Zambia and Aid

I participated in a conference on “A Multi-Sectoral Approach to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence” this last week in Zambia with two colleagues from my organization. We presented our organization’s model for addressing GBV in Venda as well as some research in which I’ve been involved. The conference was held at a lodge on its own game reserve outside Lusaka.

The whole experience was awesome and I feel really fortunate for having attended (it’s not the sort of thing Peace Corps Volunteers typically do). The animals were not at all scared of people; kudo (looks like a cross between an antelope and a camel) ate muffins out of our hands and I passed within several feet of groups of zebra and warthogs during my morning jogs. I met a lot of cool people doing inspiring work in this field throughout Africa. I got some interesting ideas for how to improve some of the projects I’m working on.



And then there were the amenities and extras. A week of stand-up showers and reliable hot water. There were complementary game drives and I got to ride an elephant and see a eunuch lion. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, we were treated to a gourmet buffet – this on top of a morning and afternoon tea. Bathroom freebies included shampoo, soaps, lotions, “foaming bath minerals”, shower cap and a sewing kit. In addition we received per diem of $15 a day, which doesn’t sound like much but goes a long way (I was able to have a hiking pack of clothes laundered and ironed, make several local calls, buy a $4 glass of wine and still pocket $50 to take back with me).

Ultimately, the conference provided a forum to formalize a network of organizations working in Southern and East Africa on similar projects. It was certainly productive, but after some mental calculations, you gotta wonder if the cost of the plane tickets, per diem, food, and lodging at the schwankest hotel in Zambia for 40 participants justifies the work we did. Lest I say too much, I’ll end the post here. If you would like me to go into greater detail about my thoughts on international aid, I encourage you to submit a written inquiry.

Thanks, always, to Tom, ever vigilant