An excellent article, from the Beeb of all places:

The aid business is an industry with its own dynamic.

Much of it is spent in the donor countries in the form of consultancies and goods.

For the recipient it creates dependency, undermines self-reliance and ultimately breeds resentment.

There is no short cut to development. Only Africans themselves can bring change to Africa.

States have to raise taxes and spend them productively in order for their countries to develop.

When state institutions are functioning in support of the people and the economy, there may be a case for helping with specific short term assistance but unless and until the local systems are in place and there is real commitment, aid will be wasted.

At present lack of capacity and corruption prevent even basic services being delivered in most of Africa.

Outsiders can run one-off projects like immunisation programmes but development has to be done by the people themselves.

Bob Geldof has always refused to comment on these theories, that perhaps we've wasted money on Africa, when all that was needed was a change in policy. So instead we'll have concerts. That'll help.