10 Reasons to Invest in Foreign Aid

10 Reasons to Invest in Foreign Aid via Pixabay 4. Foreign aid facilitates global connections. Africa is nearing one billion mobile subscriptions, and  Project Loon  is providing WiFi with tennis court-sized balloons. Development goals in several countries look to increase total global connectedness to the internet, which means access to healthcare information and job sites as well as social media. 5. Foreign aid inspires innovation.   American tech company initiatives, such as  4Afrika  by Microsoft, fund local tech start-ups. For example, the Cardiopad, a touchpad device for heart exams and a breakthrough in medical technology, was invented in Cameroon. 6. Foreign aid helps the environment. The connection between global poverty and carbon dioxide emissions may not be obvious at first, but diversification of energy sources means new jobs and resources for everyone. As the global economy grows, emissions  go down. 7. Foreign aid promotes equality for women. More women are running for officeâ€"and  winning seatsâ€"than ever before. Reducing poverty through donations to foreign aid offers women access to education and healthcare, improving their financial and social independence. via Pixabay 8. Foreign aid helps stabilize states in conflict.   A 2017  study  published in the Global Health Journal found that “The highest quartile of US health aid per capita spending was associated with a large and immediate decline in the level of state fragility.” This means that places with more humanitarian aid are less likely to erupt with violence and collapse, making a safer place for everyone. 9. Foreign aid hinders the influence of terrorist groups.   Groups like ISIS are successful in poorer regions, incentivizing new recruits with the promise of resources. If foreign aid provides resources to these regions first, terrorist groups suffer a major blow to their campaign of fear. As U.S. Senator  Lindsey Graham  (R-SC) said in a 2017 argument for funding foreign aid programs, “The worst nightmare for al Qaeda is to come into a community that feels supported and has hope.” 10. Foreign aid has a chance to produce a direct return. A charitable donation to a foreign aid organization with 501(c)(3) status is claimable on tax returns. Buying stock in Kroger is not.