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The Importance Of International Aid
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Published: August 17, 2006
International aid is more important than ever with the growth of the global population, the dwindling of the earth's resources and the increase of severe weather brought on by climate changes.
In 1970, the United Nations General Assembly created a resolution where donor nations agreed to spend .7 percent of their Gross National Income on official development assistance to countries in need. However, many of these donor nations have failed to live up to their agreement. For years, many rich nations have failed to reach the target amount of agreed-upon international aid.
The quality of aid given has often been poor, hampering development in recipient nations instead of promoting it. Another growing problem is that most of the aid is primarily designed in the interests of the donor nations instead of the recipients.
According to the United Nations General Assembly, Official Development Assistance aid is supposed to promote development in recipient nations. However, much of the aid given by donor nations has resulted in damaged development. The reality is that geopolitics and international economics alter the effectiveness and purpose of international aid. Most international aid is directed toward increasing the economic interests of the donor nations rather than the recipient nations.
Donor nations attach conditions when giving international aid to developing nations. Often times these conditions are imposed through international, financial and trading systems such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization. Some of these conditions include forcing the recipient nations to purchase products from only the donor nations as well as letting the donor nations subsidize the recipient nation's industries. As a result, the nations receiving international aid have less control over how their finances are allocated. Instead of spending international aid on health care services, education and infrastructure development, the recipient nations are forced to spend the aid in economic and trading policies benefiting the donor nation.
Changes need to be made in order for international aid to be effective. International aid needs to be centered on the development of economic infrastructure. Productive development strategies should be implemented to help developing nations sustain economic growth. Donor nations also should provide greater investment and debt relief to developing nations.
The practice of free and fair trade is the biggest change the world needs to see. Unfair trade practices and policies cause poverty, which in turn causes the need for international aid. Trade policies need to be redesigned to benefit all nations, not just the wealthy industrialized nations of the world.
In 1970, the United Nations General Assembly created a resolution where donor nations agreed to spend .7 percent of their Gross National Income on official development assistance to countries in need. However, many of these donor nations have failed to live up to their agreement. For years, many rich nations have failed to reach the target amount of agreed-upon international aid.
The quality of aid given has often been poor, hampering development in recipient nations instead of promoting it. Another growing problem is that most of the aid is primarily designed in the interests of the donor nations instead of the recipients.
According to the United Nations General Assembly, Official Development Assistance aid is supposed to promote development in recipient nations. However, much of the aid given by donor nations has resulted in damaged development. The reality is that geopolitics and international economics alter the effectiveness and purpose of international aid. Most international aid is directed toward increasing the economic interests of the donor nations rather than the recipient nations.
Donor nations attach conditions when giving international aid to developing nations. Often times these conditions are imposed through international, financial and trading systems such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization. Some of these conditions include forcing the recipient nations to purchase products from only the donor nations as well as letting the donor nations subsidize the recipient nation's industries. As a result, the nations receiving international aid have less control over how their finances are allocated. Instead of spending international aid on health care services, education and infrastructure development, the recipient nations are forced to spend the aid in economic and trading policies benefiting the donor nation.
Changes need to be made in order for international aid to be effective. International aid needs to be centered on the development of economic infrastructure. Productive development strategies should be implemented to help developing nations sustain economic growth. Donor nations also should provide greater investment and debt relief to developing nations.
The practice of free and fair trade is the biggest change the world needs to see. Unfair trade practices and policies cause poverty, which in turn causes the need for international aid. Trade policies need to be redesigned to benefit all nations, not just the wealthy industrialized nations of the world.
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