The Intelligence from The Economist New school Thais: a military establishment voted out
May 16, 2023
Sue-Lin Wong, Southeast Asia correspondent, dives into the recent Thai election where a reformist party surged, challenging military dominance amid hopes for true democracy. Avantika Tilkoti sheds light on the bureaucratic inefficiencies plaguing USAID's international aid, emphasizing the need for reform to empower local initiatives. Abby Bertics reveals the Ocean Census project, which aims to discover 100,000 new marine species, highlighting its significance for biodiversity and climate resilience.
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USAID's Poor Results
- A 2019 study revealed that over 40% of USAID's projects achieved only half their intended results.
- Critics, including "Beltway Bandits," point to excessive bureaucracy and reliance on large intermediaries as the main reasons for this inefficiency.
Bureaucratic Hurdles
- USAID's funding process involves extensive paperwork, hindering many organizations from applying.
- This favors large, established groups and limits the reach of aid to smaller, local organizations.
Localization Efforts
- Despite repeated attempts by different administrations, USAID has consistently missed its localization goals.
- Samantha Power, the current administrator, aims for 25% of funds to go to local groups by 2025, a significant increase from the current 6-11%.