Policy Priority
Policy Priority
Fostering Economic Growth at Home and Abroad
Fostering Economic Growth at Home and Abroad
Over the past 30 years, extreme poverty has been cut in half. A4AL supports programs that open investment opportunities and build a path to self-sufficiency.
Over the past 30 years, extreme poverty has been cut in half. A4AL supports programs that open investment opportunities and build a path to self-sufficiency.
1
1
Global Prosperity as a Path to Self‑Reliance
In the last three decades, extreme poverty worldwide more than halved. Over 1.1 billion people have escaped extreme poverty since 1990, thanks in part to development and trade. Newfound economic prosperity in formerly impoverished communities has both improved local standards of living and created middle-income markets within the global economy. A4AL champions foreign assistance that fuels this progress–aid that sparks investment, boosts local prosperity, and ultimately enables communities to become self-sufficient. This approach isn’t charity for its own sake; it’s about building trading partners and stable economies. In helping entrepreneurs, farmers, and small businesses abroad, we lay the groundwork for shared prosperity that benefits everyone.
Global Prosperity as a Path to Self‑Reliance
In the last three decades, extreme poverty worldwide more than halved. Over 1.1 billion people have escaped extreme poverty since 1990, thanks in part to development and trade. Newfound economic prosperity in formerly impoverished communities has both improved local standards of living and created middle-income markets within the global economy. A4AL champions foreign assistance that fuels this progress–aid that sparks investment, boosts local prosperity, and ultimately enables communities to become self-sufficient. This approach isn’t charity for its own sake; it’s about building trading partners and stable economies. In helping entrepreneurs, farmers, and small businesses abroad, we lay the groundwork for shared prosperity that benefits everyone.
Figure: Global Extreme Poverty Decline. This stacked area chart shows the total number of people living in extreme poverty plummeting from about 1.9 billion in 1990 to around 700 million by 2015. Source: World Bank/Our World in Data
Figure: Global Extreme Poverty Decline. This stacked area chart shows the total number of people living in extreme poverty plummeting from about 1.9 billion in 1990 to around 700 million by 2015. Source: World Bank/Our World in Data
Trade, Aid, and American Jobs
Thirteen of the top 15 U.S. export markets were once recipients of U.S. foreign aid. Nations that received development assistance in past decades–South Korea, Poland, India, and many others–have grown into robust economies that buy American products. Time and again, foreign aid has been the bedrock investment that ultimately creates stable trade partners and American jobs. Every $1 the U.S. invests via agencies like USAID yields about $5 in private-sector investment as local markets grow and American businesses gain new customers. Conversely, turning inward has costs. When the U.S. recently halted key foreign aid programs due to political gridlock, an estimated 50,000 American jobs were lost as contracts and supply chains dried up. A4AL advocates for open markets, diplomacy, and development as pillars of economic strength, a lesson proven by history.
Trade, Aid, and American Jobs
Thirteen of the top 15 U.S. export markets were once recipients of U.S. foreign aid. Nations that received development assistance in past decades–South Korea, Poland, India, and many others–have grown into robust economies that buy American products. Time and again, foreign aid has been the bedrock investment that ultimately creates stable trade partners and American jobs. Every $1 the U.S. invests via agencies like USAID yields about $5 in private-sector investment as local markets grow and American businesses gain new customers. Conversely, turning inward has costs. When the U.S. recently halted key foreign aid programs due to political gridlock, an estimated 50,000 American jobs were lost as contracts and supply chains dried up. A4AL advocates for open markets, diplomacy, and development as pillars of economic strength, a lesson proven by history.
Farmers Receiving Seeds After Floods in Pakistan. After devastating floods, farmers line up with vouchers to receive USAID-provided seed and fertilizer, jump-starting the next planting season: Source: USAID.
Farmers Receiving Seeds After Floods in Pakistan. After devastating floods, farmers line up with vouchers to receive USAID-provided seed and fertilizer, jump-starting the next planting season: Source: USAID.
