It’s hard to imagine that a broken condom could ever be a source of joy. However, in Vietnam, low quality condoms are a sign of economic progress.
Over the course of twenty years, the Vietnamese government has enacted economic reforms that have enhanced the nation’s fiscal situation. With a higher GDP and a more developed economy, Vietnam no longer qualifies for the same levels of international aid that it once received.
So what does this have to do with condoms?
Previously, about 80% of Vietnam’s condoms were donated or subsidized by organizations such as the UN or the German Development Bank. Without these free foreign imports, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health has now developed its own system for obtaining and selling condoms on the open market.
Granted, about 47% of these condoms fail baseline quality tests. However, the independent distribution of condoms in Vietnam is a developmental win in itself.
This story raises an interesting point about international development aid in general. While Vietnam is cooperating with two non-profits to improve the quality of their condoms, other parts of the world face a more difficult transition off of foreign aid.
Take farmers in Africa, for example. In the past, aid organizations have shipped millions of dollars of American-grown food to African communities. However, local farmers could not compete with the donations, and they had no choice but to leave the industry. I am in no way a developmental expert, but it seems a little counter-productive to solve food insecurity by making farming unprofitable.
Luckily, the US is discussing legislation surrounding Feed the Future, a campaign that will enhance locally sourced food options in Africa (and throughout the world). Until this program is enacted, many African nations will be unable to minimize their dependency on foreign aid.
Development aid is a tricky subject because there is a difference between providing emergency supplies during times of famine and economic despair, and fostering a nation’s independence during more stable periods. While it is reassuring that citizens of the world can obtain food and condoms in times of need, development aid needs to be flexible as situations change (and hopefully improve).
So, shoddy condoms are a sign of economic progress, but Vietnamese markets still need to be developed in the name of safe sex. Feeding the hungry is a vital step toward food security, but African communities still need autonomous empowerment. By focusing on the long-term independence of a country after short-term crises are minimized, I believe that aid organizations can promote lasting positive change.