Washington, DC—The United States is falling short on its commitment to rid the world of dire poverty by 2015 under the U.N. Millennium Development Goals, according to a report released today by InterAction, the main coalition of U.S.-based non-governmental organizations fighting poverty worldwide. As the world reaches the halfway point of the initiative, the United States is among a handful of nations that has failed to submit its progress report. In its stead, InterAction’s independent analysis found the United States’ track record is mixed, and it is not effectively coordinating or fully leveraging its aid where help is most needed.
The Millennium Development Goals aim to eliminate poverty, hunger, and gender inequalities; prevent and treat HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases; protect the environment; and provide education, health care, and clean water for all. Participating nations, including the United Kingdom are tracking their foreign aid in the context of pursuing these goals.
“United States foreign aid is following a pattern of two steps forward and one step back,” said Samuel A. Worthington, President and CEO of InterAction. “Our research shows that, while the United States has made major investments in advancing specific development goals, particularly the global battle against HIV/AIDS, it could be doing much more as a world leader to reduce hunger and otherwise improve the health and economic stability of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. This is the key to building a more secure world.”
Major findings from the report include:
- While the overall level of spending on development assistance has increased since 2000, the focus of this spending is on a few goals—HIV/AIDS and economic growth—with much less spent on hunger, health, and education, particularly in Africa and Latin America. This strategy limits the U.S.’s overall impact.
- How the United States gives has as much impact as how much. There are more than 26 U.S. government agencies involved in foreign assistance, yet there is no overarching strategy or programmatic coordination of goals. This lack of coherence results in inefficiencies, particularly in the area of food aid.
- Political interests drive U.S. aid strategy. The countries receiving the bulk of foreign assistance in fiscal year 2008 are those of greatest strategic interest —Israel, Egypt, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan—rather than the nations in greatest crisis or need.
The findings of the report come on the heels of the recent passage of the first-ever global poverty bill in the House. Since referred to the Senate, the Global Poverty Act of 2007 (HR 1302) would require the president to develop a strategy to reduce by half the number of people living in extreme poverty (less than $1 a day) by 2015. InterAction supports the legislation, and has also called for the creation of a Cabinet-level foreign assistance department that operates alongside the departments of Defense and State.
“It is immoral that close to a billion people live on less than a dollar a day,” said U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), author of the 2007 Global Poverty Act. “Such pervasive poverty also causes instability throughout the world. InterAction’s report underscores why eradicating poverty is so critical, exposes holes in the U.S.’s current and limited approach, and offers smart recommendations for foreign aid that will truly reach the people who most need it.”
InterAction intends to issue follow-up reports on U.S. progress toward meeting the MDGs through 2015. The information in this first report was compiled by examining data from sources including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development/Development Assistance Committee, the World Bank, and various United Nations agencies.
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>> Download "The U.S. Contribution to Reducing Global Poverty: An Assessment of the U.S. and the Millennium Development Goals"
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