World’s poorest ‘will wait centuries’ for change, UK think-tank warns

A British think-tank has warned it will take 100 years for some of the world’s poorest people to get basic health care, sanitation and education services, unless the current approach to aid is radically changed. The report, released on Tuesday by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), said the current “one size fits all” approach to aid doesn’t recognise the political realities or the competence of certain countries to deliver donor-funded aid programmes. For example, across sub-Saharan Africa, boys from healthy urban families will be able to complete primary school education, but it will take 65 years before girls from poor rural families have the same opportunities.

Our research has shown us that projects delivering good results are locally led, politically smart and often employ entrepreneurial techniques. Looking at how aid works is more important than how much to spend.

Leni Wild, lead author of the report

The report follows Monday’s warning by a parliamentary watchdog that Britain must find ways to move “beyond aid” to have a global impact. A report by the International Development Committee said Britain should seek new forms of cooperation through links to UK institutions in areas such as health, education, law, culture and science. The committee monitors the policy, administration and spending of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), which manages overseas aid.

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