GEOGRAPHY ELECTIVE: ANSWERING QUESTIONS Example 1 Describe strategies that international organizations can take to reduce uneven development

in the world. How successful have these strategies been? [8] Strategy International organization: World Bank Pros with examples The World Bank provides consultation/knowledge and / or interest free loans to help facilitate a countrys development. Before any loan is extended, the World Bank demands the practice of good governance from all governments. Kecamatan Development Programme (KDP) started in 1998 to provide aid to villages in Indonesia. Through the KDP, the living standards of people in Sleepy Tirtomoyo village in Surabaya improved as they were able to obtain water for drinking and irrigation as a result of wells and high capacity pumps being built. Cons with examples There are service charge(s) of 0.75% associated with the development loans that do amount to a large sum taking into account of the principal loan amount. Default payment of loans may also mean that the country in debt may incur more debt. The World Bank may at times put pressure on local governments to privatise essential services as preloan conditions. However, privatising essential services may disadvantage the poorer population as normally the local government would be in the better position to help the poor in terms of need especially during an economic recession. The world Bank has the tendency to promote large-scale project that may not be suitable for the host country like in the example of the Transmigration Programme in Indonesia of which the environment was adversely affected and many people were settled in poor agricultural land. The ADB might not be able to alleviate uneven development because for example the United States is a major player (member) in the ADB even though it is not an Asian country. Hence, ADB policies may serve to protect the interest of the United States, which is a develop country.

International organization: Asian Development Bank (ADB)

The ADB provides interest free loans to help facilitate a countrys development. ADB provided loans to help build the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge in Bangladesh. The bridge helped increase economic growth in the area by easing traffic congestion, connecting agricultural areas in the northwest to the commercial centre of Dhaka and the port of Chittagong, and enabled road

nvj/dnm/ge/se4E5Nnotes

and rail transport routes to function more efficiently. International agreements: United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UNMDG) The UNMDG encourages countries to sign up and take a stand to alleviate poverty and uneven development by the year 2015. For example, since the adoption of UNMDG by Vietnam, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty fell from 58.1% in 1993 to 24.1% in 2004. This was done through skill training in poor communities and educational campaigns. Help set up Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) to protect the economic interest of countries. For example, the fishing industry in Peru contributes greatly to the countrys wealth and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) help prevent fishing boats from developed countries to fish in its area, hence protecting Perus economic interest. Not every country has adopted the UNMDG. Furthermore, economic recession like the current 2008/09 global economic recession and natural disasters like the 2008 tropical cyclone that hit Myanmar and its rice fields can put vulnerable people back into the cycle of poverty, hence slowing down effects of the UNMDG to eradicate poverty. However, such an agreement does not help landlocked countries like Laos and Bolivia.

International agreements: United Nations Convection on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

Candidates at each level will show the following characteristics: Level 1 (0-3 marks) Identify international strategies (e.g, the World Bank) Little or no attempt at describing the pros or cons of the mentioned strategy No or vague attempt at evaluation. Example(s) are either vague or non-existent at all. Level 2 (4-6 marks) Identifies at least one strategy One or more pros and/or cons describe in satisfactorily The World Bank can provide interest free loans as well as knowledge and technical support to the developing countries. Limited attempt at evaluation. Examples may be general or vague. Level 3 (7-8 marks) Identifies at least two strategies

nvj/dnm/ge/se4E5Nnotes

One or more pros and cons describe in detail The World Bank can provide interest free loans as well as knowledge and technical support to the developing countries. Satisfactory attempt at evaluation. Examples are specific.

Example 2 With the use of examples, evaluate the strategy of improving water supply and sanitation facilities in developing countries to promote national development. Talk about both effectiveness and ineffectiveness Sample Marking Scheme Level 1 (0 3 marks) Very general description. No place reference or very general, e.g. in Indonesia. No supported effectiveness or simple statements, e.g. it worked. it was a lot better. Level 2 (4 6 marks) One or more advantage and limitation. Some place reference given but may be vague, e.g. in a village in Indonesia. Brief statements of effectiveness, it improved water supply and sanitation facilities. Level 3 ( 7 - 8 marks ) Three advantages and limitations. Clear examples, Villagers from Sleepy Tirtomoyo have access to clean and reliable water supply. Clear statements of degree of effectiveness, e.g. water supply

nvj/dnm/ge/se4E5Nnotes

Different Strategies to Address Development Issues Effectiveness Once the population size is cut there are more resources available. Government can will sufficient resources to spend on developing the country rather than just providing food housing and healthcare . With education, people will be able to work in higher level jobs in secondary and tertiary industries, this will increase income level and improve their standard of living. They will have better health care and will know the importance of hygiene as well as the need for family planning Proper sanitation will lead to a drop in diseases and the workforce will be healthier Ineffectiveness It is a long term solution, difficult to see results in the short term

Population Control

Education

If there are insuffient resources such as schools and teachers, difficult to implement. Not all areas will be easily accessible making it difficult to carry out eg Thailand

Proper Sanitation

Job Creation

With jobs, they have more income to spend and will have a better standard of living as they can afford better healthcare.

If proper sanitation facilities are built but people are set in their own ways or are uneducated in proper hygiene, they will not be able to maintain the facilities. They need to have the right skills and may not be qualified for the job, especially those parts of the country where education is not easily available. The country needs to have enough resources to create jobs.

NOTE : When you write your notes in this way , it is easier to learn and evaluate. You can do the same when evaluating other topics.

nvj/dnm/ge/se4E5Nnotes