The approach of development partnership is:

Interest, respect and appreciation towards the partner and sharing with him.

I work within the framework of the Catholic Workers Movement in Germany(KAB), which – like the Catholic Workers Movement Uganda (CWM) – is part of the World Movement of Christian Workers (WMCW). About 40 movements worldwide are organized in the WMCW, which primarily work for decent working conditions, fair pay, fair trade and many other humanitarian goals such as education, gender equality, etc. All members see each other as sisters and brothers. Visiting the movements (I have been to Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Uganda, Spain, France and Belgium), one feels the spirit and richness of shared appreciation among different cultures, methodologies, approaches and values. Solutions worked out with all concerned on this basis are much more appropriate to the context and also more sustainable than recipes imposed. In these 12 years, during many assignments, I have learned and marveled at the know-how available in the respective partner countries. That is why group, school or community partnerships, such as those between KAB and CWM, are very important.

Why development aid No?

Of course there are very good projects in the framework of governmental development cooperation as well as from NGOs. E.g. in the health sector, agriculture or infrastructure.

Unfortunately, I also saw approaches that were in no way oriented to the real interests of the people on the ground and only implemented the ideas and plans brought along. I even have the suspicion that the meanwhile very large organizations and apparatuses use the projects primarily to secure their own existence. Development cooperation secures well-paid jobs for many people from rich countries and offers the possibility of highly interesting work under often comfortable working conditions. The real interests of the people and states on the ground often do not come first. Since all large projects must always run through state agencies, corruption is often involved and autocratic leaders not infrequently adorn themselves with such achievements. Instead of promoting democratic processes, the power of the autocrats is thereby secured.

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