Development Through Data: An Analysis of U.S. Government-Led Efforts for the Development of Togo, West Africa

Abstract

For years, those working in the field of international development have sought to ensure interventions in developing countries are addressing the appropriate needs, while reducing the degree of unintended consequences. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the United States government (USG) to address the needs of Togolese people through the funding of aid interventions such as projects, programs, and funding opportunities through 2010-2017. Operating under the Principal-Agent theory, the researcher compared needs being addressed through Request for Proposals (RFPs) submitted on a USG website with needs that existed in rural areas of Togo, West Africa. The first part of the study used data from 39 RFPs that were disaggregated into a spreadsheet and analyzed to identify needs being targeted. The second part of this study took place during the researcher’s time in the Peace Corps, and used data from 140 interviews of rural Togolese people throughout the country that were coded and analyzed to identify grassroots needs. The results of both analyses suggest that USG efforts at identifying development needs in Togo align with the grassroots needs that exist in rural parts of the country.