditional” view of culture was important, at the same time culture was seen as something “fluid, heterogeneous and ever-changing”; “cultures are only alive when they are in flux”. One contributor from Grand-Yoff in Dakar, Senegal, mentioned the importance of “unformal” local knowledge which needed protection against the “road roller of universalisation” of the logic of western thought.

cultures are only alive when they are in flux

The importance of cultural industries was discussed, with one contributor expressing disappointment that the development sector did not support them for their “contribution to economic growth …, social capital, civil participation and well-being across Africa”. She added that “development without culture is ‘growth without a soul’”: “we need to start incorporating cultural mapping and cultural impact assessment into African development processes”. Other contributors stressed the “value and significance of music” and “theatre as one of the most effective methods of engaging with the shifting layers of change that are the lifeblood of culture”.

we need to start incorporating cultural mapping and cultural impact assessment into African development processes

Separately, a key unanswered question about migration and urbanisation was examined by one contributor. Surveys and polls “have demonstrated that Africans have extremely highly aspirations for mobility outside [their] country (or continent) of origin. This exists despite high levels of pride in being African. We have to question what makes people want to leave their homes.” Does anyone have an answer to this?

Africans have extremely highly aspirations for mobility outside [their] country (or continent) of origin ... We have to question what makes people want to leave their homes

Finally, to effectively develop the capacity of African governments, another contributor stated the need for more “research to inform policy makers/decision makers”, “monitoring and evaluation”, development of banks of “best practices” and “knowledge transfer and sharing”. It is difficult to criticise such suggestions, but how could they be practically achieved? What are the priorities, and are there any good examples of where governments have done this effectively?

25/11/2004

“Culture, communication and participation in the development domain cannot be untied or separated from each other” was a clear message from one of a further series of contributors coming via the Creative Exchange network (see http://www.creativexchange.org/). Many messages continued to explore and define culture – the arts and theatre were mentioned again, but culture was also cited in its broader context in relation to ‘land’ (and land redistribution) and ‘representative democracy’ (or its absence) in Africa. One contributor noted the “undervaluation and low status accorded to African ingenuity, culture and its many symbolic representations (music, dance, theatre visual arts etc)” and the lack of negotiating power that Africa has in relation to international trade. Another contributor observed that even though global trade in cultural goods was increasing, Africa was (yet again) unable to fully benefit.

Culture, communication and participation in the development domain cannot be untied or separated from each other

“Participation, participation and participation” was the solution advocated by one contributor. There were several calls for involving whole communities, giving a “voice for the voiceless” and to those traditionally ‘seen but not heard’ (e.g. youth, women, and the disabled). Affirmative action and making gender a cross-cutting theme were cited as ways to improve women’s rights. Outside of Africa, it was suggested developed nations should get more involved in African issues and, equally, Africans should be more accepting of new and external ideas.

One participant noted that the electronic nature of this consultation excluded a huge number of Africans. Other contributors suggested measures needed to be taken to make information and communication technology (ICT) more widely available in Africa, possibly a role the diaspora could help with. “It is only when Africans themselves substantially invest in Africa that others will follow” was the challenge set down by one contributor, who added “the best of Africa’s intellectual capital is outside of the continent.” Another African contributor stated that “the developed and educated Africans have a responsibility to make sure we have incorporated the views of those Africans whom we think we are working on behalf of”.

It is only when Africans themselves substantially invest in Africa that others will follow

The responsibility of governments and international institutions was also mentioned. One contributor described a situation in Mozambique where a draft national strategy to combat HIV/AIDS had been developed through a year of consultations, but was subsequently rejected by the National AIDS Council and UNICEF as the “participatory and culturally sensitive approach was not what they had in mind”. This was a lesson too for NGOs, criticised for adopting new jargon around participation but failing to live up to it in practice. Was the principle motivation therefore simply a desire for wanting “more institutional visibility through mass media”? The wider question of ideas, their implementation, and perpetuation of power relations was raised by another contributor, suggesting that too often ‘alien’ ideas were transplanted into already unequal local hierarchies.

