General statements are used to push a political agenda. Aid is bad? Aid is good? Specific issues can always be addressed. The aid could be used to buy targeted products from local suppliers. Anthropologist studying the areas should be used to monitor local family needs and economic changes. Air drops of redesigned emergency daily rations could be used more in disasters to help bypass corrupt officials. Include complex educational materials on such things as economics, manufacturing and government structure written in local dialects. Drop some basic tools in there for Gods sake. Don't give up. Monitor and adjust. Corruption is not the only problem. Functionally fixed officials are also a big problem.
Helping people is a bit complex as the brain adjusts its' wiring with each passing event, possibly by-passing invention. Pure capitalism is so cruel at times that it cycles rebellion, yet it is the most free. It is even more tough with a percentage of every population having a bunch of power raving psychopaths to muck up even a little good effort. Still, we feed the poor or they will eat our us.