I didn't get any aid, my aid package was rejected by the general assembly, but within two or three weeks of starting, as a new player, I'm in the top 50. I even made lots of mistakes along the way, like buying a very expensive defensive military trying to get to rank 3, that ate up all my money, and put me deep into debt. Selling off the defensive arms was a big bonus, and switching to peaceful let me get rank 3 anyway.
Aid isn't the answer, friend, its good management, and making small adjustments, not huge ones. Read the guides, and get some more CEO's in your country.