White Toyota, white aid
Blogged by: Hugo Slim
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An aid agency vehicle and a truck drive on a flooded road near the city of Meulaboh, on the coast of Indonesia's tsunami-hit Aceh province, June 2005. REUTERS/Beawiharta Beawiharta
When I was in Liberia last year, I decided to walk the two kilometres from the market town I was visiting to the NGO (non-governmental organisation) team house where I was staying. As I walked, several 4x4 vehicles resplendent in the flags, logos and radio masts of international NGOs sped past me spraying dust into my face.
This was a rightful taste of my own medicine. In my several years as a humanitarian worker in the 1980s, my car had done the same to thousands of Ethiopian and Sudanese people.
Going too fast one day I had even killed a baby donkey and, shamefully, not stopped to compensate its owner for fear of a crowd.
After one particularly gritty dusting on my recent walk, I saw a large Liberian lady on the other side of the road similarly smarting from the dirt. She was carrying a large basket to market and gesticulating at the passing cars for a lift into town, so as to spare herself the last hot mile. She was indignant.
"Hey white man" she called to me "these people all come to our country in their fast cars saying they want to help us but they never stop and give us a lift."
Colour and colonialism are still central factors in the business and perceptions of international NGOs around the world. Most powerful international NGOs are governed by white people. They are also predominantly funded by white people's money.
On the red roads of Africa, 95 percent of NGO staff are black but the Toyotas they drive are white. The white Toyota is emblematic of the international aid industry - its power, its presence, its gifts and its opportunities.
The humanitarian profession often travels fast and moves in packs. When it arrives in an emergency it can feel like an invasion or, perhaps, an exotic circus coming to town.
The plethora of acronyms, hastily rented offices, bags of vital aid and lucrative job opportunities are often welcomed with relief by the local population.
But, the arrival of international NGOs en masse can also challenge government authority, start a brain drain from local businesses and government ministries, overwhelm civil society, make unlikely local contractors suddenly rich and inadvertently change the balance of social and economic power.
International NGOs bring ideological change too. Liberal ideas of political participation, recruitment by merit, gender equality, progressive education, social work and professional health care are full of implicit western challenge.
In war and disasters, most NGOs affect a limited "humanitarian" posture but their idea of progress is obvious in their deeper "development" goals and the ex-patriate parties in which they let their hair down.
History also confirms that once international NGOs have arrived in a country on an emergency ticket, they are usually keen to stay on a development ticket.
For most international NGOs, disaster relief is the thin end of a more ideological development wedge. You "go in" to save people and "stay on" to educate and empower them along liberal lines.
This is an open secret which is accepted by liberal leaning host governments, tolerated by others and despised by those of an Islamist or Mugabist mould.
International NGOs and international aid are bigger than ever before. The great majority of aid is provided by a relatively small clique of about 20 European and North American governments and their publics.
The formal international humanitarian and development system is really only their system - a parochial western affair with a wide global reach. Other powerful states - like China, Russia, rich Islamic states, Venezuela, Brazil and India are not interested in joining this western system directly. They prefer to do their own thing.
China is launching its own determined aid and trade programme in Africa. Russia prioritises its "near abroad" and most rich Muslim countries, including Iran, give most of their emergency aid and political support to wars in which Muslims are fighting with Israel or America.
Apparently, powerful Muslim states care very little for the victims of wars like Darfur where Muslims kill Muslims in their thousands.
Within the large diversity of international NGOs today, power remains firmly with "the eight big NGO families" - World Vision, CARE, Save the Children, Oxfam, MSF, Caritas, LWF and IRC.
These eight large transnational NGOs, with funding, affiliates and operational programmes all around the world, routinely account for some 75 percent of emergency aid flows.
Even within the big eight there is a giant. World Vision, with an annual budget of $2 billion is twice as large as the next ranked of the big eight and is also larger than several UN agencies.
