Introduction to International Development

7/29/2019 Introduction to International Development

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Sacha Grodzinski

Chair, Engineers Without Borders UK

Introduction toInternational Development

Pre-departure Course26th June 2011


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Overview:

1. Intro to development: What is development? Who is involved? History of Development Development Theories and

Current Thinkers

BREAK

2. Complexity of Development: Key factors within Development


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What is Development?

There is no universal definition, butmost include: Economic Growth

Social Change Quality of Life Livelihoods

Personal Capabilities


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What is Development?

Developed/Developing is too simplistic Development is a process not a goal Depends on the local

- Social

- Political

- Natural

- Financial- Environmental

Development

needs.


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InternationalDevelopmentvs.Relief

Non- Emergency aid Longer-term

approach Sustainable

solutions Oxfams One

ProgrammeApproach

Engineers Without Borders


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Who is involved?


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Who is involved?

H. Cruickshank DevelopmentEngineering, Lecture 1 ESD


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Who is involved?

What is the role of the State? Good Governance

Law and order Stop Corruption

Provision of welfare: Education Health care Security

Macroeconomic management


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Who is involved?

Are NGOs always GOOD? Can take the role of the state

Accountable to whom? Compete for funds and beneficiaries Influence wage structure

Can generate sympathy overempathy Work the poorest or those easiest to

reach (geographically and to meetindicators)


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Who is involved?

What isYOUR role as the foreignengineer?

Amplify the voice of the beneficiaries atevery stage

Ensure Health and Safety

Create opportunity for locals, not remove

themEnsure sustainability of projects

Monitor and evaluate real impact and

feedback


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HistoryofDevelopment


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1960s and 70s

For many people engineerings role in development ischaracterised by the large infrastructure projects of the 1960sand 1970s.Projects were often donor led and complex. This resulted in theuse of foreign expertise to design, implement and maintain the

projects.

Projects were based on the idea that infrastructure resultedin economic development

Did not usually provide for the local community Caused environmental and cultural damage, resulting in

displacement and no compensation Often a lack of maintenance which resulted in the projectsfailing and trapping the country in debt

This approach saw many successes but also many failures not technologically, but in terms of development.


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SteppeEngineers Without Borders

1970s and 80s

The following development decade was characterised by afocus on smaller technologies the appropriate Technologyfocus of the 1970s and 1980s. This was as much a reaction tolarge infrastructure projects as it was an attempt at makingtechnology projects more successful in development terms -aimed at meeting the communities needs and involving the

communities skills.

These projects minimised the effect on culture andenvironment. However, a lack of ownership and maintenancesupport led to failures.

Examples: Water pumps so close to the village that the women could no

long gossip while walking to collect water. Charge controllers that were to expensive to replace in the

Philippines


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1990s

This approach also had its critics and the 1990s saw increasingfocus being placed on social dimensions, leading to the morerecent focus on the rights agenda and governance approaches,exemplified in the Millennium.


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Modernisation Theory Social Evolutions:

Simple Complex Society Large infrastructure leads to

development Loss of culture and identity for

efficiency

Concepts ofdevelopment


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Dependency Theory

Periphery Core

Poor Rich Resources: Natural; Cheap Labour;

Destination for Old Technology Maintained: Economics; Politics;

Banking and Finance; Education; andCulture

Resist Change:Trade and other

Sanctions



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World Systems Theory Lot only global, but local Core and

Periphery Ask a number of questions:

WS Impact : nations, ethnic groups,social classes?

WS effect components? Do the Periphery need to be

underdeveloped?

What causes change in the WS?



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Jeffery Sachs End of Poverty Neoliberal top down approach; Focus on: More Aid; Debt

Forgiveness; Better Trade Terms;

and Access to Modern Technology.

Ending Corruption of Powerfulover Weak Ending ExtremePoverty

Current Thinkers


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William Easterly The White MansBurden

2 Tragedies:1. So many people suffer so much for lack of

inexpensive remedies

Current Thinkers


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Tragedies:

2.The West spent $2.3 trillion on foreign aidover the

last 50 yrs and still had not managed to

get 12-centmedicines to children to prevent half of

all malaria

deaths. The West spent $2.3 trillion onand still had

Current Thinkers


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The West is not stingy, just ineffective.

