In this episode, I explore the myths and realities of the flow of foreign aid from developed to developing countries. Is foreign aid a benevolent gesture or a strategic geopolitical tool? How does it affect the foreign policy and sovereignty of recipient countries? Who benefits from foreign aid? And how is foreign aid related to the debt trap that many developing countries find themselves in?

To explore these questions, along with discussing her personal journey and experience, I had a fascinating discussion with Themrise Khan, a renowned development expert and practitioner who has extensive experience and knowledge of the development and foreign aid landscapes of Pakistan and the Global South. Themrise has authored and co-authored several publications on various aspects of aid and development. She is also a member of several prestigious organisations and networks, such as the Canadian Association for the Study of International Development (CASID), the Informed Opinions Expert Women's Database, the Cross Migration Database of Experts, the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network, and the Honorary Visiting Professor of The International Institute of Migration and Development.

Links:

Khan, T., 2023. Moving beyond (en) forced North–South collaboration for development: Possibilities from Pakistan. In Reimagining Civil Society Collaborations in Development (pp. 177-189). Routledge.

Aloudat, T. and Khan, T., 2022. Decolonising humanitarianism or humanitarian aid?. PLOS Global Public Health, 2(4), p.e0000179.

Khan, T., Abimbola, S., Kyobutungi, C. and Pai, M., 2022. How we classify countries and people—and why it matters. BMJ Global Health, 7(6), p.e009704.