Africa Aid believes that there are considerable deficiencies in current approaches to international aid. Africa Aid addresses these deficiencies and answers the Call to Action.

Filling a Void

 I think when you’ve traveled around a lot in Africa,                  you understand something that many people here
              don’t recognize: the extraordinary power that is Africa
              at village level - at community level.  

Africa Aid fills a considerable void in international relief efforts, bridging the gap between ineffective large-scale government programs and limited small-scale projects that yield insufficient or incomplete solutions to poverty driven problems.

Grassroots, Not Government

Of any developed country, the United States gives the smallest % of its GNP towards foreign aid. However, Americans average more volunteer hours than any other developed country.

Despite an increase in foreign aid from the U.S. government during the recent G8 summit, increases in African aid fell considerably short of projections. The true strength of American generosity lies in grassroot efforts from the people. Africa Aid utilizes these efforts from targeted American communities in a way that large government organizations cannot.

Expensive Consultants

 Only 1/3 of U.S. foreign aid is spent on health, education,             nutrition, agriculture and infrastructure, while the lion’s
            share goes to consultants and transportation of food.  

Consultants pocket $20 billion, or 40% of international aid from developed countries. Africa Aid enlists local Universities for project planning, drastically cutting the cost of consultation. In addition, experts from various University departments are able to better address the complex and variable origins of extreme poverty.

Eliminating Corruption

 While developing countries need increased resources, both             sides must work together to put an end to corruption. This
          should not be misunderstood as arguing for rigid conditionality.
          It is a call for decisive common action to ensure that increased
          resources have the desired result.  

Africa Aid closely monitors relief efforts at a community level, and traces funds directly to implemented programs. Africa Aid conducts extensive internal and external audits, minimizing the presence of corruption and avoiding investment in faulty government infrastructure.

Recruiting Corporate Support

 Business often does a good job supporting communities:              the arts, universities, and scientific enterprises... But that
           philosophy has rarely reached poor countries. Even
           businesses that are enlightened in their home bases see
           Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia as places to exploit            natural resources or use cheap labor.  

Africa Aid enlists corporations to invest in their local communities in order to tackle the problems of a third world partner. For corporations, an investment in local community is an investment in the bottom line, while an investment in the global community is an investment in the human line.

Click here to find out why we chose to help Africa