Interestingly, many NGOs who come from states with no colonizing history in Africa and Asia - like Norway, Switzerland or Sweden - can feel immune from post-colonial risks and perceptions.
Realistically, however, many of these nationalities have a history of other forms of engagement like Christian mission or business which colours their arrival with traces of colonialism. Or, more simply, they are all bundled together with ex-colonialist nationalities into a single notion of the intervening foreigner.
Much of this international intervention is welcomed by people on the ground. Around the world, international NGOs make a significant difference to people's lives.
They help millions of people to prosper, to secure health and education, and to organise politically.
But, as ever, the relationships involved are politically difficult, not always as they are presented.
The challenge of finding new forms of more equal working relationships that avoid post-colonial frictions is, not surprisingly, a slow process.
The rhetoric of solidarity, partnership, empowerment and support which international NGO discourse uses to describe current aid relationships, more often than not, describes relationships which are still more desired than delivered.
This is the first in a series of blogs by Hugo Slim. Read the others:
What happens to governments when aid agencies are around?
Do aid agencies pull too many strings?
Viewing the poor through Western eyes
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15 responses to “White Toyota, white aid”
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07 Apr 2007 22:34:23 GMT
Disastors and human miseries are the major products of the international NGOs. like a cleaver carsalesman they smell the drift of miseries around the world and in disquise of helping the striken line their deep accounts with money and later decide to throw few mousals to the destitues. ladden with the bonty they wait the next disastor in the lobbies of five star hotels with while SUVs and chauffers in tow. They hope that african miseries never ends- that is they only product they sell.
10 Apr 2007 08:33:12 GMT
There is a practical reason for white vehicles.
White reflects heat.10 Apr 2007 09:20:10 GMT
Interesting points, however..
(quote) "Apparently, powerful Muslim states care very little for the victims of wars like Darfur where Muslims kill Muslims in their thousands." (endquote) Where did you get that from? A lot of aid from Middle Eastern countries (which are the ones I presume you refer to), goes bilateral and thus goes un-noticed as it is not recorded by an international body like OCHA - where other aid sums are registered as a donation. Organisations like the UAE Red Crescent have an annual aid budget of US$2 billion... And that is just the *UAE* Red Crescent.. In general, I do not see a source for the data you provide... Peter10 Apr 2007 09:20:48 GMT
Very thoughtful article, addressing issues and perceptions widely-held but rarely discussed openly. After several decades of this emergency-then-development style of intervention, it is time to evolve to a a more locally-based, "organic" type of development. There are many NGOs that have done/are doing excellent work, but even they create "unsustainable" distortions that may actually slow or discourage more meaningful development. The professional lured from a ministry to an NGO job may be far more useful to his/her society by starting a business if the reason for leading the ministry is low renumeration and lack of personal/professional fulfillment. But why bother to do something as useful but risky as starting a business when there are easy, well-paid, glamorous NGO jobs available? There are international trips to attend endless "workshops," vehicles much fancier than the "white Toyota," and so on. The NGO workers, particularly the local ones, are often much admired and envied for their cushy jobs, but they are also often often cynically derided for having lifestyles and ethos' far removed from the ostensible "developmental" ones of their NGO employers. But then with all the now-well known imperfections of this developmental model, why is change not likely? Because the NGO world has become a self-sustaining industry, over and above any go-gooderism. Both in the countries where the money comes from and in the "target" countries, the "projects" must continue ad-infinitum because there are jobs, trips, careers at stake. As this careerism becomes more obviously an important reason for the existence of these NGOs,the further they wander from their "core values" and the more derisively they are spoken about, even as their workers are envied.
10 Apr 2007 09:22:11 GMT
Most humanitarian workers recognises the limitations and challenges of the systems we employ. How about focusing on more of the positives in AlertNet - many articules, like this one, are negative based. Boring!!! Offer solutions, focus on positive results, define deliverables. What is the cutting edge? Who is out there doing it? What results are they achieving? What concrete measures are there that prove this? More facts, less opinions, more positive, more leading edge would be welcome. Help best practice to gain momentum. Challenge best practice to improve and empower. AlertNet articules like this one trivalise complex problems and complex solutions by offering negativity without analysis.
