Section 2: Objections to Aid for Global Health

Case Study: Are their ways to lessen mismanagement?

Over the last 50 years, both donor and recipient nations have learned a lot about distributing aid. Now, as attention focuses on solving problems in global health, two large aid programs place an emphasis on avoiding mismanagement and corruption.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) emphasize the need for accountability on the part of both donors and recipients. The programs differ in their focus — and sometimes in their supporters. But, in general, they both call for the following steps to ensure that aid is used effectively and efficiently:

• Careful planning within recipient countries to develop clear strategies for using the aid
• Quantifiable goals and targets that allow nations to assess progress
• Close coordination among all groups working with the program, with one agency selected as the lead
• Clear communication among donors, recipients, and the public as countries work toward their goals

Both MDGs and PEPFAR require periodic reports that attempt to measure each country's progress. Each of the countries receiving PEPFAR aid must complete five-year plans and annual operational plans. Countries taking part in the MDGs are asked to produce Millennium Development Goal Reports that explain their progress.

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