What happens when the agency responsible for delivering U.S. foreign aid is suddenly told to stop?
On this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with former USAID Mission Director and author Clifford H. Brown, author of Inside USAID, for a candid conversation about the history, purpose, and impact of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Brown explains what USAID was created to do and how foreign aid became another tool of U.S. influence overseas, working alongside diplomacy and the military. He shares stories from the field, including efforts to build industries and electrify villages in Central America, support legal and economic systems following the collapse of the Soviet Union, and protect the environment.
The conversation also examines the cost of foreign aid, how USAID missions worked with host governments and U.S. embassies, and what happened when countries chose not to accept American assistance.
In this episode:
The original mission of USAID
What foreign aid actually costs Americans
How USAID worked with governments and U.S. embassies
Building infrastructure and industries overseas
Supporting countries after the Soviet Union collapsed
What happened when USAID programs were ordered to stop
The human impact of disrupted aid programs
Clifford H. Brown’s book, Inside USAID
His experiences with trafficking and bride kidnapping
The personal story behind his career in foreign development
CONNECT WITH CLIFFORD H. BROWN:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clifford8brown
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clifford-h-brown-2608428/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jefferdogY
Website: https://cliffordhbrown.com/
Join LeTroy Gardner on Stop, Look & Listen for conversations that explore the people, stories, and issues shaping our world.
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