Check out this new search engine called ads4africa.org – take a good, hard look. Now I’m not in the business of assaulting people’s dreams, or doubting their sincerity; I get much more enjoyment out of being positive, but I find this approach questionable. One of the themes that has emerged in our work so far is that ethical transgressions can be very subtle, but it is often these that are the most sinister. These search engine promoters haven’t even left home, but they are promoting a model that is systemically flawed, and in the process potentially doing more harm than good. Here are some things to think about concerning this website (and yes, I have sent my comments to them).
On their FAQ page is the phrase “Without intervention they are helpless.” This simplistic, patronizing depiction reeks of the white man’s burden. It perpetuates a negative stereotype and an elitist approach which is part of the very cause of the issue they’re trying to address.
What they are creating is a middle man (middle person? middle entity?) which promotes market inefficiencies, and further alienates the givers of “aid” (whatever that is…) from the benefactors (if there are in fact any). They give the money they raise to Kiva, itself another middle man, adding to the already overcrowded number of aid groups (which all run at an operating cost of their own). I suppose it’s better that they give money to a group such as Kiva that has done its homework rather than the alternative, which would be to go and try to fix the “problem” in “Africa” themselves.
Look at the “progress” page. It lists “People helped”. What does that even mean? They claim to be helping people in “Africa”. Ryszard Kapuściński has pointed out that: “Only with the greatest simplification, for the sake of convenience, can we say ‘Africa’. In reality, except as a geographical appellation, Africa does not exist.” Specifics are needed. What people? Where? In what ways? Without more information this really is an empty, meaningless statement.
Go to their blog section – as of this writing, they’ve only talked about improvements made to the site; there is nothing in there about personal growth. Wouldn’t energy and bandwidth be better spent educating themselves or others about why there is a perceived need for aid in the first place?
I think endeavours like this are dangerous, because they are doing the wrong things if they wish to help. They’re doing things in the wrong order. First you get people to understand the issue, then you collaborate (with the people who need help!) to come up with a solution. You can’t fix a problem if you haven’t defined it properly, which this group hasn’t even attempted to do. They’re aware that there is inequality. Good – that’s a start. What’s needed next are concrete proposals to reduce that inequality, in partnership with those who are affected.
The main message I take from this approach is: “expose yourself and everyone in your network to additional advertisements, so you can pat yourself on the back for doing no legitimate work and avoid having to understand a problem that is several orders of magnitude more complex than adding a piece of code to a blog somewhere.”
They are right about one thing. We can have a big impact on the fight against poverty if we all do our part. If someone tells you that you should drop your Google search engine (or anything else for that matter) in favour of a more conscious choice, think twice about whether you are actually helping someone or whether you are simply appeasing your conscience in a way that could do more harm than good.
5 replies on “The problem with ads4africa.org”
Haven’t received a reply from them yet… still waiting
RE: The problem with ads4africa.org
Hello, my name is Abe Niederhauser and I am the founder of ads4africa.org. I was only recently made aware of your post, and I am excited for the opportunity to communicate with you. You mentioned that you have sent your comments to me, but I have not received any such comments. This may be my fault as we were having some difficulty with our email system at the time this article was written.
First, I would like to assure you that my motives are pure. All I am trying to do is help people and make a difference in the world. If there are things I have done that have been hurtful rather than helpful, they have been done unintentionally, and I am anxious to correct them. I believe that we are on the same side, and I would love for you to help me.
In the first paragraph of your article, you submit that I am “promoting a model that is systemically flawed, and in the process potentially doing more harm than good.” I don’t feel that the examples you list in the remainder of the article support this statement. I would like to respond to your criticisms in an attempt for us to reach a mutual understanding.
The first criticism you gave is in regards to my statement “Without intervention they are helpless.” Perhaps this was not the best way to say what I was trying to get across. I was attempting to give a brief summary of how microfinance can help people in need by breaking poverty cycles. I do not believe that I, nor any other human being, is better than anyone else. I do believe that many people are born into situations that do not provide equal opportunities. Some, who are born into very difficult circumstances, require help to overcome the challenges caused by these circumstances.
You also stated that Ads4Africa creates market inefficiencies due to the fact that it is an intermediary. This argument is fallacious and is a common misconception that arises due to advertisements that claim lower costs due to the “elimination of the middleman.“ Middlemen or intermediaries are entities that specialize in trade. This specialization actually LOWERS transactional costs and makes the market MORE efficient. As an example, consider someone moving to a new city. They can choose to use a real estate agent to find a home, or they can do it themselves. Most often, people get an agent because it saves them time and money, thus lowering their costs. If you don’t believe me or don’t completely understand, I invite you to visit with any professor of economics located at BCU or any other university.
You mention that Ads4Africa “adds to the already overcrowded number of aid groups.” I completely agree with the fact that there are already a lot of aid groups. This is one of the main reasons I created Ads4Africa. Our goal is not to provide aid directly, but to raise money for other aid groups who are already doing a great job. We are currently raising money for Kiva, because it is a reputable organization in the field of microfinance. I believe microfinance, though not perfect, is superior to many other kinds of aid. I’m not sure what your thoughts on microfinance are. I would to hear them. In addition, let me know if you know of any other great causes we should help support.
I also agree with you on the fact that we have alienated people from those they are helping. This is something we are working on remedying. I think I need to make Ads4Africa more transparent by promoting stories of those we have helped and how we have helped them.
I believe Ads4Africa is a great idea because it provides a way for people to raise money without having to make any financial contribution of their own. It is also provides a way for them to do it by doing something they already do everyday! Most organizations raise money from those willing to give. Sadly, many people are not willing to give. Ads4Africa raises money from advertisers by directing money they are already spending to humanitarian causes.
