Topic: U.S. Agency for International Development

Need a sales campaign? Look no further than Bono – and Africa

Bono, the activist Irish rock star, is the figurehead of a new Louis Vuitton advertising campaign that features Africa without the Africans – a common sales tactic.

An inflated claim of health success in Afghanistan exposed

A frequently touted claim that 85 percent of Afghans have access to health care is misleading and stands in the way of improvements, say health care professionals there.

Haiti election results could open spigot to billions in aid

With foreign governments and donors hesitant to send funds to President René Préval's administration, a Haiti election was necessary if the country wanted to tap into into billions of dollars in aid.

Opinion: Permanent tent city: Why giving aid to Haiti fuels a cycle of dependency

Amid cholera outbreaks, the aftermath of Hurricane Tomas, and ongoing earthquake relief, Haiti has been flooded with aid, distributed by foreign and domestic NGOs. But as most of this aid bypasses the local government, it isn't held accountable for improving the Haitians' lot.

Why 300 million more people are suddenly poor

A United Nations index takes a multidimensional look at poverty and finds spikes from 'rising tiger' India to Hungary.

Nearly half of Afghans believe country is 'moving in the right direction,' survey says

A US-funded survey by the San Francisco-based Asia Foundation found that 47 percent of Afghans say their country is 'moving in the right direction,' but some Afghans doubt the results.

Haiti's tent cities to bear worst of potential hurricane Tomas

Some 1.3 million Haitians in the capital's tent cities have nowhere to go as potential hurricane Tomas approaches, even as 120,000 homes sit vacant and easily repairable.

Taliban kidnap British aid worker, demand prisoner swap for Aafia Siddiqui

The Taliban have reportedly claimed responsibility for kidnapping a British aid worker Sunday. They are demanding a prisoner exchange for Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman sentenced in New York last week for attacking US soldiers.

Opinion: To better Afghanistan, boot the contractors

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai wants private security contractors out of the country. He should go even further, by kicking out all development contractors. Their record of fraud and waste is reason enough. They also undermine NGOs truly helping the Afghan people.

The Monitor's View: Obama's new tack on global poverty

President Obama's speeches at the UN and his new policy for US aid show a strong pitch for leadership in lifting up the world's poor. Fortunately, his recent experience with job creation at home is helping him to look to the private sector for sustainable global growth.

Obama at UN summit: foreign aid is 'core pillar of American power'

At the UN Wednesday, President Obama unveiled a plan to revitalize US foreign aid programs, which have been marginalized since the end of the cold war.

'Tea party's' Dick Armey: A GOP majority would take up abortion fight

Tea party advocate Dick Armey, chairman of Freedom Works, rejects the notion of a truce on social issues like abortion if Republicans take control of Congress. The former House majority leader says 'issues of the heart' will be on the GOP agenda.

How 5 countries celebrate Eid al-Fitr and the end of Ramadan

Eid al-Fitr began at sunset Thursday, when the crescent of a new moon first showed over the Middle East. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fitr means "break fasting." The three-day feast celebrates the end of the a month-long period of Ramadan's fasting and prayer. While traditions don't vary much between Sunnis and Shiites, customs vary greatly from country to country. Here is how five countries ring in Eid al-Fitr.

In South Sudan, clan rivalries complicate referendum

If a referendum on South Sudan's independence ends with a vote for secession from Sudan, internal clan rivalries could complicate the transition to independence.

Opinion: US military support for troubled states: a dangerous doctrine returns

To prevent terrorist attacks emanating from failed states, Defense Secretary Robert Gates urges US support for militaries of troubled nations. But that argument can lead to an embrace of repressive regimes and endless foreign adventures – and it ignores the crucial link between democracy and stability.

US in Iraq: What's been left behind

After seven years of war, Iraqis are freer but feel embittered by the loss of life and halting progress in turning on the lights.

Kenya referendum: How groups came together to prevent violence

Ahead of the historic Aug. 4 Kenya referendum, observers warned of a recurrence of the ethnic violence that killed more than 1,300 after the 2007 presidential vote. But key groups helped make sure that did not happen.

Pakistan floods, Haiti earthquake: unprecedented 1-2 punch for US aid

About $76 million has already been carved out in civilian and military US aid for the Pakistan floods. But some are concerned that other donors may be holding back because of ‘aid fatigue’ after Haiti.

Israel's Gaza blockade: Millions of dollars worth of aid piles up in warehouses

As the US ramps up Gaza aid projects worth $140 million, stockpiles of everything from steel pipes to medical needles will take months to clear out after the recent easing of Israel's Gaza blockade. Many items are still being blocked.

As Pakistan flood worsens, US hand in recovery expands

USAID said Monday that it will send heavy-duty plastic to provide temporary housing for more than 140,000 victims of the Pakistan flood. A robust US effort could help thwart Taliban influence.

Kenya constitution vote could pave way to stability

A key concern in the Kenya constitution vote is ethnic divisions. But in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, where much of the 2008 postelection violence occurred, voters were calm and even top 'no' vote politicians accepted the results.

Millions of dollars in US aid to Afghanistan: wasted money?

Afghanistan war: USAID spends too much, too fast to win hearts and minds

In the Afghanistan war, it's quantity vs. quality: The USAID battle for hearts and minds is being lost just as President Obama's 'civilian surge' prepares to more than double annual assistance to $5 billion.

Afghanistan war: How USAID loses hearts and minds

One battle in the other Afghanistan war: How a mismanaged $60 million USAID project alienated those it aimed to help.