(Chairperson, Nepad Contact Group of African Parliamentarians)

1. In recent years several European governments have moved from “development assistance” to “partnership” in describing Official Development Assistance (ODA)
2. This change followed a considerable discussion about the relationship between Africa and Europe, and the intentions behind ODA. The most favourable justification of ODA is that the provision of assistance for poor countries and their peoples is a noble act in the interest not only of the recipients but also of a better world. Poverty and underdevelopment is now recognised as a “global bad” and the responsibility of all. (more…)