The Nescafe Model of Development
Anyone who's ever spent time in the
Africa (and many other places - feel free to chime in) has run into
the "Nescafe" phenomenon. I also like to refer to it as the "who do
I have to kill to get a decent cup of coffee" kunumdrum. Rather than
real coffee, most establishments, office coffee areas (if you are
lucky enough to have one), etc. have Nescafe - instant coffee. It's
just not that great. And rather than just recognize it's
inadequacies and replacing it, it's just modified and jazzed up to
appear better than it is. This is a nice metaphor for governments
and development in many third world countries. Say you have a bad
road maintenance system (or a "Nescafe" road system): roads are
deteriorating more and more, newly rehabilitated ones are not
maintained, repair work is temporary and shoddy, and the government
agency in charge of it has neither the funding nor inclination to
make things better. Logically you should replace it with a system
that works - alter government agencies' roles, responsbilities,
methods of finance, etc - and turn it into a "Pressed coffee" road
maintenance system. No need to aim for "Cappuccino" road maintenance
system - let's be realistic. Instead, however, we try to make the
old thing seem better when it's not - we effectively turn it into a
Nespresso. The same old government agency that hasn't been able to
do anything puts a spin on its role, makes bold statements it can't
live up to, and just keeps being the same ineffective actor it was
before, just packaged differently. I, for one, am tired of
Nespressos, Nescappuccinos, and Nescafe Lattes. It's time for change;
it's time for the reign of Nescafe to end. Join me in the
revolution.