Famine and conflict in Africa: challenges for ACORD

This paper argues, on the basis of ACORD's experience to date, that the distinction between 'emergency' or 'rehabilitation' programmes and 'long-term development' programmes in the type of areas that ACORD works, is not only unhelpful but negatively effects ACORD's ability to help the poor cope with and promote change on a sustainable basis. This goes to the heart of what we feel 'development' should be about. There are grounds for optimism, but there also good arguments for a greater degree of realism particularly as this relates to presenting an honest analysis of how far NGOs, like ACORD, can really promote self-reliance and empowerment, resolve structural food deficits, affect the market etc, given the external factors over which they have so little apparent control.