While foreign aid has undoubtedly contributed to development in Afghanistan, a large proportion has been prescriptive and supply-driven or donor-driven, rather than indigenous and attuned to the needs of the Afghans, and directed by the political and military objectives of donors. All too often, projects are undertaken not with the purpose of internal capacity building and supporting the poor but rather to show off their progress in terms of the sheer number of schemes launched. This article highlights the various aspects and the real impact of foreign aid on the growth and development of the country and sheds light on the darker side of this aid and its implications for the overall performance of the country.
