The Aid Industry

Having read the posts in this forum several times I feel I have to post a 'response'.

Whilst agreeing with much of what has been said about giving, whether anonymous or not (that is a personal decision) we need to be a bit cynical/cautious/careful/suspicious/prudent.

One of the biggest industries in this world of ours is AID. Yes the Aid agencies, NGOs or whatever (including government agencies) are a massive industry in which people make a living. Some make a very good living!
I have seen at first hand the poverty in African countries, and I have done what I could to help. What I learnt, however, has made me very cynical about giving to so called Aid organisations, whether Church based or secular. We have been giving, collectively, and as developed Nations for decades, and yet there appears to be no tangible improvement in the quality of life for the millions of people who are supposed to have benefited from that aid.

The aid industry should be striving to put itself out of job. Yet it grows year on year. No matter how much it spends, the poor remain poor. The sick remain sick. Corruption increases. The gap between rich nations and poor increases.

Where is the money going? I cannot tell you. Some does get to the people it is meant to benefit but I venture to suggest that it is a very small proportion of the total given.

An anecdote I can relate concerns the Overseas Development Agency of a certain Western Government. One of their senior staff, not wishing to live in Kampala (Uganda) even though that was their working location, COMMUTED daily from Nairobi in neighbouring Kenya, by scheduled flight, every weekday for over a year. This was at the taxpayers, and Ugandan's expense. It's a racket, plain and simple. It disgusts me.

We see governments of developing countries as corrupt institutions but be in doubt that they are encouraged and emboldened by the corrupt practices of western governments. Perhaps we should put our own house in order before we try to dictate to others how they should behave.

Sorry for the rant but as I have said, I have seen these problems first hand. They are not going to go away anytime soon.

Nothing I have said should stop people from doing what they think is right. Just be very careful what and to whom you give. Demand accountability and transparency.

Les

You could always donate your time at a kitchen for the poor or in building a house for a needy family.

Analog Kid wrote: I am too lazy

ABPest wrote: There's lots of different ways to support charities and also benefit yourself   Adrian.

Nothing I have said should stop people from doing what they think is right. Just be very careful what and to whom you give. Demand accountability and transparency.


I also donate to charities, including overseas ones. I was just trying to bring home the point that there are vested interests in keeping the status quo. They will be happy for us to go on giving for ever!

Les