". . . a land of facilities, where nothing had to be striven for, and success was indistinguishable from failure." (E.M. Forster "Maurice")

Edward Girardet - a writer and journalist specializing in media, humanitarian aid, and conflict - provides some interesting insights into the Aid Industry in the following article “Aid Projects Need More Critical Media Coverage”
The article contains the usual list of wrongdoings and abuses committed by Aid and UN officials but also some very useful suggestions and observations (listed below).
1. Wrongdoing is nothing new to the international aid industry. But in most cases there is no dogged media reporting or public will to bring the culprits to task.
International aid is in desperate need of more critical reporting. This is crucial if committed aid professionals are to do their jobs properly. Many feel frustrated by their inability to thwart the inherent nepotism, corruption, and power abuses that pervade much of the system.
2. Aid organizations regularly cover up managerial dysfunction, including sexual harassment, by ignoring the actions of those responsible. This has led to an environment of impunity with few employees daring to speak out.
3. Many organizations are burdened by incompetent individuals who stifle the initiatives of others, sometimes with resounding consequences for the victims of war, HIV/AIDS, or drought.
4. Every year, the UN and NGO’s, and also the military, spend (up to) billions of dollars on humanitarian, reconstruction, or peacekeeping programs of dubious impact. (Although) NGO’s, which rely heavily on donor funding, can cite innumerable examples of aid that makes little sense, they are (nevertheless) cautious about criticizing their benefactors.
5. Many NGO’s, including highly respectable organizations, have become obsessed by image as a means of promoting fundraising (and) seek to focus on initiatives that make them look good but do not necessarily respond to on-the-ground needs.
6. Humanitarianism should not "belong" to any one group. What the international aid industry urgently needs is more hard-nosed and independent reporting.
7. The best solution would be the creation of a viable media watchdog capable of reporting the real causes behind humanitarian predicaments, including how the international community responds.

In his review of “The Road to Hell: The Ravaging Effects of Foreign Aid International Charity” by Michael Maren, Steven Hansch makes the observation that:
“Curiously, Maren concludes that NGO’s cannot be trusted to monitor themselves, and are best evaluated by journalists. Since few journalists have any of the technical expertise necessary to interpret project data, epidemiologic trends, or economic effects, Maren is encouraging more of the simplification that already exists.”
It has to be understood that none of the suggestions by Edward Girardet - useful and necessary as they are - will lead to any meaningful change in the Aid Industry unless they are applied within a functioning legal framework where wrongdoers are ultimately held liable for their actions and punished when necessary. (Like, for example, Kenneth Lay, et. al.)
That is yet to happen.