Coercion by Project Aid

Abstract

The intentions of aid authorities are liberal, but their actions are coercive. The difference is glaring when one compares the Development Assistance Committee’s reports with what the members of that donor country committee actually do when they negotiate aid for the very poor countries’ projects. Here is an example:

The attainment of social objectives (as part of overall development programmes) is difficult. In-so-far as techniques are involved, they are not the ones ready to hand, but will have to be learned, or re-learned, on the spot, in contact with the people, rather than concrete or machines. Nor is it only at the technical level that adjustment is needed. It will involve new approaches, new understanding, as well as changes in aid programming and methods [OECD/DAC, 1975, p. 69].