A question of motive as Germany builds universities for Africa.

In a post-colonial era, who benefits most from the aid programmes of developed economies? Over the last four years, Ethiopia has funded a University Capacity Building Programme, managed by a German government aid organisation, GTZ. Statistically speaking, it's all good stuff. Since 2004, German advisors and 47 Ethiopian consultancies, 17 management companies, 60 contractors and over 10,000 labourers in local craft-based co-ops have built 13 new university campuses across the country (including Axum, 1,010km north of Addis Ababa, pictured above).

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Education is a priority for a population of 85 million, in which the average age is 17. In comparison, the UK's average age is 40. Not only have 121,000 new student places been created, but, in the process, Ethiopian architecture firms have been coached for competition in international markets. One company has already qualified for international building sector certification ISO 9001:2000. These cheaper contractors will also pressurise firms in the developed world to reduce tender prices, in the same way that shipyards and textile and printing factories in Asia have won over the West.

We are not talking star architecture. Functionality and sustainability, local materials and skills are key features. Labour-intensive processes to create maximum employment meant that all components for the 1,176 low-level buildings, prefabricated RC beams and 24 million hollow concrete blocks were handmade on site. As models for the rest of Ethiopia, the universities also have the latest in sewage treatment and water supply systems.

Infrastructure projects include the surfacing of roads with 40 million cobbles (locally quarried and laid by a workforce of 48,000 men and women) and the building of 500 public health centres and 11,000 cost-efficient homes. Design is utilitarian, strictly tailored to match resources, and in terms of architectural quality doesn't rise above 1950s China.

In 2005, Paul Wolfowitz, then president of the World Bank, dubbed Africa the 'forgotten continent'--an astounding comment from an organisation responsible for Africa's continual drip-feed, 'patient' status. The war on poverty could have been won decades ago if it weren't for the fact that aid is political power play, however well-meaning the individuals. During the first wave of African independence, half a century ago, British architects made their names on programmes that were supposedly paid for by the emerging nations, but were in fact UK-subsidised. Jane Drew and her husband Maxwell Fry designed and supervised the University of Ibadan in Nigeria (1959), and built other public projects in Ghana including Mampong Teacher Training College. Meanwhile, other architects such as RMJM completed similar projects in the name of our government's relations with newly independent colonies. The returns included a familiarisation in Africa with British manufacturing names, which helped British exports, the establishment of British standards, which eased trade, and the creation of an African elite class in contact with--and forever subservient to--British politics. Similar projects were (and still are) run by other ex-colonial powers. Germany is only following this lead. GTZ's declared aims include the strengthening of indigenous economies to promote peace and democracy.

The real price of the good life, which includes social security safety nets, makes life in Europe more expensive but also more sustainable, as long as we can rely on educated but cheaper workers and products from elsewhere.

www.gtz.de