This week is about international nonprofits. I am not familiar with international nonprofit, though I am sure that they operate all around the world. I care deeply about international issues and in finding new ways to fix the world. Organizations such as Global Aid Volunteers and Mercy Corps, all provide aid but they don't solve the problems. These groups don't really do anything and is just part of these cycle of money giving. This link below shows the reality of charity aid and how aid breed poverty. I agree with the article because money is wasted when the aid is not properly used. Research on their culture and values, needs to be done first in a order to help a country.
http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/3-features/2469-charitable-ignorance-the-reality-of-aid-and-its-effects-on-continent.html
In the video on "Why does foreign aid fail?", I learned things I already know, like how foreign aid does provide help but doesn't really solve the problem. Millions of dollars are spend on helping countries get rid of poverty but the problem keeps coming back. Professor William Easterly tries to fight world poverty through working at the world bank but the bureaucratic structure and how ineffective experts don't know what to do. I agree with him on how there is no accountability on these foreign aid people and how the poor don't get to input on how they are doing. There needs to be communicate between these two groups for foreign aid to be effective and helpful. I see that problem happening today, where rich countries are just giving money but don't really care if actual things get done. Bureaucracy plays an important part on why problems such as poverty, access to clean water, and diseases are not being address in a critical way. Bureaucracy should not be involved since they are not inefficient.
I have worked with some nonprofits and government agencies before and the problem is they tend act according to their interests instead of the local's. The locals of the area should be in charge of projects and ways to improve their own communities instead of a foreigner. So the question I have for you all is Should foreign aid to giving to local organizations instead of government?
The idea is that financial aid is give in terms of what they need to get things done and help people.
In the article, about the "Millennium Development Goals", I feel that these goals are approachable but also simple in that everyone wants to achieve these things. These goals such as getting rid of poverty, providing education, equality, and combating HIV/AIDS are very Western ideas, even though they are good ideas, it might not worth in all parts of the world. I like to see these goals be fulfilled and accomplished at a slow and reasonable pace. Often, we try to push these ideas and input what "we" think are best for them, instead of listening what these third world countries needs are. Some of these goals could be culturally appropriate, depending on the country and their society. An example is some societies, the children are to work and support the family since they are poor and going to school would cause a negative impact on the family's financial income. Also educating some rural areas of the world would be hard because some won't like to change their lifestyles or experience new ideas.
The link you included in your blog had some very interesting facts. I was pleased to see that this cry for accountability that William Easterly and, in general, our entire group’s blogs supports was being supported in the words of other foreign governments, as mentioned that “the British Government told the UN, World Bank and other international bodies who are recipients of its aid that they must have a proven impact on the ground or face cuts.” The statistics from the International Finance Corporation that half of its aid-funded projects are failing in Africa also voiced the reality of a desperate need to adjust the form in which we are addressing this aid. We must work to first establish cohesive reliable basic needs and organizations before we can strive for higher, idealistic cooperation.
ReplyDeleteI really liked reading the article you included, it had a lot of concrete examples and perfectly articulated numerous problems associated with international aid. However, not all international aid is created equal, and I do not think that all aid breeds poverty. There is much to be fixed in the world of international aid, especially when it comes to governments and groups like the World Bank and the IMF, but I think, as with other issues, nonprofits are there to pick up the pieces in a way and demonstrate that, when done correctly, aid can have very beneficial results.
ReplyDeleteYou talk a lot about how important it is that the people who are helping actually listen to the needs of those they are trying to help, and I think there is an extremely important shift that needs to be made so that doing so is the norm. Dealing with cultural barriers may make things more difficult, but imposing "western" ideals will only create resistance and more problems. The best experts are the people who have lived in these countries their whole lives, as have the generations before them. International nonprofits and governments need to give these people a little more credit, listen to their needs, and include them in the execution and distribution of aid.
In response to your question I certainly feel like the problem with foreign aid is often that it is EITHER the government OR the organization that controls the money when in fact there should be communication between the two. I for one am idealistic about foreign aid and feel that it could succeed should it be administered in a proper way. This requires cooperation and coordination on the part of both parties.
ReplyDeleteWhile aid can be beneficial it can have negligible impacts, this is often the money not achieving what it is intended to. Therefore there has to be some form of transparency and accountability on behalf of both parties. While all of us were quick to jump on the ineptness of these developing countries it is often the requisite structural adjustments that the IMF/World Bank places that really makes the foreign aid ineffective. I feel as if foreign aid should not be completely thrown out the window because of "bureaucratic inefficiencies." Should social security medicare and medicaid be eliminated because of "bureaucratic inefficiencies?" I certainly don't think so. I simply think that that is a sign that there is a need for reform both on the parts of the lenders and the recipients.
In order to reach so many organizations, money must pass through governments. Relief efforts are overlooked (to some extent) by the government operating in the targeted country. Also, in order for such organizations to execute their plans smoothly and achieve set goals (educate the masses on AIDS, providing vaccines, setting up basketball camps, etc.) governments need to be stable and trustworthy in order for MGD's to come true.
ReplyDeleteI agree that simply throwing money at the problem will not do that much good (at least in the long-term). While vaccinations should and must be transported to poverty stricken region, education on avoiding such contractions (such as safe sex, techniques for water purification, recognizing symptoms, teaching basic economics, etc.) will make a difference. As the old proverb goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."