Date
5-20-2026
Department
Helms School of Government
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration (PhD)
Chair
Chenwi Ngwa
Keywords
Foreign aid, poverty reduction, aid policies, foreign policies, theoretical framework of foreign aid, Ethiopia
Disciplines
Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
Recommended Citation
Desalegn, Solomon G., "Effectiveness of Western Foreign Aid on Poverty Reduction in Ethiopia: A Comparative Phenomenological Analysis of International Donor Organizations and Government Practices" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8453.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8453
Abstract
Western foreign aid has long aimed to promote sustainable economic development and reduce poverty in Ethiopia and across Africa. Despite being one of the continent’s top recipients of foreign aid, Ethiopia remains heavily dependent on foreign assistance, resulting in an aid-dependent economy marked by ongoing reliance on foreign aid for survival, pervasive corruption, and the perpetuation of poverty. Such outcomes starkly contrast with the original objectives of Western foreign aid. This qualitative comparative-phenomenological analysis aims to explore the lasting impact of Western aid on lifting Ethiopian citizens out of poverty. The central research question guiding this study is: “How effective is Western foreign aid, provided, managed, and distributed by international organizations, compared to foreign aid received, managed, and distributed by the Ethiopian government, in lifting citizens out of poverty?” The study will be guided by political theories of poverty, as well as dependency and sustainable development theories of international aid. While the dependent variable is aid effectiveness, the independent variables are the type of aid, the amount of aid, aid management structure, aid conditionality, political context, aid targeting, the time frame of aid, and public perception and trust in aid. Data for the research will be collected through face-to-face interviews and surveys with Ethiopians residing in the capital and nearby rural areas, as well as with former and current employees of international organizations and the Ethiopian government. Additionally, the study will incorporate document analysis of foreign aid datasets maintained by the country and international organizations for the study period 2002 to 2022. The significance of the study lies in its potential to contribute to the existing body of knowledge, raise awareness, and provide policymakers with valuable evidence to guide future decisions.
