+ Follow

Just AID - Foreign Assistance Reform

by ajws on Jul 17, 2009

2,388 views

Fact: Only two of the world’s poorest countries are among the top 10 recipients of U.S. foreign assistance. ...

Fact: Only two of the world’s poorest countries are among the top 10 recipients of U.S. foreign assistance.

In this presentation, Sarah Meyer -- an AJWS education officer and expert on foreign assistance -- discusses the U.S. government’s convoluted, outdated and misguided system for allocating and distributing global aid. Highlighting the system’s lack of focus on addressing poverty in the Global South, the lack of transparency and the lack of accountability, Sarah also explains why the time for reform is now and the key role individuals can play.

Accessibility

View text version

Upload Details

Uploaded via SlideShare as Microsoft PowerPoint

Usage Rights

File a copyright complaint

4 Embeds 1,091

http://ajws.org	1059
http://www.ajws.org	27
https://secure.ajws.org	4
http://translate.googleusercontent.com	1

Statistics

Likes: 0
Downloads: 0
Comments: 0
Embed Views: 1,091
Views on SlideShare: 1,297
Total Views: 2,388

Just AID - Foreign Assistance Reform Webinar Transcript

What is foreign assistance? • Support given to other countries, in the form of money (grants or loans), goods and/or technical assistance, that is designed to promote economic development and welfare. • Foreign assistance can be given directly from one government to another (bilateral) or through international organizations, such as the United Nations Development Program (multilateral).

How does the U.S. give foreign assistance? • U.S. foreign assistance has the following components:  Development aid  Humanitarian aid  Military aid  Funding to support the UN and other multilateral organizations  Economic assistance supporting U.S. political and security goals What percentage of U.S. foreign assistance is military aid? a. Nearly 5% b. Nearly 10% c. Nearly 25%

Allocation of U.S. foreign assistance Bi-lateral development assistance Humanitarian aid 26.1 30.1 Military aid 8.2 12.3 Multilateral aid 23.3 Economic assistance All figures in % of foreign assistance

Why get involved now? Domestic political considerations • New administration • Increased political will—Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act introduced April 28 • NGO mobilization • Grassroots support key to ensuring that AJWS policy priorities are included in the eventual legislation

Take Action! • AJWS supporters can engage with these efforts through  Visiting and calling members of Congress to lobby on this issue  Educating friends and community members  Writing, speaking and organizing