If I wanted to give to such a place delivery could be
a big problem. If
you send cash or if you send the computers there will always be too many
open hands between you and the recipient. If you use mainstream NGOs
money also gets wasted sending the cameraman to take pictures of the NGO
agent doing his good deeds. In the early stages you need someone there
whom you can trust to distribute the funds properly.
First of all, 30% or so is already "wasted" on administration in
developed countries. Then there's often conditions on the use of the
money. For instance, USAID has the policy that its money should be spent
on American products, where possible. That often means more expensive
products. Then there's often the urge to finish the budget. If "this
year's budget" isn't finished, next year's budget will be less. Often
money is wasted like that.
Then there's often incompetence, stupidity and/or the urge to use the
highest-tech available. It's much cooler - for the NGO and for the local
mayor - to show off a big shiny satellite dish (compared to a modem
+telephone line). even if the satellite connection will cost the village
300 US$ every month. 300 dollars that will be paid to an American or
European company, and that will have to be earned by the village
population.
These days 'everyone' has a digital camera, so cameramen aren't really
needed anymore, unless you're big time stuff like UNESCO...
"In Cambodia, over half of the international aide goes to 740
'international consultants' working in the country. In 2002 those 740
people were paid just as much as all the 160.000 people working in the
Cambodian public sector."
http://www.liberation.fr/page.php?Article=299724 (in French)