In conclusion, I would like to again reassure you that I am writing only to seek understanding. Ads4Africa is just starting, and I do most of the work for it. I don’t have a lot of time nor money. I do what I can to the best of my ability. Please help me to understand what I can do better. As I said before, we are on the same side—the side of those who want to help and are willing to work. Thank you for your criticism. 🙂
Your review of Ads4Africa doesn’t make sense. True, they could be a little more sensitive with the language. But that doesn’t mean their plan is flawed. They’re raising money to send to Kiva, and Kiva is loaning this money to people who could really use the help. They’re helping people! What’s your “problem” with that?
Yes, the mode of helping is a little bit impersonal. Maybe you expect people to quit their jobs and start helping in person. But that’s the genius of Ads4Africa–people who aren’t able to help in big ways can help in little ways.
I have my own ideas for helping in big ways, but I’m not going to let that stop me from helping in small ways too. And I’m going to continue to be a supporter of Ads4Africa.org.
Dear Abe (and Nate),
I’m glad you were both able to reply. The aim of this project is to draw people into dialogue, not to be confrontational, so I am truly sorry if you felt attacked. I also appreciate you calling me on my own misinformed economic assumptions. I don’t know if I even have the right questions, let alone any meaningful answers. Compassion is common ground for us, and I’m trying to navigate my way through this issue too.
I believe the current distribution of wealth is problematic, and that something needs to be done to end the suffering this causes. People need to feel empowered to contribute to the alleviation of this suffering. But I am conflicted: on one hand I believe the idea of charity is unsustainable (as it is concerned with more immediate problems) and I have strong reactions to anything that is unsustainable. I prefer a social justice paradigm (which is concerned with producing changes in the larger societal structures that ultimately determine outcomes for groups of individuals in need[1]), which involves deep reciprocity, and most importantly, it involves naming your own dimension of privilege. I also acknowledge that for many people there are barriers to engaging in a strong reciprocal relationship – but this is exactly my point: giving money to a vulnerable stranger is a flimsy and emotionally unsatisfying relationship for both parties. Without reciprocity, all you’re doing is reaffirming existing hierarchies of philanthropist and beneficiary. I don’t know if there is a way to help someone from far away without doing this, and I personally believe it is something we need to move beyond.
On the other hand, I’m not in survival mode – I realize that it’s easy to say something is unsustainable when you’re not fighting for your life. No, I am not suggesting we all go quit our jobs. What I do know is that poverty is a complex issue, and should be treated as such. Basically, this means that:
1. It is difficult to frame
2. The cause and effect relationships are unclear
3. There are diverse stakeholders
4. Each experience of poverty is unique
5. The nature of poverty evolves
6. There is no obvious right or wrong set of solutions
7. There is no objective measure of success[2]
I think too much of this complexity remains hidden when someone stumbles upon a website that connects donors with vulnerable strangers, which I would argue fosters an increase in socioeconomic distance, not a decrease. Perhaps this is part of the reason why the Grameen bank, the “grandfather of microfinance”, hasn’t accepted donor funds since 1995. The “beauty” of microfinance is that donors don’t need to understand an individual’s unique experience of poverty in order to help fix it. Even though donors in this scenario aren’t given enough power to do direct harm, I still find this unsettling. Part of personalizing ethics is the idea of critical consciousness, which means diminishing the gaps in one’s continuity of awareness. “Voting with your dollar” only works if people understand what they are voting for.
Abe, I appreciate that ads4africa is still in its infancy, and I won’t make unfair assumptions about your plans for the future. Perhaps I was too forceful in my original post, so I would like to apologize again. I want to welcome discussion, not promote defensiveness. Tell me if I’m off the mark at all. I warmly welcome your thoughts.
[1] Moely, Barbara E., Andrew Furco and Julia Reed. “Charity and Social Change: The Impact of Individual Preferences on Service-Learning Outcomes”. Michigan Journal of Community Service-Learning. Fall 2008, pp.37-48.
[2] Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement. “Poverty as a Complex Issue and Why that Matters.” September 2009. Online. Available: http://tamarackcommunity.ca/g3s61_VC_2009f.html#1
This is great to open discussion about Ads4Africa and why it is or isn’t a great idea. I am not an economical scholar, however I first heard of Kiva a few years back and I think it is a great idea. We should all think a little more about what these microloans actually mean for people – loans, not hand outs. To my simple understanding it is helping people help themselves, but at the same time requiring responsibility to repay those loans so people don’t become dependent on hand outs. Like Abe said in his reply, I think it is actually more responsible that Ads4Africa is using this “middle man” site. It is more economical to assist the Kiva program, which is already functioning and successful (if you disagree with their “success” that’s a different issue) therefore reducing the time and cost of reinventing the wheel so to speak. Also, it would be fantastic if we all had the time and means to be more directly involved with the people we help, but hopefully we are all involved with more service opportunities where we have the opportunity to see the results first hand. I think Ads4Africa is genius because it isnt trying to fit itself in as a new model, but taking a function that many of us already use and making the profits go to a good cause. Whether or not Ads4Africa existed, I google search probably 50 times a day due to the nature of my career and my personal computer use. I would much rather those few cents a day go toward Abe’s endeavors than go entirely to the [Google] man. Like I said, I am not an economist, but I feel like I know a worthwhile effort when I see one. If it comes out that Kiva is not the most efficient use of their generated funds, I believe the integrity of Ads4Africa would lead them to find the best method to truly help others with the revenue. Great work Abe (and friends) and let’s keep up the searching!