Devex: Q&A: Why ‘self-reliance’ is the wrong goal for U.S. aid
“Since his first day in office, U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Mark Green has repeatedly emphasized his belief that the purpose of foreign assistance should be ending its need to exist. In practical terms, that has translated into a new policy framework at USAID that focuses on a ‘journey to self-reliance’ — the idea being that U.S. assistance should focus on helping countries along that journey, measured by new indicators the agency released last year. … Last month, Matthew Kavanagh, a professor at Georgetown University, tweeted, ‘”The Journey to Self Reliance” as a concept for development shows such a remarkable lack of historical understanding, context, and self-reflection I just kindof cant deal.’ Given that Green’s tenure and policy vision has garnered mostly positive reviews in the U.S. development community, Devex reached out to Kavanagh to hear more about why he takes issue with the self-reliance framework…” (Igoe, 6/17).