esotericvoyage.com

I have thought a long time about how a country like the United States could take the lead in improving the situation in other countries in a way that would actually improve things for other people.  Here is my current best idea for how this might be done:

The US President picks trouble spot in the world such as Africa.  There is a lot of despair in Africa right now that affects the entire world, whether people recognize it or not.  Then President appoints a new cabinet level position; the Minister to Africa.  The new cabinet member gets a very small budget to set up some offices, hire a few staff members and funds for overseas travel.

Then the US President lobbies Congress for additional aid money to Africa, a small amount to start,  perhaps an additional $300 million.  That money, when approved, becomes available for countries in Africa to buy from the United States the things they think they need to improve their countries.  Of course, there are a few conditions, but only a few.  The money is only available when all countries in Africa act together, in consort.  And a few goods, such as anti-malarial drugs, the US government mandates to be sold at cost.  The consortium of African countries must pay their own shipping for the goods they acquire here.

Help Africa help themselves.  Then a united Africa can come to the US, and buy things they want to improve their situation.  Need water technology; fine, buy it with part of the $300 million.  Need an engineer to build a damn, fine, we will pay his salary.  Need anti-AIDS drugs or anti-malarial drugs, fine, buy it.

Encourage other countries to provide aid in the same manner.  Say India puts up $20 million in African aid.  This could be a real benefit because perhaps drug costs are half in India that they are in the United States.  This frees up the US money for other things.

Then every year, audit how the money is spent.  Did it reach the people?  Did it help?  Yes, then raise the amount to $330 million the next year.  Did a government official in country XYZ steal the drugs and sell them on the black market and hide the profits in his Swiss bank account.  Darn, only $270 million the next year.