10 Apr 2007 09:26:47 GMT
I have to agree with the general sentiment of the article. Humanitarian aid is an extension of colonisation, with (I hope) the unsavoury side (exploitation of resources, creation of extra tribal tensions, etc.) removed.
I myself have worked for two of the 'big eight' and was often uncomfortable with our role, telling people how to live their lives. My motivation to do this kind of work has always been to give people some of the chances that I take for granted. I don't believe I have any right to change somebody's culture. As for the speeding vehicles, it's is something that drives me nuts. I've been in vehicles that veer towards pedestrians in order to take the smoothest piece of road. As a logistician, I try to encourage drivers to treat pedestrians with respect. However, we can't stop and offer lifts. They would be the first people to sue us if there was an accident.10 Apr 2007 09:27:50 GMT
Gongrats for saying it like it is!! have been a avid reader of Hugo Slim for many years - and also been both player and victim of NGO elitism - Am currently working with the Youth of the Niger Delta and caught between a rock and a hard place - the Delta needs the big INGOs to get involved (and not from offices in Abuja) BUT many of the failures to connect have been caused by Oil Company elitism (donât blame the individuals blame the systemic ideology) Any organisation which behaves similarly will be regarded as such, despite what it says on the t-shirt! - the significant point in this blog is the laundry womans indignity - says it all but does she appreciate that in todays world of NGO 'business first' that the aid vehicle would be breaking the rules to stop and help - that is of course unless she had lobbyists to plead her case, office bound proposal writers to translate her needs into a 25 page proposal and was able to supply ! mission statement, aims and objectives, needs analysis, adequate monitoring system, log frame analysis, weekly, monthly, progress, donor reports etc etc... I guess that in this case she has already got the mandatory participatory approach (if not the appraisal) and the gender aspects covered....well half of them are! And donât start me on the politics :-)
Thanks for an excellent blog10 Apr 2007 13:18:06 GMT
White is the cheapest.......
Should people drive around in broken down old Landrovers instead...... This headline is nonsense...... The UN dontates many of these Toyotas to NGOs and so the NGOs don't have much say in the matter.10 Apr 2007 16:07:39 GMT
Several truths, serval misrepresentations which I find curious considering Hugo's preeminance. Possibly its because although I've worked in several large emergencies its not been with the "big eight" and its been in partnership with national NGOs. Possibly the big eight need to learn from the small hundreds on how to do locally requested, relevent and adaptable interventions that stimulate local economies in positive directions.
White is cheap to respray your 300,000km Toyota.11 Apr 2007 11:22:22 GMT
Very pertinent this blog from Hugo Slim. I totally agree with his points. I am currently using my first emergency ticket in a conflict context. My previous experience with NGO "development" goals and rights-based approaches lead me to professional paralysis. I could not overcome the paradoxes of the NGO legitimacy, accountability, reciprocity in relationships with beneficiaries ââ¬" actors and mutual empowerment. It was also much easier to find a job in the emergency sector. Not too many candidates are ready to come to the Sudanese region of Darfur.
