Bridging the Development Gap

Theories and approaches to reduce poverty: Global economic growth Political stability Globalisation trends Aid and foreign investment Government investment in infrastructure Food security Trade strategies Investment in health care Tourism development Debt cancellation/reduction Legal empowerment of poor International cooperation

Anti-development School of Thought: Development is a eurocentric ideal based on material prosperity It's a process which creates dependency (both poor to rich and vice versa) It undermines local cultures and ways of life It is environmentally unsustainable It infringes human rights and undermines democracy

Ways to reduce the gap: Trade Technology Fair trade Debt cancellation Political stability Education Aid to develop education, health services, safe water supplies, modern means of communication etc Investment Help to lessen impact of diseases e.g. HIV/AIDS

Top-down Schemes: Large scale - often part of national planning aims Led by governments and government agencies; construction and engineering TNCs Funded by the government via multilateral aid or bilateral aid Tend to meet national needs in terms of energy or water supply, or transport and profit High technology Project types include electricity, transport, industry and infrastructure Good for industry, urban dwellers and TNCs Bad for the environment and rural people E.g. Three Gorges Dam Bottom-up Schemes: Small scale - based in one community or area Led by the community and NGOs - often partnership arrangements Funded by local people and NGOs - donations or earned income recycled into the community Tends to meet basic needs of food, health, education and water with small improvements on income Project types include food production, water supply, small scale renewable energy Good for local people and the environment E.g. Rainwater harvesting Uganda