Current Thinkers

Planners SearchersTop Down Bottom Up

Know answer Do not know answer, butwill search to find it

Trail and Error


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Muhammad Yunas Banker to the Poor Everyone is an Entrepreneur; People want to succeed; Credit is a fundamental HR; Empower Women;

Self Managed groups as part ofa wider Federation

Current Thinkers


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Amartya Sen Development asFreedom Democracy as necessary for growth; Expression of Capabilities; Ability to Choose How to Live.

Current Thinkers


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BREAK


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2. Complexityof

Development


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Key factors within

Development? Inequality Pro-poor Dignity Universal Declaration of

Human Rights

All human beings are born free andequal in

dignity and rights Partnership Removing dependency

culture; MDG 8; 2 way learning. Participation Community Led Total

Sanitation


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Key factors within

Development? Appropriateness materials/ scale/

technical level/ culturally and sociallybeneficial.

Sustainability Balance of: Social,Environment and Economic Drivers.

Capacity Building. Finance and Micro-finance Migration and Remittance


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Whatis the role of

Technology?Not all New Technology is GOOD:- Diverts funds from proven technology- Have they been tested in their context- Do they meet the needs or wants of the

community- Solutions should empower not dis-

empower


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How is itmeasured?


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How is itmeasured?

Gross Domestic Income (GDI) or GrossDomestic Product (GDP)

Defined as the market value of all finalgoods and services produced within acountry in a given period of time

Calculated as consumption + governmentspending + gross investment + (imports -

exports)


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Howis itmeasured?

Other indicators: Health (Infant mortality rates, HIV infection rate,

life

Expectancyetc) Education (Primary education, literacy rate

etc)

Employment Ease of Doing Business Corruption Index Budget Transparency

Poverty: Energy/Fuel, Foodetc


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Howis itmeasured?

Human Development Index (HDI):- Life expectancy - Literacy

- Educational - GDP per capita

Educational attainment


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Howis itmeasured?

Does everyone developing equally? Gini Coefficient:

G=A/(A+B)

A value of 0 represents absolute

equality, and a value of 100

absolute inequality.


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Howis itmeasured?

Millennium Development Goals: Signed Sept 2000 0.7% of GNI End 2015, with reviews in 2005/2010


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How is itmeasured?

Issues with targets: Divert effort and money from other

activities; Only valid if you are measuring the

right thing; Who is accountable if targets are not

met?


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Howis itmeasured?

http://www.gapminder.org
http://www.gapminder.org/http://www.gapminder.org/


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Thinking aboutImpact!


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ThinkingaboutImpact!

What is the difference between:Digging a well Access to clean water

and improved health?

Disseminating improvedcook stoves

Improved livelihoodsand health?

Building a school Ensuring that children

get an education?

It is changing of mind-setfrom what wewant to do,

to what we want to achieve


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3. Advice


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Advice: Before You Go

Communication: Learn a language | Learn to teach

Technical: Know the basics and be able todo it

Read more about development Think of the organisations you want to

work with

http://www.oxfam.org/en/content/from-poverty-power-full-text
http://www.oxfam.org/en/content/from-poverty-power-full-texthttp://www.oxfam.org/en/content/from-poverty-power-full-texthttp://www.oxfam.org/en/content/from-poverty-power-full-texthttp://www.oxfam.org/en/content/from-poverty-power-full-text


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Advice: In the field

Be safe and stay healthy mental +physically!

Know your role and responsibilities Expect the unexpected Write a diary or a blog Reflect! Remember your motivations (Intl

Dev. is Intl) Ambassador for home country and

organisation, especially when

socialising.


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Advice: On your return

Prepare: Reverse culture shock! Think: How will you continue on your

return?


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Re-cap:

1. Intro to development: What is development? Who is involved?

History of Development Development Theories and

Current Thinkers

BREAK

2. Complexity of Development:

Key factors within Development


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Sacha Grodzinski

Chair, Engineers Without Borders UK

Thank you forlistening

Questions ?

Documents

Introduction to International Development