The focus this week is on international political economy and international development organizations.
Four major international development organizations are: the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the UN Conference on Trade and Development and the UN Development Programme.
After visiting the four websites listed above, explain the efforts of each of them (as applicable) in the state you chose to focus on in this class.
Look forward to reading your posts and providing feedback on the discussions!
Instructions: Your initial post should be at least 350 words.
There is an example of what I want below. Instead of Ethiopia my chosen country is Australia.
This post will focus on the efforts and strategies of the four major International Development Organizations in the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.
World Bank (WB)
Ethiopia has continuously received assistance and financial aid from the World Bank (WB). The WB lends Ethiopia low to zero interest rate loans to promote the development of the nation.
As stated by the WB, it has "provided lending for more than 150 projects in Ethiopia that have focused on infrastructure, the delivery of basic services, food security and education" (World Bank 2016). Furthermore it is stated that as of 2015 the WB has committed 7billion$ to 25 active projects in Ethiopia. The indirect results of the lending by the WB are very wide, ranging from improvements in the fight against HIV to sustainable energy production.
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
The IMF similarly to the World Bank lends financial resources to Ethiopia with the goal of development. As stated by the IMF itself, its prime goal is to ensure and promote transnational financial cooperation and stability (IMF 2016).
As a member country, Ethiopia is surveyed by the IMF and receives technical and lending assistance to support a functioning and developing economy. The IMF's surveillance serves to reduce economic vulnerability in the nation.
United Nations Development Plan (UNDP)
The work of the UNDP in Ethiopia is to be considered essential in the development of the nation. An overview of UNDP found on their website states "UNDP strives to support the Ethiopian Government in the efforts to eliminate poverty, developing peoples' capacity, achieving equitable results, sustain the environment, and advance democratic governance" (UNDP).
There are various programs in place to contribute towards creating a democratic and empowered people. UNDP acknowledges that Ethiopia is a nation based on Agriculture in which 80% of the population is employed in this sector, for this reason, one major focus area is to develop the agricultural capabilities sustaining a green economy.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
While possibly not as directly involved in Ethiopia as the three other IDO's, UNCTAD has established a division specific to the least developed countries in Africa. UNCTAD aims to establish a better understanding of development problems and restraints in African nations to formulate better development strategies in the future.
As stated on its website: "UNCTAD assists African countries in addressing these development challenges through research and policy analysis, capacity development, advisory services, and consensus building" (UNCTAD 2016). This organization targets the creation of a better understanding of the challenges facing development to better formulate solutions.