'International aid' is an accepted form of helping resource-challenged' nations, Comment on ethics in contemporary international aid. Support your answer with suitable examples.

The question “International aid' is an accepted form of helping resource-challenged' nations, Comment on ethics in contemporary international aid. Support your answer with suitable examples." was asked in the Mains 2023 GS Paper 4. Let us look at the model answer to this question.

Answer: International aid aims to enhance global well-being by addressing global diseases (or pandemic), offering humanitarian assistance, combating poverty, and advancing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. However, there are ethical aspects related to contemporary international aid that require understanding.

Ethical aspect of international aid

• Transparency: Transparent distribution and use of international aid are crucial. Lack of transparency can lead to corruption, theft, and diminished impact.
  • Ex: In Africa, limited oversight of COVID-19 funds from the IMF led to corruption concerns due to inconsistent government disclosures.
• Increased Dependence: The current global system often causes weaker nations to become economically dependent on stronger nations.
  • Ex: Over the past two decades, the US provided Pakistan over $32 billion, heightening its economic reliance.
• Cultural Sensitivity in Humanitarian Aid: Humanitarian aid must respect local customs. Ignoring them, as seen in Liberia during the Ebola crisis, resulted in widespread mistrust.
• Sustainable Growth: Aid should promote sustainable growth by endorsing impactful, market-creating innovations that bolster local prosperity.
  • Ex: Advocating for renewable energy initiatives aligns with ethical and environmental aims.
• Capacity Building: Aid boosts infrastructure and capability.
  • Ex: African nations benefited from India's ITEC, sharing technical skills among developing countries.
• Food Security: Food aid acts as a safety net. While humanitarian relief is the primary criterion, economic and political factors influence allocations.
  • Ex: UN's food grain consignments to Afghanistan help combat malnutrition and hunger.

Hence, ethical international aid should be recipient-centred, sustainable, respectful, and accountable. By adhering to these principles, aid efforts can better address poverty, inequality, and promote lasting human development.