Where Does U.S. Foreign Aid Go and Does It Make An Impact?
Ask students: What percent of USAID grants pay for organizational activities without directly funding results?
The U.S. has long been one of the world’s largest foreign aid donors. However, in recent years, its effectiveness has been questioned by a chorus of critics who say the impact of assistance programs falls well short of their intended goals. They blame what some have called the "aid industrial complex." Fred de Sam Lazaro reports for his series, Agents for Change.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Who is Rand Paul, and what role does he serve in government?
- What percent of USAID grants pay for organizational activities without directly funding results?
- Where is mPharma located?
- When was Unlock Aid formed?
- Why does USAID exist?
Focus Questions
Media literacy: Who else would you have interviewed for this story?
Extension Activity
Watch the following two videos on foreign aid, then discuss the three most important parts of each video and share one opinion you have from each video.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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