MinBane
I write what I like.
Archive for the category “Education”
Burundi: World Bank to finance the [Insignificant] NKURIZA
On Friday 20th September 2019, the World Bank forwarded an advance to start the Nkuriza or the Advance Agreement for Preparation of Proposed Investing in Early Years and Fertility Project Project Preparation Advance No. V2270-BI. The letter of the advance was sent to Minister of Finance, Budget and Development Planning Domitien Ndihokubwayo.
Clearly, the World Bank has been planning this project with the authorities for over a long time. Where they want to help the people of Burundi and the get the fertility rate down. Also, secure the food and nutrition in the 6 provinces of the Republic. What is also striking, the minimal advance of $350,000 USD is going to see the progress of the project and the International Development Association (IDA) going to later give a grant of $30m USD.
The World Bank knows how this regime is going about. So the WB is dropping funds and granting funds to them, as they are going into elections and having a project, which isn’t that viable. The idea and the possible plans of is ideal, but the own documentation proves that they don’t believe it themselves.
Expectation from the World Bank:
“This overall project is classified as a category “B” given that activities are not expected to produce any large-scale, significant, and/or irreversible impacts” (World Bank, 30.08.2019).
Where and what:
“The main project beneficiaries will consist of children under-two and women of reproductive age in 6 provinces (Bubanza, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Kirundo, Makamba and Muyinga) to reach them in the critical 1,000day window of opportunity, as most cognitive and physical development occur between conception and two years of age. Interventions related to FP will focus on both women of reproductive age and men. Other beneficiaries will include adolescent girls to reach women early and to improve their health and nutrition status prior to entering their reproductive health years. The poorest households will benefit from improvements in access to water, hygiene, sanitation and small-scale agriculture interventions” (World Bank, 30.08.2019).
What it will do:
“(a) Carry out a program of technical assistance to: (i) develop Project related safeguards
instruments; (ii) study the determinants of chronic malnutrition and high fertility in project areas; (iii) develop a food composition database; (iv) undertake institutional and capacity building needs
assessments; and (v) prepare a Project implementation manual.
(b) Workshops between religious leaders and the Ministry of Health and Fight against HIV/AIDS” (World Bank, 20.09.2019).
So, its not that expect anything out of it. The project itself is positive and the needs for it surely there. However, I get automatically sceptical, when the organization donating to it, doesn’t think it will give any results. That is why you can wonder, why does the IDA grant possibly these funds and why will the WB give an advance in the first place?
Shouldn’t the same organization give funds to other projects, which is classified in another bracket, where they actually think it will have effect and get results. I understand, also that this sort of projects is hard to establish the possible results or the change in society. However, if they believe in this sort of activity. I would be as sceptical anywhere, because this seems like they are testing out something random and hoping they are able to make a difference.
In addition, they will be lucky if that happens. Since, they are not anticipating this to be the remedy. So, in one way it giving money down a wishing well, hoping someone see their prayer. Peace.
Share this:
Miseducation of Yoweri: An insincere backslap by the President
“’I became a soldier not to acquire a profession, but because of the bad situation that existed in my country. I saw no reason why anyone should terrorize me with a gun, so I learned to use the gun and used it to immobilize the terrorist. Neither would I describe myself as a politician. I believe every Ugandan should be involved in politics in order not to be manipulated by clever people who call themselves politicians. I entered the sphere of political leadership in order to help eliminate manipulation from politics in my country” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (from a biography published by Uganda Investment Authority during 1994).
Here we go again. Another day, another backfiring quote from the fountain of honour. From the commander-in-chief and His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. It is like his forgotten himself and his own political career. Even in the midst of the bushwar, as journalists and such was following his trail in Luweero. Even then he spoke of economically liberating the peasants. Something, that sticks to me. Because this is his legacy, that he was supposed to deliver together with the 10 point programme.
Still in his bright mind, he speaks like this:
“A serious person does not mix politics with the livelihood of the people, all leaders irrespective of their political inclination should go back to the people and awaken them to kick poverty out of their homes” – President Museveni on the 1st August in Kasese District (Daily Monitor – ‘Do not politicise poverty, Museveni tells Opposition groups’ 02.08.2019).
As we see, without further delay, he himself have not awaken people, he has had 33 years and counting to do so. The President has spoken viciously about this since the early 1980s and still not configured the details. Therefore, he doesn’t want others to intervene, because he lack control and leadership to figure it out himself.
That is why its ironic, that he said this 21 years earlier:
“What needs to be done is to educate these people, have them understand how to develop their economies in their own humble way. The people need to be politically educated to understand abuse by their governments” President Museveni at the Addis Forum on the 8th March 1998.
So, he has kept his same message, the Freedom Fighter, that was supposed to lecture and educate the public out of poverty. The man who was supposed to change, a fundamental change if you may, the correct line, the one vision out of financial distress. Still, this man has not been able or tried to do so.
Since, were in 2019 and he blames others for not doing it well. He blames the other leaders, not himself. Who has been at the helm and had all the opportunities in the world to make a difference and actually change things. Still, he hasn’t, because that hasn’t been his main concern. That he has pushed to the donors, the NGOs and whoever who could cover his basics. Not that he needed to look into it. If he did, then it would be a scheme where he get rich and his patronage too.
Therefore, he should start to educate himself, finds way out of the maze and not put blame on others; as his own record of accomplishment isn’t that brilliant. Peace.
