UNIT-V International Politics

Contemporary Issues

Developmental and Humanitarian Aids

Developmental Aid
Generally, development aid includes monetary assistance in the form of direct
grants, programs or training to support a developing country’s political, social or
economic development. Developed countries often give development aid, but
developing countries can do so as well. Modern development aid began with the
Marshall Plan, through which the United States provided economic and technical
assistance to European countries whose economies had suffered during World War II.
Today, development aid takes many forms. One country might supply
development aid to another in the form of a direct monetary contribution, or it might
provide technical expertise to help build the infrastructure to supply water to more
citizens. It might also help teach the skills necessary to maintain and construct
infrastructure.

Types of Development Aid

Below are a few different types of development aid:

 Tied aid: Tied aid is spent in the country where it originates rather than in the
country receiving the aid. At least 20 percent of developmental aid is formally tied.
Much more is informally tied — that is, organizations spend money in countries
other than the ones they are aiding, thereby supporting other economies rather
than the developing economy.
 Untied aid: Conversely, untied aid can be spent wherever the recipient country
wishes. For example, an NGO might spearhead efforts to build a new hospital in a
developing nation and also hire local engineers and construction contractors to
complete the work. By making use of untied aid, the donor country invests both in
improved medical services and in the local economy.
 Project aid: Project aid typically involves providing funds for a specific project, such
as building a school or hospital. Project aid can allocate NGO funds to different areas
such as procuring supplies and coordinating workers.
 Resource aid: Resource aid helps supply resources in areas of critical shortages.
These could be supplies of food and water in a drought- or famine-stricken area, or
they could be medical supplies to refugee camps. NGOs might also use their local
connections to create reliable supply lines in politically unstable areas.
 Technical aid: Development aid can also provide technical assistance and training to
help give local business owners, construction workers, engineers, doctors, nurses
and educators the tools they need to assist their communities and teach others.
 Voluntary aid: Voluntary aid incorporates volunteers who donate their labor as a
form of aid. Doctors who use their medical skills in areas where there is a shortage
of physicians or to help run vaccination programs, for example, provide voluntary
aid. Volunteers who help provide educational programs in local communities do the
same. 

Agencies for Development Aid

USAID (United States Agency for International Development)

JAICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)
IDRC (International Development Research Centre)
SADC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation)
SIDA (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency)

Humanitarian Aid
Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is
usually short-term help until the long-term help by the government and other
institutions replaces it. Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and
victims of natural disasters, wars, and famines.

Humanitarian relief efforts are provided for humanitarian purposes and

include natural disasters and man-made disasters. The primary objective of
humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity.

Agencies for Humanitarian Aid

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

UNHCR - United Nations Refugee Agency 

OCHA - Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (It is the successor to

the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator (UNDRO).

WFP - World Food Programme

The principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence are fundamental
to humanitarian action.

Humanity: means that human suffering must be addressed wherever it is found, with

particular attention to the most vulnerable.

Neutrality: means that humanitarian aid must not favour any side in an armed conflict
or other dispute.

Impartiality: means that humanitarian aid must be provided solely on the basis of

need, without discrimination.

Independence: means the autonomy of humanitarian objectives from political,

economic, military or other objectives.

Examples of Humanitarian Aid:

 Disaster relief- Natural disasters are a major cause of the world's death and suffering.
 Shelter- Speaking of shelter, it's one of the most important aspects of humanitarian aid.
 Food- Food insecurity is a global issue.
 Agricultural crisis.
 Water.
 Sanitation.
 Medical care.
 Children's aid.
 Refugee care
 Education etc.