A new development program for Africa that Canada is promoting has promise, but is seriously flawed because of its top-down approach.
This was the consensus view among some representatives of community-based organizations in Africa who were invited here to discuss the program.
It is called the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and has been endorsed by all 55 African nations as a blueprint for improving life on the continent of 700 million.
A two-day event here during the weekend, with 515 delegates from most African countries and Canada, discussed the document.
Those with a more critical view, such as CUSO-Quebec and the Quebec Association of International Co-operation, followed up with their own analysis. They drafted a summary statement denouncing what they said was a philosophy that resembled the "discredited" tack taken in the past by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
Disastrous Effects
These policies have had "disastrous effects" on African economies, the statement said, and NEPAD suffers from the same basic errors.
"The program did not sufficiently engage the diversity of African people in its conception and formulation and remains largely unknown to most Africans."
Canada is backing NEPAD, which will be high on the agenda of the summit of G8 heads of state in Kananaskis, Alta., June 26-27.
Typical of the critical views yesterday was that of Foufana Bakary, a vice president of the National Council of Civil Society in Guinea, who said that change must come from those in the field - grass-root peasant organizations, women's groups and co-operatives.
On the positive side, Bakary underlined the commitment of African governments to boost the economic well-being of citizens and provide good government.
'Cannot go Back'
"They cannot go back; we take them at their word," Bakary said.
Human-rights activist Jean Clément Bagré of Burkino Faso, a board member of CUSO, said he is concerned that building infrastructure and promoting foreign investment will take precedence over the human element.
"People are getting lost in all this," Bagré complained. He called for more emphasis on ensuring the primacy of law and participatory democracy.
Helen Kijo-Bisimba, a Tanzanian teacher and lawyer, said gender issues have been ignored.
"Women get up at 5 a.m. and have to look after husband, children and inlaws, go to work, and continue to serve when they return. They are lucky if they get to sleep by midnight.
"If an in-law is sick, she is the care-giver. If funds are limited,, the boys get the schooling."
Despite its weaknesses, NEPAD does send "a message of mobilization for Africans," said Baudoin Hamuli Kabarhuza, a representative of the Panos Institute in Congo (Kinshasa).
Irwin Block's E-mail is iblock@thegazette.southam.ca
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