The future of development aid after COVID-19: four necessary shifts
By Grace Avila Casanova For decades, Official Development Assistance (ODA) agencies have been operating under a post-World War II “aid” narrative, an often patronising...
Foreign Aid FAQs – #10 “Aid money is spent on the wrong things”
There is a widespread belief that overseas aid money is either handed over to corrupt dictators and never reaches the people it is supposed...
Foreign Aid FAQs – #9 “They’re poor because they’re lazy”
A common attitude nowadays is that people are rich because they work hard and deserve to be wealthy, whereas people are poor because they...
Foreign Aid FAQs – #8 “Why has nothing been achieved?”
The fight to eradicate global poverty has been going on for decades. Yet despite all the money that has been donated and all the...
Foreign Aid FAQs – #7 “I’d rather give them the money myself”
Widespread concerns about dodgy and unscrupulous overseas aid charities not sending donations where they’re supposed to have led some people to instead express a...
Foreign Aid FAQs – #6 “Their own government should help them”
It is without a doubt true that governments should help their own people. However, this phrase is often used to mean that the welfare...
Foreign Aid FAQs – #5 “Foreign aid fuels overpopulation”
Concerns about overpopulation, or the ‘population explosion’ as it’s sometimes called, are widespread at the moment. The logic surrounding these concerns is understandable –...
Foreign Aid FAQs – #4 “Overseas aid charities are fraudulent”
We’ve all been there – you’re walking down the high street and someone in a brightly coloured t-shirt stops you to ask for donations...
Foreign Aid FAQs – #3 “We send too much money abroad”
Given the significant amount of coverage which the UK foreign aid budget receives in the press, in political discussion, and in charities’ external communications,...
Foreign Aid FAQs – #2 “Foreign aid should be cut to pay for public services”
In any given episode of Question Time, especially during episodes in which the NHS funding crisis is discussed, there is a high chance that...
Foreign Aid FAQs – #1 “Charity begins at home”
The original meaning of this proverb was that a person’s first responsibility is for the needs of their own family and friends. However, nowadays...
Private entities in the development sector
The International Development sector has grown considerably in recent years. Here, Jesus Rodriguez argues that despite the much needed extra funds, greater accountability and...
Global Citizenship & Me – My DiA Journey by Sarah Burns
Name: Sarah Burns Placement: Seva Mandir Year: 2010 What is your favourite moment from interning with one of DiA’s placement partners? I couldn’t chose just one moment....
Global Citizenship & Me – My DiA Journey by Josh Reece-Moore
Name: Josh Reece-Moore Placement: Deep Griha Society Year: 2014 What is your favourite moment from interning with one of DiA’s placement partners? I have so...
‘International’ Development? Why We Need to Understand the Importance of Locality
The term ‘International Development’ is often used without consideration of the underlying meaning and implications of it. Peter McNally explores the theoretical underpinnings of...
Afghanistan after 14 years of Foreign Aid: sustained developments or continued challenges?
Ashraf Ghani, the President of Afghanistan once said, “Economics taught in most of the elite universities are practically useless in my context. My country...
Why the next election will determine the future of the USA in world politics
Two weeks ago the Republican Party hosted its second Presidential candidate Debate at the Regan Presidential Library. Whilst the debate touched on many important...
Aid to Somerset: Can we do better than comparing vulnerable populations?
ON SATURDAY, THE DAILY MAIL USED ITS FRONT PAGE TO SUPPORT CLAIMS FROM SOME MPS THAT OVERSEAS AID SHOULD BE DIVERTED TO VICTIMS OF...
10 Years on From DiA and I’m Still Learning…
TEN YEARS ON FROM VOLUNTEERING WITH DEVELOPMENT IN ACTION MANDARIN BENNETT IS STILL PASSIONATE ABOUT ENSURING THAT INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERING HAS A LASTING IMPACT AND...
Breaking into international development
International development is one of the toughest career paths out there. But worry no more – DiA Vice-Chair Jamie Pett is on hand to...