New Aid: An Alternative System of Private International Aid Focusing on Direct Monetary Donation – Chloe Koehler
Charity
A hand reaches out to help her up.
She grasps on.
As she’s lifted, a photo snaps
An image of support.
But before she fully stands, her hand is dropped.
She falls,
Sinking deeper into the hole she was in before.
It was only a performance.
-Chloe Koehler
Abstract
Through comprehensive research into the private aid sector historically and currently, this paper takes a critical approach to look at the sector as a whole. In doing so, this paper identifies the fallacies of the current approach to private aid, noting the significant increase in private aid spending without an equal increase in global development. Further, this paper goes on to analyze alternative systems of private aid that target these issues, finding that systems that center on direct monetary donation, referring to cash funds given directly into the hands of those that need it, are the most successful form of alternative solutions. Ultimately, this paper then takes the culmination of all the research done to suggest its own alternative system that takes direct donation one step further: an app that facilitates a form of peer to peer international donation and creates opportunities for recipients to broaden their skills and abilities to continue to bring in funds after the cash transfers stop.Â