Strengthening Agriculture and Security
Foreign aid doesn’t just build economies overseas. It’s key to sustaining industries at home as well. For over 70 years, initiatives like the Food for Peace Program have purchased American-grown commodities (over $2 billion annually) to relieve hunger abroad. This life-saving food aid supports U.S. farmers and shippers, sustaining thousands of American jobs in agriculture and transportation. Aid has been a critical driver of agricultural jobs and provides insurance to American consumers by incentivizing American food producers to maintain high levels of production. Cutting export programs runs the risk of lowering American agriculture yields, which could lead to fallow fields and ultimately sow the seeds for the U.S. to experience famines of its own. Cuts to aid programs also weaken U.S. national security and economic stability. Cuts to food aid in crisis zones exacerbates hunger and could lead to famine. A4AL pushes to restore and protect these funds. Cuts to food aid risk undoing decades of progress by creating the conditions for civil unrest in countries whose stability the U.S. has long fostered. Investing in development and humanitarian relief can prevent future conflicts and create a safer, more prosperous world, while also creating customers for American goods in the long run. In short, fostering growth abroad grows our economy at home, strengthens global stability, and upholds American values.
Strengthening Agriculture and Security
Foreign aid doesn’t just build economies overseas. It’s key to sustaining industries at home as well. For over 70 years, initiatives like the Food for Peace Program have purchased American-grown commodities (over $2 billion annually) to relieve hunger abroad. This life-saving food aid supports U.S. farmers and shippers, sustaining thousands of American jobs in agriculture and transportation. Aid has been a critical driver of agricultural jobs and provides insurance to American consumers by incentivizing American food producers to maintain high levels of production. Cutting export programs runs the risk of lowering American agriculture yields, which could lead to fallow fields and ultimately sow the seeds for the U.S. to experience famines of its own. Cuts to aid programs also weaken U.S. national security and economic stability. Cuts to food aid in crisis zones exacerbates hunger and could lead to famine. A4AL pushes to restore and protect these funds. Cuts to food aid risk undoing decades of progress by creating the conditions for civil unrest in countries whose stability the U.S. has long fostered. Investing in development and humanitarian relief can prevent future conflicts and create a safer, more prosperous world, while also creating customers for American goods in the long run. In short, fostering growth abroad grows our economy at home, strengthens global stability, and upholds American values.
Stay Updated
Stay Updated
Our weekly newsletter, updating you on our operations and impact
Our newsletter, updating you on our operations and impact
News stories and updates on the current status of foreign aid and USAID
News stories and updates on the current status of foreign aid and USAID
Info on our latest campaigns, events, and opportunities to take action
Info on our latest campaigns, events, and opportunities to take action
Join Our team
Join Our team
Now Is The Time To Act
Now Is The Time To Act
As global crises multiply, the U.S. cannot afford to retreat.
The Alliance for American Leadership is building a movement to reassert our role as a force for good—and we invite you to be part of it.
As global crises multiply, the U.S. cannot afford to retreat. The Alliance for American Leadership is building a movement to reassert our role as a force for good—and we invite you to be part of it.
Foreign Aid Keeps US Safe
The Alliance for American Leadership (A4AL) is a nonpartisan coalition of young professionals and foreign policy experts dedicated to revitalizing U.S. global leadership through strategic investments in development. We believe that effective foreign aid strengthens national security, prevents pandemics from reaching our shores, and boosts the U.S. economy.
Subscribe to our newsletter
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy
©2025 by Alliance For American Leadership
Foreign Aid Keeps US Safe
The Alliance for American Leadership (A4AL) is a nonpartisan coalition of young professionals and foreign policy experts dedicated to revitalizing U.S. global leadership through strategic investments in development. We believe that effective foreign aid strengthens national security, prevents pandemics from reaching our shores, and boosts the U.S. economy.
Subscribe to our newsletter
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy