FOREIGN AID- A HELPING HAND/ HINDRANCE

[Bitco55]

Ever since the 1960s, Africa has received over a trillion dollars in foreign aid. This figure is enough to establish many hospitals, schools & industries. Yet, lots of African countries are still struggling with poverty, weak infrastructure & unemployment. Some say aids is like giving fish instead of teaching people how to fish. Yes, it does help in the short run for disaster relief, education projects, health programs, and so on, but it may create dependency in the long run. The government sometimes bank way too much on aid instead of building strong economic systems.

Not arguing that its not good. Foreign aid has done a lot of good too, ranging from fighting diseases like malaria, to improving access to clean water. The problem is when aid turns into a crutch rather than a leverage. Many experts argue that what developing countries need is not just aids but trade, stronger government policies and so on.

In conclusion, foreign aid can't build prosperity but can just be useful during time of aid. Formerly poor countries like Singapore , South Korea and so on, shows that good government, trade and good investments is what a developing country really need. So, what's your take on this ? Do you think developing countries should rely less on foreign aid and focus more on trade, self reliance, innovation, etc., or is foreign trade helpful and needed in the growth & development of developing African countries.

Thank you.

[Hewlet]

In conclusion, foreign aid can't build prosperity but can just be useful during time of aid. Formerly poor countries like Singapore , South Korea and so on, shows that good government, trade and good investments is what a developing country really need. So, what's your take on this ?

The very fact that you're talking of Aids tells that it's just an help and not supposed to be a long term initiative that can help revamp an economy. In a normal sense, no developing nation is entitled to recieving help or aids from the developed ones. Whatever they get as aids is just an initiative that's supposed to solve short term needs while they look out for means of solving Thier long term problems.

Do you think developing countries should rely less on foreign aid and focus more on trade, self reliance, innovation, etc., or is foreign trade helpful and needed in the growth & development of developing African countries.

Thank you.

If the aids come, then that's fine but if it doesn't, every nation should take responsibility of herself and work on building her nation rather than relying on an external influence to help them.

This is not just applicable to nation, even as an individual, if you over rely on someone else for most of your needs and fail to create something of your own, you will suffer from it in the long run.

[moneystery]

...

Do you think developing countries should rely less on foreign aid and focus more on trade, self reliance, innovation, etc., or is foreign trade helpful and needed in the growth & development of developing African countries.

Thank you.

In the short term, foreign aid will help countries in need, especially in Africa, where many problems exist, such as malnutrition, malaria, and so on. But these countries cannot rely solely on foreign aid, they need to build their own countries to overcome their problems and develop their countries in the long term.
Foreign aid will only stunt their mentality, making them powerless and dependent on it. It would be better for them to start building their national infrastructure, creating a healthy investment climate, stabilizing their politics, developing their human resources, innovating, and addressing corruption.
All these efforts will likely take time and require leaders truly committed to building their countries. But if they succeed, they can improve their economies. Rwanda is a prime example, one of the African countries that can serve as a model for how a country can transition from crisis to stable growth.

[lovesmayfamilis]

I'm always quite skeptical of aid from countries that, one way or another, are ultimately interested in the resources of the country they're "helping." Sooner or later, the country that receives this aid will have to pay the bill. I agree that humanitarian aid provided during times of disaster should be perceived as selfless assistance, as that's the nature of human society. Anything else, called development aid, is done with the prospect of creating debts that will one day have to be repaid.

[Jawhead999]

I hope third world countries including Africa to follow what Nepalese did in their country, they make a big protest and destroy many public facilities, then they pick their new prime minister through discord.

I think they pick the new prime minister without any reason and I'm sure Nepal will be better.

It takes time though, they're uneducated and lack of resources, but at least they've solve the root, unlike in majority third world countries.

[WillyAp]

Ever since the 1960s, Africa has received over a trillion dollars in foreign aid.

The figure is misleading. I know that Germany gave hundred of millions to African countries with the obligation to buy Mercedes 4x4s cars.
So there you have 200 Million and no hospital. Germany did development help. Did they?

Mr.Beast did more development help than the entire developed world in Africa.

[coupable]

From a geopolitic perspective, it's obvious that aids are used by donor countries as an influence tool, since they most of times require the aids to be used to purchase goods from the donor countries themselves. As well as requiring aids to be given in certain comditions like adopting certain politics or change in the political regime which is a form of violation of sovereignity of those countries in need for aids.
From an economic perspective, non studied aids may lead to weaken the local industries and create a permanent dependency instead of achieving sustainable development.

In many other cases, It can also be that those aids go to the poket of the corrupt rulers instead of poor people in need for urgent help, which empower corruption and prolongs duration of ineffective political systems (Africa is a great example).

[Joy_learns_crypto]

I have three point why I think the foreign aids is not solving long term problems. I won’t pick only Africa out because Africa is not the only continent that needs and get Aid.

1. Timing: underdeveloped countries or countries deserving of Aid usually get this Aid when the need is at its highest. Aid get to the country mostly during a pandemic or epidemic or a disease break out, war or attacks, like rebels disturbance, government leaders genocide or even attacks from other countries. The aids giving to these countries at this time goes straight to curtail their present problem and it never gets to give any long term solution.

2. How the Aids are used: if this aids sent to countries are mismanaged at the federal governments, state governments, local governments, community leaders and even individual entrusted with sharing to a very small group. The corona palliative gotten by my country were rerouted by people in charge for themselves.

3. Aids Contributors : in my church we occasionally make contributions for an orphanage after giving my widows myth i don’t just hope it gets to the orphanage or school for physically challenged children, i go to them to see it has reached them and the kids gets from it. Many Hollywood actors and actresses, musician, sport personalities have their own charity programs but are not involved in its running. With hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in the vaults of this program I would have employed a private investigator to see how the money is used if I was the one.


Image source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aid

But then Aid is to assist countries in time of their needs not to raise the nations economy. If the government of needs such assist they can apply for loan from the world bank or other countries.

[Dogedegen]

Ever since the 1960s, Africa has received over a trillion dollars in foreign aid. This figure is enough to establish many hospitals, schools & industries. Yet, lots of African countries are still struggling with poverty, weak infrastructure & unemployment. Some say aids is like giving fish instead of teaching people how to fish. Yes, it does help in the short run for disaster relief, education projects, health programs, and so on, but it may create dependency in the long run. The government sometimes bank way too much on aid instead of building strong economic systems.

Most people don't know how AID works at all. Some people actually believe that if you give $1 billion in foreign aid that actually $1 billion arrives there and you start building schools with this amount of money. In reality 3/4 or more are eaten by intermediaries and corrupt officials. Very little actually arrives to the intended target, there is stealing on every step of the way.

In conclusion, foreign aid can't build prosperity but can just be useful during time of aid. Formerly poor countries like Singapore , South Korea and so on, shows that good government, trade and good investments is what a developing country really need. So, what's your take on this ? Do you think developing countries should rely less on foreign aid and focus more on trade, self reliance, innovation, etc., or is foreign trade helpful and needed in the growth & development of developing African countries.

Foreign aid is terrible. Bad for the taxpayers who have to pay super high taxes to fund the development of other countries when the situation where they live is bad in many ways too. Bad for the receiving countries because easy money is never good. There is not more than a few men in the whole world who can properly deal with easily gotten big funds. Look at the politicians in some of those African countries and how their children live. That tells you everything that you need to know about this.

Foreign Aid should be reserved for large natural catastrophes and emergencies like that, but for general poverty it should not be given.

[Gozie51]

Do you think developing countries should rely less on foreign aid and focus more on trade, self reliance, innovation, etc., or is foreign trade helpful and needed in the growth & development of developing African countries.

Thank you.

Reliance on foreign aid is neocolonialism. A country that wants to develop need to build an economy that runs on local content first and then exchange with foreign products, this is how to build an economy that is independent but collaborative. They need an identity that is sustainable and that is what the Asian tigers did around 1960's, countries like Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Twiwan. They focused on local content and gradually grew their economy by investing in the education of their people and today they can compete favourably with European countries in exportation.

Foreign trade is helpful in growth and exchange but you need something you will have for exchange. For exchange to happen, there must be a need to fulfill by the other country and so that necessitate the exchange transaction. So developing countries most have that product made from inside the country that will be a medium of exchange and that is how a country grow.

[Berry2d]

The idea of foreign aid was introduced in Africa with the general meaning of rendering help to African countries that are in need but with its hidden motive of coming in to gain access to their mineral resources indirectly. Although the foreign aid scheme gained momentum before 1960 to African countries that newly gained independent with its primary hidden agenda is to gain total control of there resources leaving them with no choice than to be submissive to them because of those basic needs they bring.

It was said that the slave trade era has passed yet the foreign countries still practice civilised slave trade system through the help of there so called political representatives who where blindfolded with greed and quest for self made wealth. The foreign aid scheme they said is to help African countries why don't they send more to African countries that are not blessed in mineral resources if their intentions where pure instead they keep on sending to countries that are rich in resources so they could gain those resources in exchange for their aids.

[Iroh]

Obviously, being heavily reliant on foreign aid or/loans is nothing short of suicidal. Any government that is cool and relaxed with the idea of having to constantly run the nation with foreign aids and loans should just openly ask to be directly governed by its benefactor. Foreign aid can and is actually helpful when needed but the over reliance on these aids puts the country at the mercies of the benefactor who by the way, is very much aware of how important the aid is for the country.
It won't be long before under the table deals concerning the country's resources would be made. Deals as well as policy changes that would greatly favor and push forward the agendas of the benefactor.

[bhadz]

In conclusion, foreign aid can't build prosperity but can just be useful during time of aid. Formerly poor countries like Singapore , South Korea and so on, shows that good government, trade and good investments is what a developing country really need. So, what's your take on this ? Do you think developing countries should rely less on foreign aid and focus more on trade, self reliance, innovation, etc., or is foreign trade helpful and needed in the growth & development of developing African countries.

The same with my country, the Philippines. We've been receiving foreign aids every year and it's another kind of help when natural disasters like typhoons, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and flash floods happens to us. But as the corruption have grown with those times, they're now exposed. The money that should be for the help of the people and for development of infrastructures, and should go to various sectors, are not being used the right way. I think that for a country to progress, it still need some help but not in this kind of aid but through trade deals. And that's for us to be taught how to fish and not to be given with fish.

[Churchillvv]

The ideological foreign aid is to help countries with some disaster whether human made (like wars) or natural disaster but the reality of foreign aids is the destruction of the countries they claim to help. Some weak leaders somehow seems to be very dependent on assistance from other countries and because of how much profitable it is issues that usually bring the need of foreign aids never ends just or this funds to keep coming in and hence this has been the root cause of foreign aids seeming to be a cause than a blessing for countries that needs them.

[alani123]

The aid africa receives by the US is no innocent tactic.

The US gov will send aid to countries they have friendly militia in so their mercenaries can replace funds they'd spend for food, clothing, education etc to spend on weapons.
This creates further instability and perpetuates situations of uncertainty and danger.

So when you see state aid pouring in, always ask the most basic question:

WHO BENEFITS?

Usually you'll see ulterior motives.

[shield132]

Ever since the 1960s, Africa has received over a trillion dollars in foreign aid. This figure is enough to establish many hospitals, schools & industries. Yet, lots of African countries are still struggling with poverty, weak infrastructure & unemployment. Some say aids is like giving fish instead of teaching people how to fish. Yes, it does help in the short run for disaster relief, education projects, health programs, and so on, but it may create dependency in the long run. The government sometimes bank way too much on aid instead of building strong economic systems.

Not arguing that its not good. Foreign aid has done a lot of good too, ranging from fighting diseases like malaria, to improving access to clean water. The problem is when aid turns into a crutch rather than a leverage. Many experts argue that what developing countries need is not just aids but trade, stronger government policies and so on.

