Harare, Zimbabwe, 3 June 2010 (ACBF) – The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) has released its new publication – The Future of Bilateral Aid in Africa: Size Flow, Conditionalities and relative Importance in Countries’ Budgets. Published under the auspices of the ACBF Development Memoirs Series, the publication is a collection of thoughts by Kristina Svensson, former Swedish Ambassador to Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In her Memoir, Ms. Svensson outlines why development in general is dependent on a complex array of factors which she states, “rules out the prospect of any magic bullet.” She submits that only when fundamental principles of democracy, macroeconomic stability and good governance are put in place, there can be no shortcuts to sustainable development.

Cumulative experience in the Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe have revealed some core lessons which are instructive and point in the same direction: sustainable growth and development are only possible where there is a culture of political pluralism, participation in the development process, good governance and a market economy; donors can and should support efforts to strengthen democracy and good governance in countries making transition and donors can play a crucial role to strengthen democratic institutions through capacity development. With regards to Africa, it is imperative to be aware that Africa is not homogenous and that theoretical knowledge on development is not enough but rather an in-depth understanding of what is happening on the ground.

“The image of Africa in the western world is too often an image of conflicts, wars poverty and diseases. Certainly this is part of African reality, but Africa is also about democratic progress, multi-party elections, economic growth and healthy children.”

About the African Capacity Building Foundation
ACBF was established in February 1991. It is the outcome of collaborative efforts between African governments and the international donor community. The Foundation’s mission is to build sustainable human and institutional capacity for sustainable growth, poverty reduction and good governance in Africa.

For further information contact:

a.mpunzwana@acbf-pact.org
r.kambarami@acbf-pact.org
African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
PO Box 1562, Harare
ZIMBABWE
Tel: + 263 4 700208/210