October 1 ushered in a new era in U.S. foreign aid. What's the plan? Will it work?
1 hour ago
October ushers in a new era in U.S. foreign aid : NPR
October ushers in a new era in U.S. foreign aid The America First strategy asks for a Memorandum of Understanding as a condition for healthcare and development aid. It's been praised for promoting self-reliance but criticized for its conditions.
How the U.S. has changed its approach to foreign aid this year
In December, State Department senior official Jeremy Lewin welcomed Rwanda Foreign Minister Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe for the signing of a multi-year Memorandum of Understanding on global health cooperation.
The Trump administration says that October 1 marks the dawn of a new era in global healthcare. It's the age of the " America First Global Health Strategy ." And that means rewriting the rules for funding healthcare in low- and middle-income countries.
A key part of the "America First" strategy is the idea that the U.S. should not hand out billions of dollars for health and development programs without reaping concrete benefits — access to local minerals, for example — and without a commitment from governments to spend their own money.
To be eligible for U.S. funds, each country is asked to sign a Memorandum of Understanding detailing the amount of money the U.S. will invest as well as the country's financial pledge.
Copyright for this text belongs to NPR.