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What Oxfam is Doing

Oxfam is working with others to increase the effectiveness of US foreign aid by placing the voices and priorities of poor people at the center of aid policy and practice. Through analytical and field research, we will bring out the hopes and concerns of intended beneficiaries, implementing partners, aid professionals, other donors, and host governments. Through our political advocacy work, we aim to ensure that these voices are heard by policy makers who have the power to make US foreign aid more effective in the fight against global poverty.

Over the past 50 years, US foreign aid has saved millions of lives and helped to fight poverty worldwide. This aid can take the form of providing food for the hungry, helping people rebuild after a disaster, building new homes and schools, or contributing economically to struggling communities.

The current US aid system, though, is no longer effective. Built for the challenges of the Cold War, US aid in the 21st century has become slow, bureaucratic, and fragmented.

As a US-based nongovernmental organization (NGO) with hands-on experience working in developing countries, Oxfam America can help to improve US foreign aid by linking local aid recipients to global aid policies. Because we do not accept grants from the US government, we can provide an impartial perspective on what official aid works and what doesn’t.

Oxfam’s message to the new presidential administration taking over in 2009: Refocus US foreign aid on its primary mission—ending global poverty.

• Focus US aid on saving lives and helping people. In recent years US foreign aid has become increasingly centered on the military and national security issues. While security is an important concern, we believe that effective aid focuses on long-term human security for poor and vulnerable people, rather than short-term national security interests.
• Update US foreign aid for the 21st century. Today’s aid machinery was designed during the Cold War and has not evolved with the times. We need 21st-century institutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. New global economic players are opening up new markets and opportunities for poor people; these new global economic relations should be facilitated, not hampered by an out-of-date US foreign aid system.
• Ensure greater local ownership of aid projects. In order for aid projects to work, local communities and their political leaders must play a major role in their implementation and management. Without local ownership, aid does not make a lasting difference in people’s lives. Our aim is to support and strengthen local ownership of aid by accountable governments and empowered citizens.