International Development Assistance, International Development Institutions, International Trade, Finance and Debt Links

International Development Assistance/International Development Institutions  "Developed" countries, such as the United States and the countries of western Europe have been assisting developing countries financially and with technical assistance. Development assistance is the name given to this assistance.

The United States Agency for International DevelopmentUSAID) is the principal U.S. development agency does. The publications page gives access to useful publications, including the Congressional Budget Justification, and the database of USAID publications.

The World Bank is the largest lender to developing countries.  A very large and impressive website.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organization made up of 29 democratic nations with advanced market economies. The OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) is the principal body through which the Organization deals with issues related to co-operation with developing countries. The DAC is one of the key forums in which the major bilateral donors work together to increase the effectiveness of their common effort to support sustainable development. For global foreign aid figures, see the 2004 DAC statistics on official development assistance (ODA). The DAC is the  source for ODA figures.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is the lead player in delivering Canada's official development assistance program. Also see the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada. 

Official Web Site Locator for the United Nations System of Organizations Helps you find the web sites for the UN, UNESCO, ECLAC, ESCAP, ECA, FAO, UNDP, UNIFEM, UNICEF, and many more.

The United Nations Development Program.  See especially their Human Development Report with a worthwhile specific topic each year (in 2004, cultural liberty and diversity) and with the Human Development Index, which goes beyond income measures to measure human welfare.

International Trade, Finance, and Debt

Trade is, in current official U.S. thinking, the "engine of growth" for developing countries. It has been, in the past, an engine of destruction for Africa, as the system of "free trade" slavery took millions from the African continent and established social systems conducive to capturing slaves and very unfavorable to the welfare of the average person in Africa.  The second major wave divided up Africa among the European powers, installing governments to benefit Europeans, not Africans. Trade and other international actions were not favorable to the people of Asia and Latin America, either. 

International Monetary Fund Tries to keep the international system of trade and monetary flows on as even a keel as possible. 

World Trade Organization The organization that sets international trade rules and resolves disputes. 

U.S.Trade Representative A key U.S. government organization dealing with trade issues.

Organizations that work to influence international trade and lending policies

Focusing on World Bank and IMF Polices

The Bretton Woods Project, created by British NGOs, works to scrutinize and influence the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). (Bretton Woods refers to the location in New Hampshire of the conference that established the World Bank in 1944.)

Jubilee USA is the U.S. organization that is a key part of a global movement seeking to cancel the  debts of the world's poorest countries. Organizations seeking debt forgiveness in other countries.

The Development Group for Alternative Policies (The Development GAP) has worked since 1977 to ensure that the knowledge, priorities and efforts of the women and men of the South inform decisions made in the North, including the World Bank's structural adjustment policies.

Fifty Years is Enough is a coalition of organizations working for major changes in the World Bank's and IMF's role in developing countries. (Fifty years refers to the length of time--actually longer now-- that the IMF and World Bank have been in existence.)  See their links to other organizations.

Trade

Global Exchange covers a variety of issues including fair trade and other economic human rights issues issues.

Make Trade Fair has a variety of campaigns on fair trade issues.

Other fair trade links.

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