So I am working in Darfur and my small INGO has a big, big white Toyota. We drive fast and once we almost run over a cyclist. During our workshops, we ask adolescents and children to make drawings about their perception of security. Then, interestingly, the big white Toyota appears. In the middle of the white paper. Children in the community centres make amazing clay replicas of the car. Some of them even construct, with all kind of materials, small scale models of the monstrous vehicle. They do not know that in Darfur the Toyota is a white elephant, as vulnerable as our "beneficiaries". There is nothing left to loot in Darfur. Any one with a Kalashnikov roaming in the region knows where to find expensive radio equipment, satellite phones and laptops. That is why we go fast and wave nervously to by passers. Here I am, driving across the lowest latitudes of the Northern hemisphere. The mesmerizing creaking sound of the HF radio is not enough to stop me from thinking what I am doing here. I failed once again to escape from those paradoxes and dilemmas. Thank you Mr. Slim.11 Apr 2007 11:25:01 GMT
A lot of anguished wringing of hands there Hugo. How mcuh did you earn in Liberia? Were you on a "consultancy"? I've walked down the main street in Monrovia and it's hot and scary at times. While agree 100 per cent with your sentiments it's not clear what you want done about it. Sould we withdraw aid? Give it directly to the Liberian government? Only employ Liberians? (And you know what that would mean: more Kongors on highly paid jobs, less "indiginous" Liberians.) What are you saying, apart form the fact that you have a conscience? I've had worse mirrors held up to me... you should write a bit more aobut the disparity in salaries between us and our local staff, about the allowances finagled for "hardship" and "hazard". Keep it up, but bite a bit harder, please
11 Apr 2007 11:27:17 GMT
I agree with CM in that the NGO world has become a self-sustaining industry (which, however, does still a lot of good). That is especially true for western NGOs which all want to get bigger, get more funds, more staff, more power, more political influence. You can read in their mission statement and strategic plans.
Maybe it is time to put all these "mores" rather to Southern organisations and to shift more of the added value western NGOs are generating to the Southern world. Why not founding a (western) NGO with the strategy to close itself down in 10 years time and with an DEcreasing budget in the North (every year less staff, less cars, less offices) coming along with an INcreasing budget of its partners in the South (then they get the staff, the cars, the offices). This would be a NGO with a convincing and really selfless vison to "strengthen the South".11 Apr 2007 13:20:29 GMT
Its a little disappointing to read this litany which offers little solutions only a confession to the converted. We need to learn from history and not repeat it. There is also an element of the whites forgiving themsleves, learning from the post-colonial period and moving forward together with the indigenous communities with which many NGO's work alongside. I guess Hugo is trying pass on his collective wisdom to the next generation of staff and not repeat his mistakes. Its good to question motives and methods but its better to facilitate an answer. The aid community will change - it just takes time.
18 Apr 2007 05:45:49 GMT
White Landcruisers becuase they are donated or bought in bulk through Toyota Gibralter all in white, white becuase it stands out from all other colours that could be misidentified as military vehicles. White becuase it is the best colour to show the insignia of the NGO clearly. Landcruiser becuase in a war zone and swamp like many of the places NGO;s work, staff deserve a reliable 4x4 to get them home safely. Policy not to pick up passengers as it puts the NGO staff at risk from armed persons, Bad Driving: Due to poorly trained national drivers that feel that driver position in a new vehicle gives them a position of status..answer: better training, stiffer penalities for bad driving, international drivers? Hugo brings up the challenge and critical issues that effect all NGO workers, however he speaks after a career of living off the very aid work that he now criticises from a pious post in Switzerland, one of the most expensive ci! ties in Europe. Aid work is a thankless task, especially with all the anti NGO /Anti AID rhetoric out there these days, and if all the aid goes home, those same countries that seek assistance will be the first to cry at the UN that we in the West are callous,uncaring etc etc...its getting boring, Let the grand leaders like Mugabe sort the mess out, im sure he will do a fantastic job,,,,good luck.
08 Jun 2007 14:07:19 GMT
For two years working I used to drive along the road in the picture, between Meulaboh and Calang. I was working for a UN agency. We used to stop and give lifts to people. On most trips we would winch trucks and cars out of the mud , carry mopeds in the back of the pick-up and occasionally give first aid in traffic accidents. There was a perception that we shouldnt do this for insurance or security or somesuch but we believed that to work effectively we had to be close to the people. I suspect that the speeding car syndrome is based out of fear of the other. I haven't yet given lifts in my new post but this is a good reminder to think again.