When I speak with diplomats, donors, foundations, and impact investors, each of them has a perspective and an incentive for international aid and development. Some see it as soft power. Some see it as leverage or strategy. Some see it as markets, capital, and influence. From an establishment perspective, all of that makes sense.
But I have seen something different.
Across continents, I have learned one clear truth. Regardless of country, religion, or background, people want a better future. The picture of that future may change from one place to another, but the foundations are the same. People want safety. People want to live. People want opportunity. They want their children to learn, to grow, and to have a life better than their own. This is what unites us. This is, from my perspective, the ground on which all of humanity stands.
In some places, they call it the dream. I have seen societies attach that dream to different symbols. In some, it is a home. In others, it is family. In others, it is community, or meaningful work, or the chance to build something from nothing. At its core, it is always about dignity and equal opportunity. And wherever I went, I found people willing to work, sacrifice, and endure in pursuit of that dream.
In times of crisis, that pursuit does not disappear. I have seen women hold families together through impossible choices. I have seen men walk miles for food, medicine, or work. I have seen young people refuse to surrender their future even when everything around them collapsed. Hope can bend, but it does not break easily.
Aid, at its best, is an investment in humanity. When inequality rises, it reaches all of us. When dignity rises, it lifts all of us. The world is not a collection of separate stories. It is one story, written in many voices. Our futures are tied together whether we admit it or not.
Countries will always pursue their interests. Investors will seek returns. Governments will focus on stability and influence. I understand that angle, and I understand the duty leaders carry. When you are responsible for a nation, an institution, or a portfolio, you must protect your people and deliver results. That is the nature of leadership, and it is a responsibility that cannot be dismissed. But interest and humanity do not have to be rivals. The nations that will shape the future are the ones that invest in people, not only in power. Human potential is the strongest foundation for peace, prosperity, and stability.
So when history writes its pages, it will not remember who delivered the strongest narrative. It will remember who helped humanity stand. That is why I believe in this work. Because even the smallest investment in humanity can grow into something that outlives us all.
Ali Al Mokdad
