Whose Agenda Is It Anyway?

'Excellent and very informative. It focuses on the so-called 'Poverty Reduction Strategy Programs' (PRSPs) that the World Bank and other financial institutions use to manage the flow of funds through the governments of developing nations. The film shows the futility of promoting development via financial aid alone. It also shows that financial policies often end up harming the poor. This is to be expected, since nobody knows how to anticipate the second and higher order rippling effects of policies formulated by institutions that (for the most part) work in splendid isolation from the poor countries. The film also reminds the viewer that fighting corruption is easier said than done, and suggests that the poor people in rural communities are the ones who really know how to overcome their own poverty. There is a Chinese proverb, 'do not give a fish to a hungry man, rather teach him how to fish.' Giving him some fishing gear might help if the gear is useful in the waters where he has to fish.' Luis Gutierrez, Editor, Solidarity, Sustainability, and Non-Violence Research Newsletter
Citation
Main credits
Walker, Christopher (film producer)
Walker, Christopher (film director)
Richards, Jenny (consultant)
Khachooni, Lara (editor of moving image work)
Kelly, Brenda (film producer)
Briers, Lucy (narrator)
Other credits
Series consultant, Jenny Richards; editor, Lara Khachooni; executive producer, Brenda Kelly.
Distributor subjects
Community
Developing World
Economics
Humanities
International Studies
Millennium Development Goals
Poverty
United Nations