DILEMMAS IN AID FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES	10/11/2006
	Dilemma.dk is a new initiative, which intends to improve the living conditions for the poor in five African countries and engage Danes in helping developing countries. Denmark’s aid to developing countries amounts to 0.8 percent of gross national income or approx. DKK 13 billion per year. This is equivalent to only nearly half of the cost of the bridge across the Great Belt between Funen and Zealand in current prices. This is a lot of money, but it is far from enough to support all of the important areas of focus that we want to. You have to select and prioritise the funds to be invested in fighting poverty. This is one of the completely decisive dilemmas in aid to developing countries, and that is why dilemma.dk has been formed. The consultancy and advisory companies Carl Bro and Consia are working on the project for Danida. Both of these companies can look back on great experience from work and projects in the developing countries. The new initiative has two goals. Dilemma.dk will support the poor in their efforts to get a better life, and engage Danes in helping developing countries. By choosing Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Ghana, dilemma.dk is focusing on sub-Saharan Africa. All of the countries belong to very poor programme partner countries for Danish development aid. On average, a Ugandan earns around DKK 1,680 per annum, and a Kenyan DKK 3,180. In comparison, the average Danish annual income is somewhat more than DKK 200,000. In other words, between 60 and 120 times as much. Dilemma.dk invites NGO’s in the five African countries to, in collaboration with Danish organisations if they wish, to present projects and concepts worth of support within four key areas: Which is the best way to combat HIV/AIDS and malaria?; How do we combat under-nourishment?; How do we improve access to water and improve hygiene?, and How do we improve access to, and quality of, education? The project proposals must show how to make a great difference with a relatively small investment. The five projects that are finally chosen will each receive up to around DKK 2.2 million to carry out the projects they have planned. Dilemma.dk also wants to engage the Dane in the street in a debate about aid to developing countries. From December 2006 until April 2007 our website, dilemma.dk and Danish media will motivate, communicate and discuss Danish aid, the four themes and five African countries. One of the means of engaging Danes is a dilemma game, which will be launched in December on the dilemma.dk website. The game contains a number of development aid’s most significant dilemmas, and its ethical problems. At the moment, Dilemma.dk is contacting a number of prominent Danes, for whom an exciting role to play in the project is envisaged. The trial project dilemma.dk is a spin-off from the Copenhagen Consensus conference in 2004.