From Foreign Policy · Jeremiah A. Carew · · 2m
USAID's New Direction
A former USAID official reveals how to rebuild foreign aid for real impact.
In brief
A former USAID official reveals how to rebuild foreign aid for real impact. Jeremiah Carew, a 21-year USAID veteran, argues for shifting foreign aid from bureaucratic processes to transformative local partnerships. Originally reported by Foreign Policy.
USAID's Tragic End
The U.S. Agency for International Development closed its Colombia mission in August 2025 after 21 years of service.
A Broken System
USAID spent millions on paperwork and low-risk projects instead of transformative partnerships with local governments.
The Land Titles Problem
Over 40 percent of rural landowners in Colombia lacked proper land titles before USAID's intervention.
Contractor Struggles
USAID contractors often focused on counting units like land titles instead of deeper reforms.
The Natsios Critique
Former USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios warned in 2010 that USAID had become too focused on compliance and paperwork.
Local Partners Underfunded
Only 5 percent of USAID funding in Colombia went to local partners, far below the global average of 12 percent.
The Kabul Solar Moment
In 2016, USAID helped Afghan officials secure a deal for a solar farm at a world-class price without donor intermediaries.
Kajaki Dam Success
The Afghan government tripled Kajaki Dam output with Turkish investors after USAID's solar auction pilot.
Beltway Bandits
USAID relied on large international NGOs and for-profit contractors known as 'Beltway bandits' for most projects.
The Localization Push
Former USAID Administrator Samantha Power aimed for 25 percent of funding to go to local partners by 2025, but only 12 percent was achieved.
Colombia's Challenge
Colombia is an upper-middle-income country with a developed private sector but still needed USAID's support.
The Field Model
USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) worked directly with communities on small projects without back-office contracts.
Grassroots Success
The Inter-American Foundation supported small Indigenous-led NGOs and women's groups in Colombia with under $100,000 grants.
The Real Solution
USAID should shift from counting units to measuring transformative outcomes like the Kabul solar auction.
Global Threats
Foreign aid helps address migration, drug trafficking, climate change, and pandemics in developing countries.
The Way Forward
USAID must prioritize transformative partnerships over bureaucratic processes to protect U.S. interests globally.
In short
Jeremiah Carew, a 21-year USAID veteran, argues for shifting foreign aid from bureaucratic processes to transformative local partnerships.
