Dialogue Perhaps, the greatest weakness of many NGOs and development organisations is that they come with a fixed agenda. Academics and technicians study the latest development theory and draw up a programme at home. Managers and PR specialists weigh what could be publicised most attractively to Western audiences. Then, they come to Africa looking for a place to implement it, under the motto 'take it or leave it'. African governments, Churches and communities smile and nod their heads to the wise men from the West, but then go and use the money for what they think their real needs are.
Donors cry foul, stop giving and go elsewhere to make the same mistake over and over again.
Little has changed in this game during the last decades. Perhaps, it has contributed more often to corruption than to development. African leaders and elites, both in the Church and in society, have often shamelessly abused donor money for personal gain instead of community needs. Western donors and NGOs have frequently imposed their programmes and ideas without respect for the life of local communities. An open and honest dialogue, which is more easily said than done.