Role of Groups in Managing Rural Change (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

The role of different groups in managing rural change

• Rural areas are home to billions of people across the world 

• There is an increasing focus on making rural areas sustainable 

• There are many stakeholders who have an interest and role in managing sustainable rural change;

  • National and local government

  • Intergovernmental Organisations (IGOs)

  • Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs)

  • Local communities

• Some stakeholders will also be decision makers such as government and land owners

• All projects and strategies aim to make rural areas sustainable and improve people's quality of life

UK: Sustainable rural change

National and local government

• One government department - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

• Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) funding schemes provide money to improve agriculture, the environment and rural life

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

• Some NGOs are landowners of rural areas of the UK, together with other NGOs they work to ensure that those rural areas are sustainable

• Examples of NGOs working in the UK include:

  • National Trust one of the UK's largest landowners - manages many rural estates and over 1,000 farms

  • Countryside Land and Business Association (CLA) advises rural businesses and landowners

  • Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)

  • Woodland Trust

  • Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE)

Local communities

• These are groups of people who live in rural communities in the UK

• They include:

  • farmers

  • landowners

  • local residents

Kenya: Sustainable rural change

National and local government

• Kenya has three government departments responsible for rural areas:

  • Agriculture

  • Livestock

  • Commerce and Tourism

• The country’s agricultural development strategy for 2010-2020 aims to:

  • achieve agricultural growth of 7 per cent annually

  • reduce food insecurity by 30 per cent

Intergovernmental organisations (IGOs)

• There are many IGOs involved in making the rural areas in Kenya sustainable, these include:

  • The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) - gives loans to small-scale farmers

  • The World Bank - rural roads project to improve transport in rural areas

  • World Health Organisation - Funds and supports many projects including the Universal Health Coverage Initiative 

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

• NGOs work on a local and national scale in Kenya

• Some of the NGOs involved in sustainable rural projects include:

  • Water Aid and Water.org are involved in projects to provide clean water and sanitation to rural areas reducing disease and improving hygiene

  • Oxfam working with rural communities affected by locusts

  • Traidcraft supports small businesses in rural communities increasing incomes

  • Plan International promoting education for girls

Local communities

• These are groups of people living in the rural communities who may be involved in the sustainable projects

• They may include:

  • farmers

  • landowners

  • local residents