With Reference to Specific Examples or Case Study, Asses the Effectiveness of International Aid in the Development Process

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Nisha Kanabar                10R

“With Reference to Specific Examples or Case Study, Asses the Effectiveness of International Aid in the Development Process”

If an individual was having trouble in some way, wouldn’t one’s natural instinct be to help him or her out? This does not merely apply to persons, but also on a larger basis. All over the world, countries are suffering from many problems. The majority of these sufferers are ELDCs (Economically Less Developed Countries). Whether their crises may involve starvation or refugees, these nations struggle for an economical or social stability. Despite vigorous attempts to try and raise their development status, the process is very slow and grueling, and in result, they hope for help from countries that can afford it (i.e. EMDCs: Economically More Developed Countries). Thus, the practice of giving “a helping hand for poor countries from rich countries” is known as International Aid. At a glance, International Aid seems like a simple procedure in which the “kind-hearted, generous rich country donates to the vagabond-like poor country”. In which the rich country is “the good guy”. Although this statement may contain some truth, the story isn’t as effortless. There are several issues that arise upon this plain act, and this makes International Aid not necessarily a good entity. A factor that must be taken into consideration as well in this case, is the type of aid. The most common forms are Aid in Food, and Financial Aid. Using assistance with these two aspects of the topic, is International Aid effective within the development process?

While a fraction of the world is focusing on luxuries, the other portion is concentrating on bare necessities. Food is an obvious essential that all living beings need in order to survive. Because there is a great shortage of this in many countries, organizations are doing all they can to help. Today, around 800 million of the world’s population goes hungry, and in the USA, more than 20 million people rely on Humanitarian Organizations for food. In Tanzania, around 4 million people need food aid, and the numbers have doubled since a year ago. This is mostly due to the fact that Tanzania is host to the largest amount of refugees in Africa. At 700,000 immigrants living on the border of the country, Tanzania’s resources are becoming scarce. The UN and other organizations donating bread and other foods may help the people living in Tanzania for the time being, but in the ‘long-run’, donation is quite pointless. So it satisfies hunger for today, excellent point. But what about tomorrow? What will Africans do tomorrow when they’re hungry? Albeit they may be able to obtain another couple donations of much-needed nutrition, but soon enough, this becomes a cycle, and the generous countries stop being so generous. Because of short term aid, African countries tend to depend on imported food, and the self-sufficiency that once gave the country its pride begins to diminish and wither away. Thus poor countries become too reliant. The situation matches that of raising a child. Giving too much protection, safety and security to a child can make them too dependant on the parent, and therefore reduce their chances of trying to fend for themselves. Not only that, but when a country gives out free food aid, the farmers that are maintaining a decent lifestyle ultimately lose business.

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However, there is definitely another side to food aid. Instead of presenting the bread ready-made, International Aid should give the country wheat to reap and sow the bread themselves. This would not only score ‘self-sufficient points’, but also gives continuous nutrition to people who need it at convenience. At present, because of the WFO’s (World Food Organization) program, the refugees residing in Tanzania are receiving an 80% food ration. Some are even receiving a full 100%! This is due to the government assigning small plots of land to them upon arrival. These plots allow them to grow their own crops ...

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