The poor, the hungry, and the homeless: A global paradigm for development assistance

United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s (FDR) New Deal is renowned for its success in implementing programs on relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression in the 1930s. The New Deal was instrumental in not only helping the US survive this crisis, but also in enabling it to thrive. As everyone knows, the US has since become the world’s foremost economic and military power.

The US introduced a distinctive government development assistance program aimed at three vulnerable demographics: the poor, the hungry, and the homeless (PHH). These groups embody the target populations that benefited from the relief, recovery, and reform measures.

The relief effort addressed the challenges faced by the poor through structural changes within the economy, and employed programs and financial guidelines to tackle the root causes of poverty and inequality. Thus, the economy was overhauled, and protection for workers and vulnerable communities was enhanced.

The recovery effort supported the hungry who were grappling with severe poverty and food insecurity. The New Deal ignited economic recovery by generating employment opportunities and enhancing labor conditions. Measures were designed to stimulate economic growth and establish a foundation for recovery.

The reform component meanwhile extended immediate assistance to the “homeless,” who bore the brunt of the economic crisis. These individuals lost their homes due to foreclosures or evictions due to the economic downturn. The New Deal extended relief to these individuals through programs offering employment in public works projects to alleviate unemployment and provide income to needy families.

As we confront a global depression spawned by the COVID-19 pandemic, let’s take note that the adverse economic effects have been particularly severe in least developed countries. In contrast to the Great Depression, the present crisis is a mix of economic and health-related catastrophes. A pioneering comparable paradigm on a global scale, spearheaded by the United Nations (UN) in collaboration with international nongovernment organizations (NGOs), holds promise. The UN is expected to harmonize its efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals it outlined earlier.

For its part, each country must tailor the PHH program to its specific requirements and challenges. Categorizing populations of the PHH may pose challenges, however, especially in the poorest countries, where these groups intersect in urban and rural settings.

But leveraging technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data can facilitate more sophisticated methodologies to address this issue. A simplified and pragmatic classification of target populations will meanwhile streamline program and project development and management. This involves conducting comprehensive situational analyses, intensive planning, massive implementation, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation. By breaking down the target population according to their distinct needs and rights, interventions can be customized to yield a sustained positive impact on their lives.

Complementary actions, such as advocacy on current issues like climate change, gender equality, and human rights, can be integrated into development assistance interventions. Implementing this paradigm shift demands a departure from the current practices of the UN, other development bodies, NGOs, and countries. It necessitates a monumental shift in mindset and approach, requiring restructuring, strategic rethinking, and skill enhancement.

The success of this approach in propelling the US to its current global stature is the best argument. For the PHH program to flourish, it is imperative that adopting countries are not governed by kakistocracy or led by inept individuals who disregard ethical practices. Servant leadership is key to the effective implementation of this transformative approach. Without this, the approach will deviate from its course and result in failure. The PHH paradigm directly tackles the global challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic-induced economic downturn. By adapting the successful historical model of the New Deal, countries can collaborate on a global scale to uplift the PHH. They can then lay the groundwork for a more equitable and prosperous world.

NONO FELIX