Final answer:
James Shikwati advocates against foreign aid to Africa, arguing it often causes more harm than good, creates dependencies, and disrupts local economies. He promotes solutions that empower individuals and markets instead. This perspective is underpinned by examples like the CIDA wheat project in Tanzania which had serious negative impacts on local communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
James Shikwati is known for his criticism of foreign aid to Africa, arguing that such aid can lead to more harm than good. He believes that aid can create dependencies, undermine local economies, and perpetuate a cycle of poverty and aid reliance. Shikwati suggests alternative approaches that empower African individuals and markets.
An example illustrating this viewpoint involves the Canadian foreign aid organization (CIDA), which provided $100 million to Tanzania to grow wheat. The project did indeed produce wheat but at the expense of displacing nomadic pastoralists and villagers, infringing on human rights, and causing significant collateral damage.
The complexities of providing economic aid in Africa, as discussed by Shikwati, reveal the potential for unintended negative consequences, emphasizing the need for critically examining how aid is delivered and what long-term impacts it may have.