Strategies to Address Uneven Development (Edexcel GCSE Geography A)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
International Strategies to Reduce Uneven Development
Intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) have a significant role in reducing uneven development
Organisations include many that are part of the United Nations (UN):
World Health Organisation (WHO)
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
There are also organisations that are part of the UN but are not completely controlled by the UN, including:
The World Bank
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is not part of the UN but has strong links with it
Role of IGOs
Governments of countries around the world donate money to IGOs
This money is then allocated to other countries for projects to help their development
The IMF, World Bank and WTO promote free trade and globalisation
The UN developed the Sustainable Development Goals
193 countries have agreed to these goals
There are 17 goals, including zero hunger, clean water and quality education
Debt relief is also used by IGOs to help development
It allows countries to focus on developing and investing in areas such as infrastructure and education
There is no guarantee that the country will spend it effectively
International aid
There are many different types of international aid
It can be given as advice, technology, food or money
Aid needs to be appropriate
It needs to fit the developing country
For example, aid in the form of tractors may not be appropriate if the community cannot afford the diesel or the skills to maintain them
Types of international aid
Disadvantages of international aid
Corruption and mismanagement can prevent it from reaching the people
It is not always appropriate; large-scale projects such as dams can end up creating more poverty for some people
Countries may become dependent on aid and development may stall as a result
Aid is often tied, which means that countries have to spend their money in specific ways rather than on the development which is needed
Aid can be used by the donor country to apply political or economic pressure
It can result in food and water costing more
Trade
This is often promoted as the key to economic development
It allows countries to sell its resources so they can invest in things to improve their development, such as education and healthcare
This money means they can import goods which can further their development, such as tractors or communication technology
However, trading is not always fair
Developing countries are usually paid less for their exports than developed countries
Developing countries are disadvantaged by trade barriers
Trade agreements usually favour developed and emerging countries
Worked Example
Explain one way that international aid can reduce uneven development.
(3)
Answer:
By transferring resources (food, water, and skilled workers) from developed countries to developing countries (1), this helps to provide the skills and resources that the people need (1); income will increase and this can be invested in infrastructure improvements (1)
Top-Down & Bottom-Up Strategies
Top down strategies are aimed at an economic level and include large projects which hope to improve incomes for people through developing industry
A high level of technical support is usually needed with funding from foreign loans and IGOs such as the IMF and World Bank
Examples include:
Major roads, bridges, and railways
New airports and ports
Hydroelectric power dams
Freetrade:
This approach is where countries do not charge tariffs and quotas between themselves, this encourages trading which is free of taxes and charges
This can be beneficial to developing and emerging countries
Investment:
Countries and TNCs invest money in developing countries which provide employment and income
Example: Chinese companies investing in Africa (mainly energy, mining, construction and manufacturing)
Industrial development:
It brings employment, higher incomes and opportunities to invest in housing, education and infrastructure
This has a [popover id="Xv8wZNTOmELy6nmR" label=multiplier effect"]
Example: China’s move away from agriculture to manufacturing made it one of the fastest growing economies in the world
Tourism:
Some countries have become tourist destinations, which leads to investment and increased income
Infrastructure is improved and provides jobs
Debt relief:
Many developing countries borrowed money to develop their economies during the 1970s and 1980s
Because of high interest rates, some of these countries have fallen into serious debt
In 2006, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed to cancel the debts of 19 of the world’s poorest countries
The money saved in debt can now be used for development projects such as industry, resources and infrastructure
But corrupt governments may keep money
Example: Ugandan government has spent money to provide safe water to over 2 million people
Bottom-up strategies are aimed at social development, with smaller community projects that are aimed at improving health, education, or food supplies at a local level
Examples include:
Wells and water pumps
Schools and health clinics
Training for farmers
Aid:
Countries or non-governmental organisations (NGOs such as Oxfam) donate resources to a country to help or improve people’s lives
Aid can take the form of money, emergency supplies, food, technology, specialist skills
Helps reduce the development gap through investing in development projects
Focus is usually on health care, education and services
Example: Goat Aid helps families buy goats, which produce milk and meat
Intermediate technology:
This is where suitable, appropriate and sustainable projects, equipment and ideas are used
These are tailored to the needs and wealth of a local community
Example: Micro-hydro for the remote villages of Nepal which the community build and maintains
Provides enough electricity to improve life for the villagers: enables children to study at night, families to watch TV and use mobile phones and the internet
Fairtrade:
International movement that helps producers in poor countries get a fair deal by setting standards for trade
Farming is done in an environmentally friendly way
Product has a better position in the global market
Part of the end price is invested back into the local community and future development projects
Example: Over 90% of small coffee farmers in eastern Uganda have joined the Gumutindo Coffee Cooperative, which allows the coffee to be milled before roasting, which adds value to the coffee and increases the farmer's income
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Both NGO-led intermediate technology and IGO-funded large infrastructure have pros and cons.
IGOs fund large infrastructure developments that can benefit large numbers of people.
NGOs target intermediate technology at the specific needs of local people (a grassroots approach).
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