Development finance - a role for foreign assistance

Has foreign aid boosted economic growth on average in developing countries? How and why is the aid landscape changing? What are the key strategic choices ahead for the development community?

​These and many other questions were discussed in a policy workshop organized by the Embassy of Denmark and UNU-WIDER in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on June 8.

H.E. Johnny Flentø welcomed the audience consisting of key people from the local development policy community.

What role for aid going forward?

The discussion was opened by Myles Wickstead with a presentation on the challenges and opportunities for development - and the role of aid - in the coming decades.

Growth and aid - what is the relationship?

Finn Tarp, Director of UNU-WIDER, addressed the question that has been on the agenda for decades - does aid support or hinder economic growth. The answer is that in the long run, on average, aid has had a positive effect on growth.

Presentation

Challenges and strategies available

Tony Addison, Chief Economist and Deputy Director of UNU-WIDER, spoke of the many crucial risks to development efforts and the strategic choices available to the international community and aid recipients.

 Presentation

Rwekaza Mukandala, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, spoke to the topics of the day from the Tanzanian perspective, including Tanzania's relations over the years with the donor community