Launch of groundbreaking new book by Roger Riddell,
Principal of The Policy Practice
Does Foreign Aid Really Work?
Roger C. Riddell
Published by Oxford University Press, April 2007
(paperback edition August 2008)
In a major new book just published by OUP in paperback, Roger Riddell provides a challenging assessment of aid and its impact, and presents bold proposals for making aid more effective.
The Oxford book launch, co-hosted by The Policy Practice, which debated key issues raised by the book, was held at the Said Business School on 22 May 2007. The Chancellor of the University of Oxford, former Minister of Overseas Development and Governor of Hong Kong, The Rt. Hon Lord Patten of Barnes gave the keynote address.
Download Roger's presentation at the Said Business School
Listen to the discussion here:
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Keynote Address by Lord Patten, Chancellor of the University of Oxford audio streaming or download
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Presentation by Roger Riddell audio streaming or download
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Question and answers audio streaming or download
Note that these are mp3 files that should launch automatically in your default media player, such as Windows Media Player, Real Player or Quick Time.
Listen to Roger's presentation at the Overseas Development Institute on 22 April 2007.
Synopsis
Foreign aid is now a $100bn business and is expanding more rapidly today than it has for a generation. But does it work? Indeed, is it needed at all?
Other attempts to answer this important question have been dominated by a focus on the impact of official aid provided by governments. But today possibly as much as 30 percent of aid is provided by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and over 10 percent is provided as emergency assistance.
In this first-ever attempt to provide an overall assessment of aid, Roger Riddell presents a rigorous but highly readable account of aid, warts and all. Does Foreign Aid Really Work? sets out the evidence and exposes the instances where aid has failed and explains why. The book also examines the way that short-term political interests distort aid, and disentangles the moral and ethical assumptions that lie behind the belief that aid does good. The book concludes by detailing the practical ways that aid needs to change if it is to be the effective force for good that its providers claim it is.
Reviews
''For anyone who wants to know more about development assistance, this is a "must- read".
Roger Riddell provides us with a nuanced and honest outline of past and current aid-flows, their complexities, trends and possible impact. Does aid really work? His answer is a conditional, cautious - yes. And he presents some bold proposals to address some of the systemic weaknesses. It was strong international leadership that delivered the aid-reforms of the 90's. The question is whether the current leaders in development are ready for this debate?''
Hilde Frafjord Johnson, former Minister of International Development of Norway
''In this impressive new study, Riddell has surpassed even his distinguished Foreign Aid Reconsidered. It includes a rare and much-needed analysis of emergency and voluntary assistance. Complete and authoritative, the book will have a long life as the definitive account of its important subject.''
Professor Robert Cassen, London School of Economics
''This book is a heroic achievement. Not only has Roger Riddell mapped out with great clarity the arcane world of international aid, in a way that will help the practitioner as much as the general reader, he has also produced visionary and challenging recommendations for reform of the system.''
Sir Michael Aaronson, former Director General of Save the Children UK