'Aid Exit' Strategy for African Countries: A Debate

摘要

This paper results from differing views the two of us hold over the efficacy ofan aid exit strategy for Africa. Grays comments were stimulated by McPhersons initial draft. The debate format is designed to stimulate reflection about controversial issues. McPherson argues that, because of the way foreign aid tends to submerge the agendas of African governments, those governments should, on their own initiative, begin the process of planning to get off aid. A properly formulated aid exit strategy, he argues, would include a debt exit strategy as well. McPherson draws on field experience indicating the existence of a chronic pattern of dependence between African governments and donor agencies that reduces the effectiveness of aid.