Commentary by Terrence McKeegan, J.D.
September 30, 2010 (C-FAM) - A rock star's scandal and a surprising critique of aid programs last week underscored heightened criticism of international development efforts.
The two incidents upended the intended message of a summit on UN development policies, reflecting a growing disconnect between rhetoric and development results.
Rock star Bono, front man of the Irish group U2, was caught violating his own call for greater transparency and accountability, which he made in an op-ed piece for the New York Times. His opinions inspired the New York Post to examine the finances of Bono's own ONE Foundation, uncovering an emerging scandal widely reported by the media.
It seems ONE had $15 million in public donations during 2008, but distributed less than $200,000 to private charities combating poverty, according to IRS records.  The charity spent more than $8 million on salaries. The remainder went to advocacy, including pricey gift boxes hand-delivered to newsrooms to influence coverage of the UN summit.