"Foreign aid should be the responsibility of private individuals and established charities, not governments." How far do you agree?

Model Essay

Foreign aid is a crucial aspect of international relations, with its main aim being to provide assistance and support to poorer nations in a variety of ways that range from economic support to humanitarian assistance. However, disagreements exist on whether foreign aid should be the sole responsibility of governments or if private individuals and established charities should also play a role. While it is true that private individuals and charities can play a part in providing foreign aid, it is ultimately the responsibility of governments to ensure that aid is provided efficiently and fairly.

Private individuals have provided foreign aid for centuries, ranging from large-scale philanthropists like Bill Gates to ordinary people who donate to charities. Private individuals and businesses can provide aid through foundations, corporations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). For example, in 2011 Warren Buffet donated $1.5 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest foundations that provides aid to developing countries. The Gates Foundation has already spent over $50 billion on foreign aid, targeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals of ending poverty, promoting good health and education, and ensuring universal access to clean water and sanitation.

Moreover, individuals can also provide short-term emergency aid to countries affected by natural disasters and conflicts. For example, after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, private individuals worldwide raised $14 billion in aid contributions. Individual aid donors can allocate funds more flexibly than governments and can respond quickly to disaster situations. However, this type of aid can be sporadic and unpredictable, and often does not address the long-term development needs of poor countries.

Charities, also known as non-profit organisations, play a crucial role in providing long-term aid to poor countries. Established in different sectors, these charities raise funds that go towards providing support to people through diverse programmes such as healthcare, education and civil society institutions. Charities also provide specialised training, technical assistance and expertise to the people they are trying to help. For example, the American Friends Service Committee works to reduce poverty for farmers in Guatemala by providing education and training on sustainable agriculture practices, helping them to secure their livelihoods. In addition, Oxfam International’s “El Niño” campaign helped farmers in rural Zimbabwe cope with the impact of climate change, providing training, tools and seeds to create sustainable farming practices.

However, charities often face financial and logistical constraints that limit their capacity to provide aid at a large scale. This can result, in some cases, in inefficiencies and corruption, which can hinder the achievement of development goals. To overcome this limitation, governments are better equipped to provide aid due to their access to vast resources such as manpower and institutional capabilities that NGOs may not possess.

Governments have a duty to provide foreign aid to help other countries develop and reduce poverty levels. The more economically developed nations, the “donor countries”, bear a significant responsibility to provide aid to developing countries to help them achieve a better standard of living, reduce poverty and hunger, and to contribute to economic growth. For example, in 2021, the US government pledged $11 billion in COVID-19 relief funds to be distributed to 65 countries. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is committed to improving health and education, promote democratic governance, foster economic growth, and support civil society in developing countries.

Governments also have the resources and infrastructure necessary to provide large-scale aid to developing nations. They can use their foreign aid budgets to fund development projects such as building schools, hospitals, roads, and water and sanitation facilities. For example, the United Kingdom’s foreign aid budget helped fund the construction of 5,000 km of roads across Africa and Asia between 2011 and 2013. However, critics argue that government aid efforts can be inefficient, corrupt, and frequently undermined by political factors and bureaucratic red tape.

Collaborative efforts between private individuals, charities and governments are crucial in providing foreign aid. Successful collaboration can help to reduce costs and minimise inefficiencies while also ensuring that aid is provided efficiently and effectively. For example, the World Health Organisation (WHO) works closely with governments and charities to provide healthcare in developing countries, with individuals, NGOs and governments providing financial and logistic support.

However, such collaborations are not without their challenges. Cooperation between different organisations, each with their own goals and priorities, can be complex and difficult to coordinate. Additionally, collaboration can also risk the neglect of specific regions or issues when ‘powerful partners’ dominate the aid agenda, leading to a disregard for what local communities identify as important. As such, organisations must develop clear communication and goals, mutual trust and respect, and sharing knowledge and expertise in order to establish a coordinated approach to aid.

In conclusion, foreign aid is necessary to promote development in poverty-stricken nations, providing sustainable programmes and support. While private individuals and established charities may provide aid, it is primarily the responsibility of governments to ensure that aid is provided efficiently and fairly. Collaborative efforts between different organisations can help to overcome some of the challenges involved in providing foreign aid. By taking a coordinated and mutually respectful approach to aid, both governments and private individuals can help formulate effective and efficient foreign aid strategies that have the possible potential to enhance the lives of millions.