President Bush recently proposed a dramatic increase in foreign aid for impoverished countries that demonstrate measurable progress toward economic and political reforms. He envisions a 50% increase in U.S. development assistance over three years beginning in 2004. That commitment, say observers, is significant for an administration, which has, in the past, criticized such aid as ineffective.
Carol Castiel has more on the origin and scope of President Bush's new compact for development in this Dateline report.