International Management Strategies (Edexcel IGCSE Geography): Revision Note

Intergovernmental agreements

• Intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) have a significant role in reducing uneven development

• Organisations include many which 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 Organization  (UNESCO)

• There are also organisations which 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 countries around the world for projects to assist the development

• The IMF, World Bank and WTO promote free trade and globalisation

• The UN developed the Sustainable Development Goals which have been agreed upon by 193 countries:

  • Include 17 goals including zero hunger, clean water and quality education

• Debt relief is also used by IGOs to assist development:

  • 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

Trade agreements

• Trade is often promoted as the key to economic development

• Trade allows countries to sell the resources they have so they can then invest in things which will improve development such as education and healthcare

• The money generated by trade also means they can import resources that they don't have including:

  • tractors or communication technology

    • This can enhance development

• Trade is not always fair:

  • Developing countries are often paid less for their exports than developed countries

  • Developing countries are often disadvantaged by trade barriers

  • Trade agreements often favour developed and emerging countries

Aid agreements

• There are different types of international aid

• International aid can be given as:

  • advice

  • technology

  • food

  • money

• Aid must be appropriate meaning that it fits the needs of the developing country

  • Aid in the form of tractors may not be appropriate if the community cannot afford the diesel or doesn't have the skills needed to maintain them

Disadvantages of international aid

• International aid does not always reach the people who need it due to corruption and mismanagement

• 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 be stalled as a result

• Aid is often tied aid 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