The fact that a high proportion of the information about the developing world for the average western reader comes from fund raising campaigns is another cause of this gross distortion. My report on the trip was never made public. That people from the developing world do go on these trips and cater to these forms of tokenism is of course a slur on their own professionalism. Organizations like the World Bank do sponsor studies by people known to be mildly critical, with the proviso, that the World Bank would decide if the work would be published. Thereby retaining ultimate control.
Every organization has a goal, a means and a method.
The apparent goal of donor organizations is to make the recipients self sufficient. Genuine aid also constitutes a tiny fraction of the recipient's income. The method varies, but invariably involves an input of a lot of personnel, and materials from the donor country which is paid for by the same money that was given out as aid. An organization's growth depends on its ability to generate more work. There are a limited number of recipient countries, a restricted market.