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USAID funds intended for Ethiopia ended up in the pockets of Americans, a human rights activist says
Only 25% of USAID funds reached the country, an Ethiopian human rights advocate with extensive experience in USAID-funded projects Mesud Gebeyehu Reta told Sputnik, citing an example of a $20 million five-year human rights protection program where local organizations received less than $100,000 annually, totaling just $5 million of the promised amount.
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The activist went on to explain why local partners like himself had no bargaining power in face of the USAID.
"That's why I asked them: 'Is this a joke? Where's the $20 million you announced for the protection of human rights?' They don't explain to you. They only tell you that you can only access this much funding from the big portion they promised. The thing is, you have to comply or leave it. We can't be equal partners with them, because they make us dependent on their funding," Reta said.
Moreover, USAID often channels funds through US-based companies or NGOs, which act as intermediaries, prioritizing American citizens for leadership roles and consuming a significant portion of the budget through high salaries and expenses, which leaves minimal resources for local partners, the speaker emphasized.
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