Most “development” in the Third World has been undertaken as a “gift” for 50+ years but only brave souls boast about the results of that approach. Yet we have rock stars like Bono and Geldof, backed by academics like Jeffrey Sachs, who appeal for more of the same in larger and intensified doses. On the other hand, investment either gets results or dies. But the profit motive is enjoying a period of disrepute due to the downturn brought about by excess greed. What is right? Are we stuck?
I propose a panel discussion between proponents of either approach, preferably by Fellows with experience in the practice of one approach or the other. I would be happy to take the pro-investment side, using my work in Africa as my “data set”. That doesn’t imply I’m anti-charity. We don’t need someone on the other side who is anti-investment, but rather someone who believes donor work just needs to be better funded, focused and “smarter”.
Here are some of the questions to be addressed:
- When should a problem be approached with philanthropy and when should it be approached with investment?
- When is it unreasonable to expect to profit from solving someone’s problem and when does it insult a recipient to provide something for free when they can work and pay for it?
- What makes us gather wealth from a successful career in business and then convert to philanthropy as a preferred basis for action, and why?
- How can philanthropy and investment be better synergized, and are there existing good models for that or do they need to be developed?
- Is some work being done through charity only because it cannot generate a 30%+ return when it would be more realistic and reasonable to expect a 10% return?
- How do you bestow charity on a recipient without implicitly communicating that they are a basket case and only capable of dependence on assistance?
I look forward to receiving feedback from interested Fellows with a view to organizing an event in Washington DC in July or September.
Rod MacAlister
+1 571 331 3381
rod@macalister.org
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