Key International Assistance Agencies

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) supports sustainable development in developing countries through technical assistance projects. FAO projects include sustainable agriculture, sustainable water management, and world fishery production. The FAO also pays special attention to women's roles and inclusion in development.

International Fund for Agricultural Development. Established in 1977 as a result of the 1974 World Food Conference, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) mobilizes resources and funds programs designed to help the rural poor improve their living conditions. IFAD promotes social development, income growth, environmental sustainability and good governance. IFAD provides loans and grant opportunities as well as forms partnerships with NGOs, international development organizations and International Financial Institutions.

International Labour Organization. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has set the standards for global worker rights including fair wage and equal opportunity. The ILO has a program that supports the development of small business and enterprise to expand employment opportunities and people's abilities to employ themselves.

International Monetary Fund. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) provides three main services: surveillance, financial assistance and technical assistance. Through surveillance the IMF monitors and consults with member countries over economic and financial policies, including trade and exchange arrangements. The IMF assesses whether these policies are aiding the country in furthering its economic and sustainable development. The IMF attempts to identify and eliminate economic vulnerabilities. Loans that are provided through IMF financial assistance are not given for specific projects, rather they are given to stabilize the currency and financial integrity of the country. The IMF has developed seven facilities of assistance designed to alleviate specific financial problems. These facilities have varying interest rates and repayment periods. The IMF's technical assistance programs promote capacity building and policy design meant to strengthen financial institutions.

United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) formed in 1992 following the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). It is the responsibility of this commission to monitor states compliance and work toward meeting the sustainable development goals established at UNCED. The CSD is particularly concerned with the relationship between the environment and sustainable development, and building partnerships between governments.

United Nations Development Programme. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has offices in 166 countries worldwide. The focus of the UNDP is to help countries build and share solutions to what they have identified as the biggest challenges to the development process: democratic governance, poverty reduction, crises prevention and recovery, energy and environment, information and communications technology, HIV/AIDS. In its work the UNDP aims to protect and promote human rights, especially the empowerment of women. The UNDP commissions an annual Human Development Report. This report is written by experts who analyze development data, ideas and practices from around the world. The hope is these reports will spur political debates, draw political attention to issues, and help countries formulate development solutions.

United Nations Division for Sustainable Development. The United Nations Division for Sustainable Development works to advise, train and build the institutional capacities of governments at their own request. The Division designs and implements development projects that the government subsequently becomes responsible for. The goal is to formulate policy around sustainable development. Their expertise covers: freshwater management, energy, infrastructure, and land management.

World Bank. The World Bank is made up of two institutions, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). The IBDA deals with economic development in countries that they deem 'creditworthy". The countries that receive loans from the IBRD must be able to repay loans with interest. The IDA was formed to provide development and debt-balance loans to countries that cannot afford to borrow from the IBDA. "Credits" from the IDA are given to countries with a per capita income of under $875, with zero interest and a ten year repayment period.

World Trade Organization. The World Trade Organization (WTO) governs the rules of trade between nations. Agreements and rules are drafted by the members of the WTO themselves. WTO agreements guarantee certain trade rights for member countries. The agreements help producers and services, exporters and importers conduct business most efficiently. Three quarters of WTO members are developing nations, and the goal is to increase their trade ability and market access in order to improve the welfare of the population.

Millenium Development Goals.

The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015 – form a blueprint agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the world’s leading development institutions. They have galvanized unprecedented efforts to meet the needs of the world’s poorest.

Date: 2015-01-11; view: 827