Foreign aid refers to the money, goods, or services that governments and private organizations give to assist other nations and their people. Both private groups and governments give aid to help less developed countries fight poverty, disease, and other problems. Since the end of World War II in 1945, foreign aid has been an important part of foreign policy for a large number of nations.
Governments give foreign aid for three main purposes: (1) to promote security and stability; (2) to improve economic conditions; and (3) to achieve political objectives, including humanitarian goals. Nations giving aid may try to strengthen their own national defenses by strengthening friendly or neutral governments. They may also give aid to create or maintain trade and investment ties with other nations. And when they give aid, they usually expect the receiving nations to support, or at least not oppose, their political policies.
