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| >> Foreign Aid in the National Interest >> Chapter 6 >> The full measure of Foreign Aid |
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Jump to Chapter 6 Sections: The full measure of Foreign AidUnited States aid to developing countries is generally measured solely in terms of the offi- cial development assistance that the government provides to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Peace Corps, multilateral institutions, and certain programs sponsored by the State Department and Department of Defense. But the U.S. government also provides considerable resources for international assistance not included in measures of official development assistance. Moreover, many nongovernment U.S. sources-including foundations, corporations, private and voluntary organizations, colleges and universities, religious organizations, and individuals-provide direct assistance to people in developing countries. All these sources must be taken into account to plan aid effectively.Better understanding of private giving is needed to accurately assess American generosity toward poor people overseas. Such knowledge can also help USAID use private funds to leverage additional official development assistance. Private investment and lending have transformed the economies of many developing countries over the past 20 years. Less attention has been paid to private philanthropy-but it too plays an important role. Indeed, this "silent" private financing has become the dominant expression of U.S. concern for poor people abroad. To help understand how these trends will affect development assistance over the next 15 years, this chapter first reviews the origins and purposes of the U.S. government’s foreign aid. It then examines the effectiveness and public perceptions of this aid-information essential to planning support for economic and political growth in developing countries. Finally, the chapter assesses the many nongovernment forces involved in U.S. aid. Understanding these forces is essential to shaping future U.S. assistance efforts. Taking into account both government and nongovernment sources, the chapter concludes by providing a full measure of U.S. aid to foreign countries. Objectives, Outcomes and amounts of foreign aid |
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