Tuesday afternoon, Global Washington will host a public discussion on foreign aid — why we do it and how to do it better — at the UW’s Kane Hall, room 120.
The event, entitled “Reforming Aid, Transforming the World,” is open to the public, with registration starting at 3:30 p.m. and at a cost of $10 to non-members.
Moderated by Carol Welch, a development policy expert for the Gates Foundation, speakers include a member of Congress, an aid advocate from Oxfam, a representative of World Vision and an official from USAID. The event couldn’t be more timely. As Global Washington says:
Even in a challenging economy, many policymakers believe that foreign assistance is an integral part of the U.S. budget. The United States can be a leader in creating a more stable and prosperous world–improving global health, alleviating poverty, and combating injustice. But in order to do so, aid projects must actually be helping. Limited resources must be used as efficiently as possible.
Sure, but isn’t there a more fundamental question here? Many in Congress seem to be inclined to cut foreign aid, even though it represents less than 1 percent of the federal budget. Continue reading