If you work with an NGO or in government in Africa, the quickest way to get dead is to actually solve a problem and make the lives of Africans better. The skilled bureaucrat will know how to fail 100% of the time, while appearing to be making a best effort. The amateur will fail and only make a slight dent on the problem. The real pro will make the problem much worse, create two or three new problems and earn recognition for excellence in solving the problem. These are your rising stars who have a future in government.
All our foreign aid is used to facilitate this scam. We launder our federal tax dollars through these despot regimes on the condition that they allow us to plunder the country of its natural resources. The despots are more than happy to get rich off the suffering of the locals.
I have personally witnessed that absolute repulsion the despots have for their "fellow citizens." The suffering and death of swaths of these useless eaters is only of concern if it threatens one of their international loans or grants they are planning to cash in on.
Human suffering in the 3rd world is an asset class. The greater the suffering, the greater the value of the asset. Our foreign aid goes to develop and refine these assets.
Very true.
Biggest issue with Africa is developing a network to transport goods. Foreign aid doesn't do much to address this and is siphoned away for nefarious purposes or pure greed. So it is up to the people of Africa to develop travel networks and hubs to bring prosperity to the people there. But they can't because you have interference from countries like China that develop infrastructure but with many strings attached.