Introduction to International Development Pre-departure Course

26th June 2011

Sacha Grodzinski Chair, Engineers Without Borders UK

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 Measuring Development Thinking about Impact 3. Advice: Before you Go In the field On your return

1. Intro to development?

What is Development?

What is Development?
There is no universal definition, but most include: Economic Growth Social Change Quality of Life Livelihoods Personal Capabilities

What is Development?
Developed/Developing is too simplistic Development is a process not a goal Depends on the local - Social - Political Development needs. - Natural - Financial - Environmental

International Development vs.Relief

Non- Emergency aid Longer-term approach Sustainable solutions Oxfams One Programme Approach

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Who is involved?

Who is involved?
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS
Resource mobilisation

POWER COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS

Mechanism of exchange

INCENTIVES VOLUNTARTY ORGANIZATIONS

Mobilise Social energy

VALUES
H. Cruickshank Development Engineering, Lecture 1 ESD MPhil, 2009

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

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 over empathy Work the poorest or those easiest to reach (geographically and to meet indicators)

Who is involved?
What is YOUR role as the foreign engineer?
Amplify the voice of the beneficiaries at every stage Ensure Health and Safety Create opportunity for locals, not remove them Ensure sustainability of projects Monitor and evaluate real impact and feedback

History of Development

1960s and 70s

Kariba Dam, Zimbabwe

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1970s and 80s

Nomadic Turbine, Mongolian Steppe

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1990s

UN Conference, New York

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Concepts of development
Modernisation Theory Social Evolutions: Simple Complex Society Large infrastructure leads to development Loss of culture and identity for efficiency

Concepts of development
Dependency Theory Periphery Core Poor Rich Resources: Natural; Cheap Labour; Destination for Old Technology Maintained: Economics; Politics; Banking and Finance; Education; and Culture Resist Change: Trade and other Sanctions

Concepts of development
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? What system could replace Capitalism?

Current Thinkers
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 Powerful over Weak Ending Extreme Poverty

Current Thinkers
William Easterly The White Mans Burden 2 Tragedies:
1. So many people suffer so much for lack of inexpensive remedies

Current Thinkers
William Easterly The White Mans Burden Tragedies: 2. The West spent $2.3 trillion on foreign aid over the
last 50 yrs and still had not managed to get 12-cent medicines to children to prevent half of all malaria deaths. The West spent $2.3 trillion on and still had not managed to get $4 nets to poor families. The West spent $2.3 trillion and still had not managed to get $3 to each new mother to prevent 5 million child deaths.

Current Thinkers
William Easterly The White Mans Burden The West is not stingy, just ineffective.
Planners Top Down Know answer Searchers Bottom Up Do not know answer, but will search to find it Trail and Error

Current Thinkers
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 of
a wider Federation

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

BREAK

2. Complexity of Development

Key factors within Development?

Inequality Pro-poor Dignity Universal Declaration of Human Rights All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights Partnership Removing dependency culture; MDG 8; 2 way learning. Participation Community Led Total Sanitation

Key factors within Development?

Appropriateness materials/ scale/ technical level/ culturally and socially beneficial. Sustainability Balance of: Social, Environment and Economic Drivers. Capacity Building. Finance and Micro-finance Migration and Remittance

What is 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

How is it measured?

How is it measured?
Gross Domestic Income (GDI) or Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Defined as the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time Calculated as consumption + government spending + gross investment + (imports - exports)

How is it measured?
Other indicators: Health (Infant mortality rates, HIV infection rate, life
Expectancyetc)

Education (Primary education, literacy rateetc) Employment Ease of Doing Business Corruption Index Budget Transparency Poverty: Energy/Fuel, Foodetc

How is it measured?
Human Development Index (HDI): - Life expectancy - Literacy - Educational - GDP per capita

Educational attainment

How is it measured?
Does everyone developing equally? Gini Coefficient:

G=A/(A+B)
A value of 0 represents absolute equality, and a value of 100 absolute inequality.

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

How is it measured?
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?

How is it measured?
http://www.gapminder.org

Thinking about Impact!

Thinking about Impact!

What is the difference between:
Digging a well Disseminating improved cook stoves Building a school Access to clean water and improved health? Improved livelihoods and health? Ensuring that children get an education?

It is changing of mind-set from what we want to do, to what we want to achieve

3. Advice

Advice: Before You Go

Communication:
Learn a language | Learn to teach

Technical: Know the basics and be able to do 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

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. Make the most of it Enjoy!

Advice: On your return

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

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 Measuring Development Thinking about Impact 3. Advice: Before you Go In the field On your return

Thank you for listening

Questions ?
Sacha Grodzinski Chair, Engineers Without Borders UK Sacha.grodzinski@ewb-uk.org