PHM-Exch> Aid effectiveness vs Effective altruism

[Claudio Schuftan]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: David G Legge <dlegge at phmovement.org>

Seitz, K. (2019). "What you get for your dollar: “Effective Altruism” -
What it is, how philanthropic foundations use it and what are its risks and
side-effects." Briefings. Retrieved 2 Feb, 2019, from
https://www.globalpolicy.org/images/pdfs/Briefing_0119_Effective_Altruism.pdf
.

In parallel to the debate on ‘Aid Effectiveness’ among donor and recipient
countries, a new approach, labeled “Effective Altruism” (EA) has gained
traction in the debate on the impact of development aid. Unlike Aid
Effectiveness, which involves donor and recipient governments, the new
approach involves  philanthropic institutions and their chosen
(non-)governmental recipients and explores ways in which funding can be
used most efficiently to have the greatest impact. Its proponents,
including new philanthropic entities and so-called ‘venture philanthropies’
such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, claim that their funding
decisions are based on evidence-based results. However, such decisions are
primarily grounded in cost-benefit considerations, neglecting social and
cultural considerations and looking at problems in isolation from the wider
context.

Ensuring that charitable giving is used for the maximum good, is a worthy
goal. However, from a human rights perspective, several concerns arise
concerning the underlying assumptions, the methodology and the consequences
of the practical application of EA.

This briefing paper provides an overview of the approach underlying EA, how
and by whom it is applied and its problems and consequences. It concludes
that policy makers, rather than be guided by its assumptions and
conclusions, must instead concentrate on understanding the confounding
structural causes of interdependent global challenges and aim at their
long-term solution, within an overarching human rights framework.
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