Essay On Development Aid

In a few days’ time, a major benchmark of the success of international efforts to promote development – the Millennium Development Goals – will expire. This will likely prompt yet another wave of discussions on the effectiveness of development aid. Just as “development” emerged as a distinct concept only well after World War II, so did “development aid” distinguish itself from general humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of the post- World War II reconstruction efforts? The process of decolonization – the formation of sovereign states out of the dominions of former empires – in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s galvanized the search for methods to support social and economic progress in what became known as the “Third World” (a term much less used today). The concept of “aid” has developed itself, and is now

Assistance provided to German after World War II under the Marshall Plan is often cited as an example of clear success of development aid.
• Stimulating the economy. When a country donates money they stimulate financially the recipient country. They are helping to stabilize the economy and prompt its growth.
• Development aid is often needed together with disaster relief. When there is a natural calamity in some poor country the government often cannot help and support their person, which further undermines future development. In hard times like these they need international development aid in addition to humanitarian assistance.
• Demographics. Many young people choose to leave developing countries because of the poverty and unemployment. With international aid they can invest in building confidence and being independent and not influenced by foreign countries.
• Aid is crucial for healthcare infrastructure. Often poor countries do not have good health care and medicines. With international aid they get medical training, equipment and they can improve their health standards and prevent from some