Reinforcing Success: Using Lesson's Learned from Foreign Aid Delivery to Plan Theater Security Cooperation in Africa
Abstract
Huge outlays of foreign aid to Africa have failed to help countries in the region develop. Africa lags the rest of the world in almost any measure of development. A growing scholarly consensus suggests the reasons foreign assistance has failed relate to the design of assistance programs. Studies show that policy preconditions are critical to the efficacy of foreign aid. For decades, aid donors have underestimated the importance of the policy environment in recipient countries. However, taking this new research into account, some aid programs now assess a country's receptivity to aid through objective measurement of indicators of a favorable policy environment. Through programs collectively referred to as Theater Security Cooperation (TSC), the new Geographic Combatant Command for Africa (AFRICOM) will assist selected militaries in Africa. TSC, though limited to military matters, is a form of foreign aid; therefore, lessons learned from the delivery of foreign aid in Africa are applicable. Drawing on lessons from the failure of foreign assistance in Africa, this paper asserts that AFRICOM should take advantage of this new thinking in planning a program of TSC for Africa.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA530116
Entities
People
- Peyton M. Coleman
Organizations
- National Defense University