Africa Rising 2010

The second edition of Africa Rising took place on Friday June 4^th 2010 with the theme ‘The (Non)Sense of Development Aid’. Two keynote speakers shed light on the effects development aid has on Africa.

The first guest speaker was Armstrong Okobia, who kicked off with a presentation called ‘‘How Developmental is Development Aid?’’ He addressed this question from a business-model point of view and kept his arguments clear-cut, verifiable and simple. If through giving Aid the ultimate goal is to achieve economic growth in the long-run, both granters and recipients of Aid should use business-models in which both efficiency and profit is maximized. This is not the case with Development Aid in its most occurring form.

Dr. Kwame Nimako’s  lecture was called “Learning to Un-learn to Re-learn ‘Development Aid’ and Africa” and looked at Development Aid from a more historical perspective. Recipient countries more often than not have a past link with the granters of Aid through colonialism. Many of the ministries in Europe that are called ‘Ministry of Development Cooperation’ today were formerly called ‘Ministry of Colonial Affairs’. Development Aid in its most occurring form is a power projection. Compared to what African countries have achieved for themselves, the positive effects of so-called Development Aid are extremely slim to none.

During the second part of the program two guest speakers shared their views on possible ways of developing the African continent and help it move forward.

With a powerful presentation Sandra Irobi showed that success can be ensured for everyone who makes use of their education, daring mind and ambition for entrepreneurship in Africa. If critical demand is satisfied through your entrepreneurial activities in Africa, you will not only have achieved success for yourself, but also for the economic development of the region in which you operate. 

Nicknora Gongich shared the story of the hardships he endured as a child soldier in his native country of Sudan and in Ethiopia. Due to war it has been impossible to receive proper education for more than twenty years in his hometown Bor in Sudan. Gongich founded Stichting Kef Sukef, with which he plans on building schools for primary education in Bor. He needs as much help as he can get for this project. His presentation ended with a video of the intended region and its people, so that the audience got a good feel for his project and the impact it would make.

Africa Rising 2010 concluded with food and drink in bar-restaurant Sièna, where both guest speakers and audience members enjoyed the remainder of the evening.

Africa Rising 2010 was an educative, insightful and thought-provoking event which has most definitely helped shape the way those present think about Development Aid and possibilities in Africa. Those who were not present really missed out!

The next Africa Rising is scheduled as a spring event in 2012. We hope to see you there!

Yours sincerely,

ASAH Board 2009-2010

Africa Rising 2010 was made possible by NiNsee (National Institute for the Study of Dutch Slavery and its Legacy )