To develop successful strategies and tactics for the future one has to know the present situation and that is not possible without knowing the past. To that end this book is a great help. It provides a thorough contribution to a debate that should not be limited to the in crowd of experts. Development cooperation is paid for by all taxpayers, who should all have a genuine interest in getting value for money. The same would, of course, be true for those at the receiving end of the aid.

Koos Richelle, former director general of the EuropeAid Cooperation Office

I congratulate Derek Fee on his high-quality and extremely detailed book that has not only the merit to be an update on development aid but also asks pertinent questions on the future of our relations with developing countries. He does this with tact and success, based on his long experience of Africa. Derek Fee is one of those men, visionaries, open to dialogue, reforms and changes. I congratulate him on this most valuable book, which finds its place among all the lovers of Africa.

Louis Michel, MEP, former European Commissioner for Development

Derek Fee's book is a must-read for development practitioners and policy makers who are seeking a new paradigm to the conventional aid model, one that can work for the poor and that will lay the basis for aid dependent countries to exit from aid . A marvellously insightful book on the politics and economics of the relationship between the aid recipient countries and donors of all colours.

Sindiso Ngwenya, COMESA Secretary-General