ECA/PAID programme document on enhancing the capacity to manage self-reliance and sustainable development in Africa

Abstract

In the 1960s when many African countries attained their independence, it was generally believed that the goals of economic prosperity, improved standards of living. And political stability were within the reach of the new states. Indeed, with the examples already set by the former metropolitan powers in the socio – political and technological fields, all the emerging nations of Africa needed to do to become ‘’ modern’’ and ‘’developed’’ was to operate the time – tested development models bequeathed by the departing colonial authorities. This is the origin of the myth of modernization- the belief that the problems of under – development could be effectively tackled by transplanting development- oriented values , institutions and practices from societies termed ‘’ developed ‘’ to those societies classified as under – developed.