It's Time to Question Aid Models That Lack Long-Lasting Impact

Abstract

This opinion piece argues that current models of foreign aid, particularly in the health sector, have failed to build sustainable systems and instead foster dependency that undermines long-term resilience in African countries. The article critiques the rapid dismantling of USAID and the broader reliance on external donors, asserting that these approaches have left health systems unprepared to manage essential services independently. It suggests that governments must increase domestic health financing, strengthen accountability to their own populations, and adopt robust data systems to ensure health outcomes are sustainably improved rather than perpetually dependent on donor priorities.