United Nations agencies, Western aid agencies, Western governments and the Western media
over many decades have presented the world with images of Africa as the poor continent dependent on foreign aid for the survival of its people. As a result most Africans have come to believe this story.

The truth is that Africa is resource rich. It has large numbers of people living in poverty because these riches have been developed in ways that have enriched the already rich Western countries and a small minority of African elite. The benefits have not reached the African majority. Read more about this under "development myths" above.

The Grass-roots Development Project is an African initiative dedicated to changing this by strategies developed by Africans at the grass-roots and implemented by Africans under African control and leadership for the benefit of all.