Separately, some specific suggestions for education and research emerged. At primary and secondary level, it was noted “Child-to-child teaching is a very efficient and cost-effective means to educate large numbers of children and in particular girls”. At high levels, “More vocational and technical training centres”, “socially responsive science and technology”, and “demand-led research” were suggested. African universities should be more involved in exchanges and twinning programs, taking advantage of new e-links (rather than exchanging people which tended to lead to a brain drain). Similarly, “trans-disciplinary linkages to allow for the cross-fertilization of ideas, and to exchange knowledge” were encouraged.

Child-to-child teaching is a very efficient and cost-effective means to educate large numbers of children and in particular girls

Suggestions on health also emerged. “Scrapping user fees for health services” was one contributor’s simple way to meet the health and related Millennium Development Goals: “taking money off poor people when they are sick is not a good idea”. Another contributor wrote that “cash and carry health systems have to be reformed”, and noted the emerging national health insurance scheme in Ghana which could “prove to be a useful start for others”. For HIV/AIDS, another contributor pointed to the need to change peoples’ behaviour, targeting all members of the family (citing the vital role of grandmothers in bringing up the next generation).

29/11/2004

Language and water and sanitation emerged as new themes, both receiving very little attention in the Commission for Africa’s Consultation document, at the same time as continuing discussions on education and culture and the arts.

“Foreign languages, especially the English language, have swallowed several languages” wrote one contributor, highlighting problems of “cultural erosion” for which African TV, radio and print media were much to blame. Indeed another contributor noted that “much of local cultural heritage is being taken for granted by Africans today – especially by the pivotal (sub)urbanised populations”. The importance of growing conurbations such as Cairo, Johannesburg, Kinshasa and Nairobi was mentioned by a separate contributor. On the other side of the world, it was noted “the North receives a one dimensional view of the South driven either by a (negative) news agenda or by the need to raise money”.

Foreign languages, especially the English language, have swallowed several languages

Returning to the view that “language is a factor of larger importance in the continent’s development than is generally recognised”, one contributor advocated for “well-designed bilingual education”, whether this be (to cite two other contributors) to develop African leaders or to better train people in their “roles and responsibilities as citizens or a state”.

The multi-faceted nature of citizenship, central but not explicitly stated in many of the messages posted so far, was alluded to again with more calls to ensure recognise diversity of Africa and ensure interventions were ‘country-specific’. One contributor, however, pointed to the many different levels that existed (and potentially different forms of communication required for them), from “pan-Africanism” to a local scale.

New suggestions on education related to the communication theme. A contributor from International House, Newcastle (UK), expressed the organisation’s interest in training teachers, particularly from lusophone Africa. Others mentioned the importance of distance learning, as well as vocational and on-the-job training. Conversely, one message was not to overdo workshops as “some civil servants in Africa go from one workshop to another, with very little time in between for work”.

some civil servants in Africa go from one workshop to another, with very little time in between for work

A contrast was provided by two contributors giving examples of cultural exchange projects they were involved in. The Fiankoma project, linking the village of Fiankoma in Ghana and Brighton in the UK, helped Ghanaian participants “represent their own lives and publish that material via a global information medium” as well as giving them an impetus to develop self-help projects. The Crossing Borders project, linking African writers to UK-based mentors helped “artists … make connections with each other … to engage in the difficult acts of understanding that transform consciousness and bring about … changes in perception and attitudes”.

The need for the “imaginative use of arts and culture” was echoed by many contributors – not just as an “adjunct” but as an “integral part of … development programmes”. Their importance was echoed by a Nigerian contributor who lamented the severe lack of funding for arts and culture in the country.

Finally, messages in the ‘Health, water and sanitation’ subtopic finally addressed water and sanitation, which “aren’t particularly sexy or newsworthy, but are the priorities of poor people”. Another contributor mentioned the importance of trans-boundary water management, particularly in river basins such as the Nile or Zambezi. In the same subtopic, one contributor stated that “We cannot ignore the female face of the AIDS epidemic”, explaining that as at December 2003 women accounted for 57% of people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Separately, the vulnerability of orphans and children was also highlighted, with a call for additional earmarked resources of at least 10% of total HIV and AID expenditure to towards this group.

Water and sanitation aren’t particularly sexy or newsworthy, but they are the priorities of poor people