[WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: Online Atlas of Millennium Development Goals

[David Allen]

At 9:53 AM +0100 3/26/07, Nyangkwe Agien Aaron wrote:
>That posting reveals some mind searching statistics. Being a product of the UNDP, an organisation whose track record at stymeing development projects in less developing countries, begs for some questions on its veracity. A friend of mine in latin America once wrote to me comcernig UNDP that '"I believe that they should just scrap this thing-UNDP out" My friend added that the local Director of UNDP was very reluctant in disbursing funds necessary for the smooth carrying out  of the project the friend was carrying there - my friend did not say if the said Director needed bribe . "Aaron, do you know one thing, this Director will be the first and the last to leave during cocktails organized within the frame work of this programme, and you could see the person eating gorgeousely' and I will feel like snashing the plate and dumping it to the ground". That same UNDPstory can be told by many NGOs in less developing countries around the world. If you have a friend that has once handled a project funded through UNDP, do emquire.
> 
>On the other hand, the statistics claimimg that most of the poorest people in 2015 will be in Africa, is the true projection of the West ambivalent policies on African pilferers called 'Heads of States'. The West has been very silent when it comes to making strong policy pronouncement on monies stolen by African kleptocrats and stashed in Western havens. Of course, it is his same monies that is taken and reloaned to the poor African masses in terms of "aids".We cannot talk of fighting poverty when we perpetually keep others in the state of poverty. That is gimmicking.
>The milllenium development goals can only be made if the West accepts to be transparent in her dealings with Africa.

We have moved here, from statistics to policy.  And also of course, reliability of the source for statistics.

Hopefully others on the list with some knowledge can build on your points.

David