Abstract
What is the role of academia in promoting or hindering aid effectiveness? This chapter will address the crucial role played by academia in the past two decades especially after the Paris, Ghana, and Busan high-level meetings on aid effectiveness. Academic institutions are at the cross-roads, especially at present in reference to areas of global sustainable development and improving aid to those in need. The role of academia and educational institutions cannot be underestimated in the development of the agenda MDGs, which have been recognized as the turning point in focusing on improving societal well-being through team work and partnering at grass roots. The power of academia in transforming the landscape of donor largesse and funding has been recognized by multiple stakeholders, especially the private sector and the United Nations. This recognition has culminated in multilevel partnering with academia. An example of this is the initiative launched by the United Nations known as United Nations Academic Impact in 2009, which is a global forum and has been able to leverage the expertise and skill sets of its academic partners in improving assistance and in improving it at many levels to those who need it the most. That being said, as every other industry, academia is not 100 % successful in improving aid effectiveness in global health and often there are pitfalls and outcomes may not be as effective as desired, but this should not be an impediment for Donors, Foundations Governments, NGOS, and the UN agencies to partner with Academic institutions in increasing aid effectiveness and service delivery in promoting global health.
Between now and 2015, we must make sure that promises made become promises kept. The consequences of doing otherwise are profound: death, illness and despair, needless suffering, lost opportunities for millions upon millions of people.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
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Questions for Discussion
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1.
Discuss why Academia is being recognized as a key stakeholder in improving service delivery and aid effectiveness of global health?
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Do you agree that students in the discipline of global health needed to be involved in service delivery projects as a part of their curriculum to make them effective leaders in promoting global health advancement and diplomacy?
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Do you agree with the authors’ recommendation of adopting the ten principles of the United Nations Academic Impact for institutions working to promote aid effectiveness in improving global health? How would you apply these principles in your work?
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Can you share an example of best practice at grass roots to increase targeted aid/aid effectiveness which you have heard of or have been involved in?
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Murthy, P., Ansehl, A., Narasimhadevara, A. (2015). Academia’s Role in Improving Aid Effectiveness in Global Health. In: Beracochea, E. (eds) Improving Aid Effectiveness in Global Health. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2721-0_13
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