Sending Fire Trucks to a Stone Village

Development Work.  I, apparently, am involved in Development Work.  I thought I was just making the individual decision to make a difference in peoples' lives, however, I've learned that I'm actually involved in Developing a Nation.  

What does that even mean?  Development from what and to what?  I'm assuming all this Developing has something to do with alleviating poverty.  That makes sense right?

So poverty.  Our guest speaker today is the director of the Millenium Challenge Project.  Google it, I don't have time to explain other than it's an NGO that wants to Develop countries.  Anyway, he asked us today to consider the following:

Country X (big hint here, X is Mali) become a democracy in 1990.  

• Every year since that time the GDP has increased 5%.  Not bad.  In fact between 1990-2008 the GDP has more than doubled. 
  
• From 1990-2008 60% of the GDP is Agricultural and originating from Rural populations
• The Urban population accounts for 20% of the total population with 80% residing in rural areas.
• From 1990-2008 the Urban Poverty rates have decreased from 27%-23%.  
• HOWEVER in the same period of time the Rural Poverty rate has Increased 76%-79%

What the hell is going on.  The economy is getting better nationally.  The majority of the GDP comes from the rural areas, but the rural populations are getting poorer. 

So what does Development look like to a Peace Corps volunteer?  Is it planting better seeds?  Getting better irrigation?  Making farmers produce more?  This is a common goal for volunteers.  But then what.  They make more, to sell it for crappy prices, to get poorer.  They sell raw cotton, which is exported, and then they buy fabric that is imported.  The farmers have no property rights because there are no land deeds.  Property is considered owned as long as you are using it...so you send your grandma out to throw some millet seeds around and farm a meager product while you (the male bread winner) go try and find a job in Bamako.  

I feel so far out of my league tackling problems of national Development.  I have no idea and I'm overwhelmed by a country, no a continent, that has basically become a welfare state.  A Welfare Continent, if you well.  Africa gets money sent to them to improve their schools, if their schools improve they stop getting money.  If the schools don't improve, they get more money.  

In fact, Mali is the darling of the Development world because it is a real democracy (sort of).  It's secular and there is universal suffarage, in theory at least.  Developed Nations like the USA are very vested in making Mali succeed.  Money is no object when the outcome is an African Nation that is Democratic and a Success.  Too bad it's not really working.

There is a village in Mali where a fire truck is sitting on blocks outside the town mayor's office.  The town is made of stone.  The fire truck was donated by some Baptist church in Southern America.  Why did they donate a fire truck?  Because the town didn't have one.  The truck has subsequently been scavenged for parts and tires, and now sits outside a lonely idol to nonsustainable Development.  

There are Malian tailors who are going out of business because American's are donating clothes to ship to Africa.  Tailors are no longer needed to make traditional clothing.

Sustainable Development.  What the hell is it?  How do I contribute to it in a University setting?  

Don't worry I'm not discouraged, just intrigued.