History of International Aid

Introduction

In this module, you’ll learn the history of public health and the origins of foreign aid institutions and organizations. 

We will take you as far back as the Roman Empire, where you will get a glimpse of the first public health initiatives, through to colonization in the early 1800s, and all the way to the end of World War II, which spurred an increase in international aid to stimulate economic growth and prosperity. 

Reflective Questions 

“Reflecting on the MDGs and looking ahead to the next 15 years, there is no question that we can deliver on our shared responsibility to end poverty, leave no one behind and create a world of dignity for all” – Ban Ki-Moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations 

At the beginning of each decade, the UN announced optimistic hopes for the first, second, third and fourth development decades. Unfortunately, reality always lagged far behind those optimistic projections. Foreign aid is a multi-billion-dollar industry which has grown in response to numerous external factors that might have suited donor countries, but often had little to do with the best interests of the poor. 

There is a broad consensus that the old ways of doing business needs to change with a focus to improve the efficiency of the impact of foreign aid and to harmonize the efforts of multiple agencies in improving the effectiveness of aid. 

What are the key events that have shaped the modern aid industry? How has aid changed between World War II and now?

  1. What would you consider the major successes in the history of foreign aid? What are some key factors that led to those successes? 
  2. Why was the start of the 1960s declared the first decade of ‘development’ by the united nations?
  3. If you were in charge of a major bilateral agency such as Global Affairs Canada or the Department for International Development, what structures would you put in place to ensure that international aid is not wasted by corrupt governments?
  4. What can donors (including bilateral and multilateral agencies) do to improve foreign aid to better alleviate poverty and improve health outcomes?