Why does poverty continue, despite donor-aid?
Some countries have moved away from the perspective that donor funding will result in poverty alleviation, primarily because it has not worked. Donor funding has proven to be an ineffective long term route out of poverty – it increases dependency and does not provide opportunity for people to help themselves. It is time to take a fresh approach to combating poverty and transform efforts from unsustainable donor-funded aid to sustainable communities that adapt to innovative and resource-generating strategies. If we look at what the rural poor do for a living, we see that they grow vegetables, raise chickens, pick up garbage or used items to sell, sew fabrics – they are engaging in business and are trying to earn a surplus. They remain poor because they lack: (a) Necessary business skills (b) Opportunities to receive credit to establish businesses In recognizing this, PDI-PDA established the Thai Business Initiative in Rural Development (TBIRD) project in 1986, known today as the Corpora
