Social scientists have coined a powerful term to describe the strategies people adopt when they can no longer rely on the resources that once sustained them: coping mechanisms. These techniques vary widely, from mastering the art of thriving without what has been lost, to creatively replacing what is gone with something else entirely.
For years, Malawi and other developing countries across Africa and beyond have relied on various forms of aid from the United States. One of the most prominent avenues for this support was USAID. This statement belongs to the past, hence the use of “was”, as recent shifts in the U.S. government have brought about significant changes in the landscape of international aid.
Now, more than ever, it is crucial for us to develop robust coping mechanisms to navigate these economic shifts. In fact, we should have already reached a level of self-sufficiency—not just in theory, but in practice! Our long-standing reliance on external aid has made us too dependent, and that culture of dependency has done little to propel us forward. It is time for a shift; we learn to stand on our own and take control of our future.
We must search within our own borders to find the resources we need. When people from other countries witness the wealth of potential we have, they are often astonished by our natural abundance. The Western world, for instance, relies heavily on products they cannot cultivate due to their climate, yet they consume them daily. Bananas, mangoes, guavas, and countless other fruits that thrive effortlessly here are impossible to grow in much of the Western world. In fact, if you buy bananas in London—easily found at every corner shop—it is likely they have been imported from far-off lands like ours.
Where we differ is that our counterparts have mastered the art of adding value. They have the ability to transform all the items we grow—bananas, mangoes, guavas, and more—into processed products that are carefully packaged and preserved, allowing them to last far longer than they would in their natural state. This skill of turning raw goods into long-lasting, market-ready products is where we must improve if we are to fully unlock our potential.
The Industrial Revolution in England was not only made possible but also sustained by the booming textiles industry. Through mechanized processes powered by water currents, raw cotton was transformed into fabric, and then further processed into clothing items in separate factories. England quickly became a dominant exporter of shirts, trousers, dresses, and more. This success was achieved despite the fact that cotton could not be grown in England itself. They sourced their cotton from colonies, often paying a pittance to farmers in places like Malawi, who worked tirelessly to grow the cotton.
The irony was stark: after selling the cotton at miserably low prices, these same countries would later buy back finished clothing—shirts and dresses—from England at inflated prices. Developing nations, thus, found themselves ensnared in a vicious poverty spiral. To make matters worse, able-bodied people from these regions were captured and sold as slaves to the Americas, contributing significantly to the development of America while bearing the heaviest burdens of exploitation.
The aid we have been receiving from multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors has done little to alleviate the deep-rooted poverty that has resulted from the historical exploitation we have endured. Therefore, the withdrawal of American aid should not, and must not, lead to an exacerbation of poverty in our country or other developing nations. What we need now is to establish effective mechanisms to cope with the immediate impact of this shift. Instead of sinking further into dependency, we must rise to the challenge, adapt, and forge our own path to sustainable growth and self-sufficiency.
We can take a page from the English playbook, who, even when they could not produce raw materials themselves, ventured into value addition. From a supply standpoint, we are in a far stronger position to process a wide range of produce into food items or even turn cotton into fabric than much of the West. Unlike them, we have the advantage of being able to grow most of the raw materials locally, and we do so year after year. Yet, all too often, these resources go to waste because we fail to process them. The potential is right here in our hands—we simply need to unlock it.
It is not the government’s role to spearhead these endeavors—it is up to us, the private citizens.