What role should the wealthy nations of the world like Canada and the United States play in easing the suffering of the world’s poorest people? What responsibility do the wealthiest people have in tackling global poverty?

On a recent trip to southern Africa (Zambia/Zimbabwe) I encountered many people who were starving and living in deplorable conditions. I have often wondered whether foreign aid has succeeded in making Africa better or if it deters progress.

 I think that wealthy countries need to involve the people of recipient nations about decisions concerning poverty reduction with foreign aid. Research on this complex issue has exposed the fact that money sent to combat poverty is often channeled to other areas such as managing the environment, controlling illicit drugs and the AIDS crisis instead. It has been shown that aid from abroad seems to promote dependency on others and creates the impression that the emergence from poverty depends on external donations rather than on people’s own efforts and motivation. Sadly, widespread corruption, political instability and war in many African countries, is standing in the way of the good governance that is needed for long-term sustainable solutions. 

Wealthy countries that provide foreign aid need to stop encouraging a dependent culture that fuels corruption and contributes to underdevelopment- this instigates conflict in Africa (Moyo, 2009).  Food aid, for example, can be destructive on the economy of a recipient nation and can contribute to more hunger and poverty in the long run.  Free or subsidized food, below market prices undercuts local farmers, who cannot compete and are driven out of jobs and into poverty. It seems that some powerful nations have used this as a foreign policy tool - for dominance that guarantees economic failure in poor regions rather than real aid. 

Let’s start helping Africans with the right kind of aid in a culturally sensitive way so they can improve their standard of living and begin to make it on their own.