Developing countries reliant on aid want to escape this dependence, and yet they appear unable to do so. This book shows how they may liberate themselves from the aid that pretends to be developmental but is not.This timely book cautions countries of the South from falling into the aid trap and endorsing the collective colonialism of the OECD – the club of rich donor countries. An exit strategy from aid dependence requires a radical shift in both the mindset and the development strategy of countries dependent on aid, and a deeper and direct involvement of people in their own development. It also requires a radical restructuring of the global institutional aid architecture."The message of this book needs to be seriously considered and debated by all those that are interested in the development of the countries of the South. If this means the rethinking of old concepts and methods of work, then let it be so."Benjamin W. Mkapa, President of Tanzania 1995–2005