Aid Reform

Don't cut aid. It's working.

By leveraging a tiny U.S. investment, people like Martha Kwataine, Manuel Dominguez, Nana Kojo Kondua IV, and Emiliana Aligaesha are creating a secure future for their nations and communities.

Why care about aid reform?

Our system of foreign aid delivery was built for the challenges of the 20th century and is too bureaucratic and fragmented for 21st century problems, often failing to reach poor communities.

What we’re doing

Oxfam America is working to improve the way the US delivers aid and support new, more effective efforts to fight poverty.

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What's new

Stories & video

Alexis Nkurunziza, Transparency Expert

A researcher and human rights defender is leveraging a tiny investment of US foreign aid to open up budgets in Rwanda.

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Majeda Begum Shiru, Local Leader

A formerly quiet woman is leveraging a tiny investment of US foreign aid to enable women to speak loudly and powerfully to improve health and education in Chittagong, Bangladesh.

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Martha Kwataine, Beltway Outsider

Martha Kwataine is leveraging a tiny investment of US foreign aid to protect the health of people in rural communities across Malawi.

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Nana Kojo Kondua IV, Job Creator

Village Chief Kojo Kondua IV is leveraging a tiny investment of US foreign aid to train fishermen and to protect jobs and the environment in Abuesi, Ghana.

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Emiliana Aligaesha, Venture Capitalist

Tanzanian farmer Emiliana Aligaesha is leveraging a tiny investment of US foreign aid to ensure the success of an early-stage, high-potential start-up.

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Manuel Dominguez, Fiscal Hawk

Mayor Manuel Dominguez is leveraging a tiny investment of US foreign aid to budget for a sound future for his community.

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Food Games

When kids play with their food it's cute. When Washington does, it costs lives. Tell Washington to stop playing with food aid: www.oxfamamerica.org/foodaid

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Haiti, One Year On: Realizing Country Ownership in Haiti

A discussion with leading development experts on how the US is promoting country ownership and building more effective institutions in Haiti.

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Winning the AIDS Fight: How Countries Can Take the Lead

Oxfam America hosted a breakfast panel on the role of country ownership in fighting HIV/AIDS on Tuesday, July 20, at the International AIDS Society Conference 2010 in Vienna, Austria.

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A very good week

During the MDG summit in September, we saw huge progress on the commitment to reduce hunger and poverty--and President Obama announced the first-ever US global development policy.

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Can Country Ownership Work?

Field Perspectives on Health Systems Strengthening

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Aid and anti-corruption

Join Oxfam America and leading developing world voices for a discussion on how U.S. foreign aid can produce better results by promoting country ownership and bolstering anti-corruption efforts.

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Enhancing US aid effectiveness: The state of play and ways forward

This panel considers three important policy processes, and the historic opportunity they offer to reshape US foreign assistance and global development policy.

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Aid to Haiti

In the wake of Haiti how can we improve aid to developing countries. A discussion with leading development experts on promoting recipient country ownership and building more effective institutions.

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"Africa's future is up to Africans"

President Obama's first speech in sub-Saharan Africa hits important points on good governance, responsible use of natural resources, trade, and defeating poverty.

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In Cambodia, USAID helps citizen groups protect their legal rights

Support to the Community Legal Education Center (CLEC) helps USAID foster an environment where citizens can have a voice in their government and demand broader accountability.

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Lessons on how PEPFAR can be integrated into a country's own health system

PEPFAR's evolving role in Mozambique is a model for countries that have only just begun to hold donors accountable to their national health priorities.

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Oxfam America President Ray Offenheiser on Bloggingheads.tv

Mark Leon Goldberg of UN Dispatch and The American Prospect, chats with Ray Offenheiser about how we can bring US foreign assistance and foreign aid practices into the 21st century.

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Dispatch from the field: Diogo Milagre, Mozambique

Diogo Milagre is Deputy Executive Secretary of the National AIDS Council, the agency within the Mozambican government that coordinates the national response to HIV/AIDS.

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Reform US Foreign Aid Policy

US foreign aid has saved millions of lives and helped millions more overcome poverty. Yet foreign aid is still under-performing and often fails to reach the people who need it most.

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Predictable, multiyear aid is life-saving in difficult contexts

An interview with Melissa Phillips, NGO Secretariat Coordinator in Juba, Southern Sudan.

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Bring US Foreign Assistance into the 21st Century

This short video was produced by our partners at the Center for Global Development.

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In El Salvador, USAID program grows a new generation of rural entrepreneurs

By building on local knowledge—and adapting to local conditions—USAID and Fintrac help farming communities overcome poverty.

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Sustainable Security

Oxfam America president Raymond C. Offenheiser discusses how 21st century sustainable security requires working together across borders for joint solutions to global challenges.

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Q & A on aid in Afghanistan

Oxfam's policy advisor, Matt Waldman, talks about how we can make aid more effective in Afghanistan.

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Building on strength in Afghanistan

Far from hopeless, the Afghan people are determined to build a peaceful future—and US foreign aid can help.

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» « More

Oxfam in the news

Don't Cut Foreign Aid -- It's Working

Huffington Post, Jan 17, 2013 -

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Tools for supporters

How to make a difference on campus

Aug 03, 2012 - Students, are you ready to take action? Find tips for starting and running an Oxfam Club at your high school or university, ideas for campus events, and much more.

Research & reports

Alexis Nkurunziza, Transparency Expert

Apr 02, 2013 - A researcher and human rights advocate is leveraging a tiny investment of US foreign aid to open up budgets and improve governance in Rwanda.

Aid Reform in-depth

These publications form the foundation of the campaign

Smart Development

Smart Development

Oxfam's briefing paper on making aid work.

Ownership in practice: The key to smart development

Ownership in practice: The key to smart development

Countries should provide foreign aid in ways that strengthen the voice of poor people and the responsiveness of the state.

Foreign aid 101: A quick and easy guide to understanding US foreign aid

Foreign aid 101: A quick and easy guide to understanding US foreign aid

Oxfam sets out to dispel the common myths around foreign aid and answer some of the most fundamental questions as to why the US gives foreign aid and how to make it more effective.

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