How NOT to Do International Aid

This blog, 7 Worst International Aid Ideas, is from a couple of years ago, but I just came across it recently. It will be a great read and reminder for all of us who want to help.

I am not against charity and donations for emergency help, but there is a lot to learn about the difference between relief, rehabilitation, and development.

The first example outlines three basic questions we should consider when giving to any kind of poverty-related cause:

1. Is there a real need for this?
2. Is there a more efficient (though not as easy) method?
3. Are you undermining local, long-term efforts with your distant, short-term aid?

Keeping that in mind, here are the candidates for “the worst attempts at helping others since colonialism”:

1. T-shirts for Africa
2. TOMS Buy-One-Give-One
3. Machine Gun Preachers
4. Ransoming Children in Africa (Extortion)
5. Donor Fund Restrictions
6. Food Aid and Munitions Confusion
7. Making Aid a Foreign Policy Tool

Be sure to read the full article.

Related Links:

• Toxic Charity
• De-Toxifying Charity 
• How Would You Define (and Solve) Poverty?  
• Poverty Cure
• Stop Serving the Poor?