Who decides the top foreign aid recipients?

Viewing government documents showing a comparison of the top fifteen countries that received aid in 2002 and 2012 got me to wondering how a country gets on the coveted top fifteen handout list? After looking at the comparison between the two decades recipients I ended up with an uneasy feeling and let me explain as it is quite simple.

For a larger view click on the chart.

In 2002 the top 15 countries consisted of those you would expect to be receiving aid like Israel, Egypt, Pakistan and Afghanistan. In 2012 those same four are on the top fifteen list but there was a major shift in the majority of the fifteen from 2002 to 2012.

In 2002 there was not one sub-Saharan country that was in the top fifteen recipients in the world. In 2012 that changed dramatically as eight of the top fifteen recipients were located in sub-Saharan Africa.

Kenya, home of Obama’s father, received $652 Million in aid in 2012 topped only by Tanzania with $752 Million. The other six countries rounding out the majority of eight in order of aid are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Africa, South Sudan and Uganda totaling $4,619,000,000.00 in aid.

It is worth noting Kenya, Sudan, Uganda and Nigeria are ranked among the most corrupt governments in the world so it is only fitting the Obama administration would single them out for the most aid.

See the Congressional Research Office report Foreign Aid: An Introduction to U.S. Programs and Policy.