Academia’s role in improving aid effectiveness in global health

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.