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Non-formal (additional) Aid resources

“Do not eat on your own”

in the idea that resources can be most efficiently allocated and used by those who value them
most and that increasing personal and economic freedom is a powerful force for growth.

Too often, top-down development schemes are poorly placed to deliver meaningful results in
local communities. The very nature of transfer of money or resources from rich Western
countries to less developed nations carries with it a sometimes insurmountable hurdle;

recipient countries are incredibly distant from Western nations – in a literal, geographic sense
and also a 'metaphorical', cultural and technological sense.

These differences only exacerbate the difficulties of centrally planning development
programmes; there simply is not enough knowledge available to Western powers to determine
what is best for local communities without engaging from the bottom up. Even further,

continuous failures of development projects erode trust in governments and international
agencies as communities are continuously let down or even negatively impacted.

By engaging with communities – from the beginning of a project through to implementation
and hopefully eventually creating self-sufficient programmes – several benefits emerge.

Projects are more likely to be sustainable, there are fewer unexpected consequences (such as
products going to waste or being used for unintended reasons, as with mosquito nets), and
community members gain agency by becoming drivers of change. Not only do bottom-up

programmes increase general prosperity, provide jobs, and improve technologies, they can
foster a valuable sense of personal worth and give individuals more agency and freedom to

choose. “
"Debate: Does Foreign Aid Work?," 492
Institute of Economic Affairs. (December 2018)

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Labour pledge UK town twinning with Africa
“ The UK Labour Party has pledged to reintroduce the concept of town twinning between UK
and African cities to help improve export opportunities should they win the next election.

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna criticised the coalition government for not
maximising the potential for UK exports of low carbon goods and services to Africa. “
"Labour Pledge UK Town Twinning with Africa," 493
Global Trade Review (GTR).(May 2014)

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