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Authored by Josephat Juma, the following interview was published in African Executive in its February 2006 issue.

A.E: It is a pleasure to have you, Jay Hein, President of the Sagamore Institute, an international think tank based in Indianapolis, Indiana.       

Hein: Many thanks for your kind invitation to share some thoughts about the African Heads of State. 

A.E: To begin with, is Africa anywhere on the American agenda?

Hein: America is experiencing a growing awareness and commitment to Africa's struggles.

A.E: What facts should be considered in the awareness?

Hein: Real and lasting solutions to the problems of poverty, poor health and lacking development must come from Africa's various national leaders themselves.  Thus, America and other developed nations should be asked to provide support consistent with an agenda for growth and development conceived by African leadership.  

A.E: Do you mean previous aid was alienated from the African course?

Hein: The old nature of development assistance is deeply flawed. Industrialized nations formerly provided aid toward their own solutions or without any shared agreement with African leaders about how those resources would be deployed for positive results. This approach has resulted in the distribution of trillions of dollars over the past 40 years; yet, Africa's social problems have only escalated during that time.

A.E: What then should be the basis for aid?

Hein: Rather than reducing or eliminating foreign assistance, developed nations should increase aid based on proven forms of development assistance.  Vast literature from the World Bank and other sources indicate that aid to Africa creates the best results when connected to strategies that create free markets and integrate those markets to other economies via globalization. Further, it is well established that such economic activity must occur within healthy economies that follow the rule of law.  As such, all foreign assistance to Africa should be guided by these parameters. 
Rather than reducing or eliminating foreign assistance, developed nations should increase aid based on proven forms of development assistance.

A.E: Any word for African leaders?

Hein: It is imperative for African leaders to address their physical infrastructure and educational needs of both children and adults at the same time that they respond to the health crises that cause such burden to their societies.  It is only through this "growth and response" strategy that holistic reform will be made possible.  One strategy without the other will not only be incomplete, but ineffective.  Africa needs a stronger physical and social environment to respond to 21st century challenges. African leaders should recognize that some of the most effective and sustainable solutions to their challenges come from the private sector rather than government.  Economic development is the most effective poverty reduction strategy available in developed and developing nations. Also, religious organizations indigenous to Africa and other international faith-based groups offer invaluable social assistance.