I just learned of the Speigel interview with African economist James Shikwati, noticing how much aid money is counterproductive. I'll skimp on organizing this post just to pull out a few gems:

Malaria is just as much of a problem[as AIDS], but people rarely talk about that.

Because for one reason the most effective anti-mosquito efforts used DDT, which is anathema to the environmentalists. I'm surprised he thinks AIDS is a political disease on his own continent.

Why do we get these mountains of clothes? No one is freezing here.
[...]

Jobs with foreign aid organizations are, of course, quite popular, and they can be very selective in choosing the best people. When an aid organization needs a driver, dozens apply for the job. And because it's unacceptable that the aid worker's chauffeur only speaks his own tribal language, an applicant is needed who also speaks English fluently -- and, ideally, one who is also well mannered. So you end up with some African biochemist driving an aid worker around, distributing European food, and forcing local farmers out of their jobs. That's just crazy!

This is pretty funny. Pity such absurdity has a negative impact on so many people.

I've wondered if aid could be better spent in setting up small credit unions free of corruption to make business loans and provide better funding sources for African economic renewal. But the poster proxy_user on FreeRepublic takes a cynical view: "But Mr.Shikwati! The Europeans are not as dumb as you think. They have their hands full competing with China and India. They certainly don't want to have to compete with Africa too, and for a very small price they are able to dodge that problem."