In conclusion, foreign aid can't build prosperity but can just be useful during time of aid. Formerly poor countries like Singapore , South Korea and so on, shows that good government, trade and good investments is what a developing country really need. So, what's your take on this ? Do you think developing countries should rely less on foreign aid and focus more on trade, self reliance, innovation, etc., or is foreign trade helpful and needed in the growth & development of developing African countries.

Thank you.

It's better to teach a man how to catch a fish instead of just giving him a fish but when a man is hungry, you need to give him some fish and then teach him how to catch a fish. This is the best way to help. Btw our sad reality is that these aids end up in the wrong hands. Despite the fact that the country might receive a trillion dollars in aid, probably more than 50% of it is stolen by corrupt politicians. That's how they end up buying expensive cars, building penthouses for them and live a very luxury lifestyle. I don't know why foreigner countries don't control this process and give them aid regularly when they clearly see that these aids aren't used the way they were meant to be used. Mayby they are corrupt too.

[Dogedegen]

So when you see state aid pouring in, always ask the most basic question:

WHO BENEFITS?

Usually you'll see ulterior motives.

There is no free lunch. Why would anyone give away their money willingly on this scale when they themselves have issues to deal with? If you see rich people massively donating like Bill Gates it is always because of ulterior motives. Whether it is PR, power, corruption, manipulation to earn money or something else. There is always a motive. This is often the case with foreign aid. At a minimum it is because those who decide on sending the aid are able to get kickbacks from the amount through intermediaries.

It's better to teach a man how to catch a fish instead of just giving him a fish but when a man is hungry, you need to give him some fish and then teach him how to catch a fish.

Absolutely not. If he is hungry it is his own fault. If I feed him he will never take responsibility for making himself hungry. Just look at homeless people in the West. Not even 1 in 1000 recovers after receiving any kind of help simply because they will never accept responsibility for their situation.

[Felicity_Tide]

Do you think developing countries should rely less on foreign aid and focus more on trade, self reliance, innovation, etc., or is foreign trade helpful and needed in the growth & development of developing African countries.

Thank you.

Just like the first user said, no particular country is entitled to any aid, but at the same time, I have always believed that nothing good goes for nothing, i.e people don't do anything for free without a true motive, especially in a case that involves millions to billions of dollars being spent. Africa has always been a major receiver, but in reality, they have what it takes to build their own continent.

Just like you said, giving them aid is like giving them a fish while they literally have their own resources and pond to fish from. Of course, they know that relying on foreign aid does not develop their country, but it seems some of their leaders derive pleasure in acting as a victim, rather than working their ass off to better their nation.

[Cheema02]

I'm always quite skeptical of aid from countries that, one way or another, are ultimately interested in the resources of the country they're "helping." Sooner or later, the country that receives this aid will have to pay the bill. I agree that humanitarian aid provided during times of disaster should be perceived as selfless assistance, as that's the nature of human society. Anything else, called development aid, is done with the prospect of creating debts that will one day have to be repaid.

Yes, during disasters many countries recieve financial aid in the form of grants, loans and in kind donations or any technical support. Grants and donations are granted to help the poor or support them for providing food and shelter and they are not granted to be repaid or returned after disaster has gone. Second type of aid is loans or credits from international financial institutions to help the country suffering to recover some damage and it has to be repaid or returned. These funds have to be returned after country has recovered and stablized its economy after damage. Some countries also support other countries to dominate over their resources their countries hold. Its all about the mindset and thinking of a country's government wether they are helping as a humanity or for their personal benefits. It depends on the thpe of aid that it has to be repaid or not.

[Dunamisx]

This is my take on this, it is always good that we learn to be supportive on each other and also be there our ourselves, in some situations, the need for foreign help my be required base on some certain conditions, because there is lots to benefit form doing this and we can be rest assured not to make a very wrong choice and also fall a victim of helplessness.

Contrary to what has been said, i will have to say this also that for everything, we can have both the advantage and disadvantages of that same thing, requesting for foreign assistance sometimes can be instigating, because when thy help you, they earn from you what is more than what they have given to support on you, while form the other end, they may even be among the top instigator or supplier to the challenges one may be facing.