If Africa is the Question, is NGO the Answer?
| DOI | 10.1177/002070208604100408 |
| Author | Tim Brodhead |
| Date | 01 December 1986 |
| Published date | 01 December 1986 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
TIM
BRODHEAD
If
Africa
is
the
question,
is
NGO
the
answer?
As
in
other
Western
countries,
the
B
B
C
broadcast
of
23
October
1984
on
the
crisis
in
Africa
unleashed
in
Canada
a wave
of
public
concern
which
grew to
surpass
that
generated
by
any
comparable
issue
since
Biafra
in
the
late
196os.
It forced
non-
governmental
organizations
(NGos)
to
react,
to
adjust
their
pro-
grammes,
and
in some
cases
to
review
their
overall
operating
strategies.
For
some agencies,
indeed,
the African
crisis
was
a
watershed, provoking
a
far-reaching re-examination
of
their
roles;
for
others,
it
was
simply
a
cause
to
redouble
past
efforts.
But
almost
none
was
left
unaffected
by
the
aftershock
of
the
television images
and
the
ensuing
public
response.
It
was
that
pressure
which led
the
Canadian
government
to
create
a
$65-million
Special
Fund
for
Africa even
as
it
was
cutting
back
Canada's
spending
on
official
development
assis-
tance.
It
was
the
need
to
be
seen
to
be
responding
that
led
to
the creation
of
the
Office
of
the Canadian
Emergency
Co-
ordinator/African
Famine,
headed
by
a
former
Conservative
cabinet
minister,
David
MacDonald.
And
it
was
public
pressure
for
the
efficient
use
of
resources
which
led
to
the
establishment
of
an
inter-agency
co-ordinating
body,
called Africa
Emergency
Aid
(AEA),
by
the Canadian
Council
for
International
Coop-
eration
(ccic),
with
support
from the
emergency
coordinator.
The
Special
Fund
for
Africa
was
announced
by
the govern-
Research
Associate,
NGO
Evaluation,
North-South Institute; formerly
director
of
Inter
Pares;
president
of
the Canadian
Council
for
International
Cooperation
1981-4.
International
Journal
XLI
autumn
1986
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