Assistance and Service Agencies

National Agencies

Most countries throughout the world either guarantee free and compulsory education in their constitution, or are working to establish a free education system. The definition and criteria for compulsory education vary from state to state. In some states education is compulsory for children within a certain age range, commonly beginning when the child turns 6 and ending when the child turns 16. In other states compulsory education does not relate to age necessarily, but to a specific number of years attended. The number of years vary between 7 and 11 in different states. Compulsory education in some states requires students to complete a certain level of education, the minimum being primary school, or seven years.

Health status and health care are major development concerns. 109 countries recognize the human right to health in their constitutions, which means the government has some level of obligation to ensure that health care is available and accessible (this includes affordability). Some states guarantee access to free health care to all citizens. Other states may provide federally funded health insurance programs only to lower-income individuals who qualify. Often these programs are directed to certain groups like children, the elderly, or the disabled.

A number of states have some system of social security. Social security benefits guarantee that if something unexpected, such as illness, injury, sudden death should occur, income will not simply cease. Social security allows people who qualify to collect unemployment, and provides for people after they have retired. If the primary income earner of the family should become disabled or deceased, families can benefit from social security.

Establishing a strong democracy remains a goal for many states. In the contemporary world many governments are in transition, and many democracies are still very young. It is the belief that a free society, in which the people are deciding and influencing policy, creates an appropriate environment for development. While governments and government agencies are concerned with development issues, much of the progress development and the improvement of living conditions of individuals comes from the work of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and nongovernmental development organizations (NGDOs). Grassroots NGOs are the groups that work closely with the poor, identifying obstacles that hinder development as well as viable solutions. Many NGOs rely on volunteers and receive financial funding in the form of grants and loans from larger donor organizations.

Date: 2015-01-11; view: 856