The Particular Conditions and Problems of the Least Developed Countries - Essay Example

Discuss the particular conditions and problems of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and possible solutions Abstract: This essay aims to discuss the particular conditions of the least developed countries of the world. It focuses on their problems and also investigates the possible solutions for the problems plaguing the least developed countries. 1.1 Introduction: In a world of advancement and progression, and increased communication and power, some countries exist in different continents which have continual problems of water, food, medical facilities, pollution, and many other factors. Such aforementioned countries have been classified and termed as the ‘Least Developed Countries’ of the world. At present, the United Nations has designated fifty countries in the world as Least Developed Countries. This list of Least Developed Countries is reviewed and analysed once in three years by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) (Department of Public Information, 2004). According to the Economic and Social Council (2004), three criteria have been used to distinguish and identify the Least Developed Countries of the world on the proposal of the Committee for Development Policy (CDP). Thus, to be identified as a Least Developed Country, the country should meet certain criteria, which are as follows: A criterion of low-income which is based on an estimation of gross domestic product per capita for three years (‘under $750 for inclusion, above $900 for graduation’); A criterion of human resource weakness which include an analysis of ‘Augmented Physical Quality of Life Index (APQLI). Such an index is based on indictors such as health, education, literacy, and even nutrition; A criterion if economic vulnerability which involves an ‘Economic Vulnerability Index (EVI)’. Such an index is based on certain indicators such as agricultural production instability, export of goods and services instability, non-traditional activities importance in the country like ‘share of manufacturing and modern services in GDP, ‘merchandise export concentration’, economic smallness, and ‘the percentage of population displaced by natural disasters (Department of Public Information, 2004). 1.2 Least Developed Countries and their Problems: Some of the main problems of the Least Developed Countries have been outlined as follows: 1.2.1 Water: Water constitutes the basic need for survival is at its worst in the Least Developed Countries. There are millions and millions of people in such countries who do not get access to safe and clear drinking water. Lack of clean water affects inland fisheries, and even produces serious implications for people who drink and rely on unclean water, leading to a number of water-borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea, and many others (Chowdhury, 2003). Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury (2003) contends that people in Least Developed Countries depend a lot on underground water. But even underground water is not free from pollutants and other degrading materials. Thus, this leads to serious consequences for Least Developed Countries. He points out that there are still millions of people who do not have access to safe and clean water even after the United Nations ‘Water Decade’. Safe drinking water is a must for eradicating the poverty-stricken condition and diseases among people in the Least Developed Countries. The White Paper of the Department for International Development of United Kingdom has also stressed on the link of water with sanitation for the eradication of poverty (Chowdhury, 2003). 1.2.2 Trade and Environment problems: Least Developed Countries face a number of trade and environment problems which include deforestation, degradation of land, overfishing, coastal areas degradation, wastes dumping, using of environmentally harmful products, loss of wildlife and other biodiversity resources, and many other factors (Helping to removing some of the Obstacles to Sustainable Development). Environment problems have also lowered the trade and export rate of many Least Developed Countries. Environmental pollution and degradation greatly reduces the capacity of such countries to export their products. Thus, environmental problems further accelerate the economic depression in such countries (Helping to removing some of the Obstacles to Sustainable Development). Analysis has further shown that the rates of domestic savings in the Least Developed Countries are low. For example, in 2004, the rate has been recorded at 11%. A considerable number of countries belonging to the Least Developed Countries list have to import food and oil too. Research shows that out of such countries, the rate of food imports has been growing at an alarming rate in African Least Developed Countries (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2006). 1.2.3 Poverty and Socio-Economic Deterioration: An analysis of the socio-economic condition in the Least Developed Countries shows that the average rate of growth of the combined gross domestic product in 1991 to 1995 has been less then 1% per annum. This alarming condition which was prevalent in the 90s reveals the poverty-stricken condition of the people living in such countries (Helping to removing some of the Obstacles to Sustainable Development). Poverty remains an ingredient in the lives of millions and millions of people living in such Least Developed Countries. It has led to increased strife, conflicts, and other social and political problems in the countries (Assembly President Vows to Keep problems of Least Developed Countries at Forefront of International Concern, 1996). 1.2 Inadequacies of Aid and Some Solutions: In order to improve the economic, social, and environmental problems, there have been several serious attempts made by the United Nations as well as the other developed countries in the world. An analysis of the outcome of the aid given by the rich countries to the Least Developed Countries shows that economies of the 50 Least Developed Countries of the has grown by an average of 5.9% in 2004, which is recorded as the highest in two decades. This has happened mainly because the rich countries have doubled their aid to the Least Developed Countries in the years 1999 to 2004. There has also been a high demand for natural resources and oil, and even merchandise exportation in 2004 of US$57.8 billion and private foreign investment amounting to $10.7 billion, which are all records for the countries (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2006). Figure 1: the aforementioned figure presents a pictorial view of the net ODA, which is being disbursed to Least Developed Countries from donors (dollars) (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2006). Owing to the benefits being meted to the Least Developed Countries, several countries have increased their merchandise exports by 20% in 2004. Out of such countries, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, and Yemen have a considerable share in imports, importing mainly oil; but there are other countries which have a good record in merchandise exportation and such countries include Bangladesh, Senegal, and Cambodia (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2006). A significant increase in aid has also been given for the development of areas such as education, health, trade, and even debt relief and emergency situations (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2006). WTO also helps the Least Developed Countries in many arenas such as food, improvement in market and trade opportunities, encouraging countries such as Canada, UK, New Zealand, US, European Union, and many others to ‘drop barriers’ and offer duty-free treatment to Least Developed Country exporters, and many others (World Trade Organisation, 2001). Regarding the environmental problems of the Least Developed Countries, there ahs been considerable development too. Least Development Countries have realised the importance of preserving wildlife sources, and integrating their environmental considerations into their different economic and other policy programmes. For example, there are several Least Developed Countries which have ‘established a National Environmental Management Programme (NEMP)’ and other plans to improve the environmental conditions, by giving education on environmental preservation and raising awareness among the people (Helping to removing some of the Obstacles to Sustainable Development). To address the water problems in the Least Developed Countries of the world, a programme of action has been adopted in Brussels in 2001, which prioritises the need for clean water availability for sanitation, health, as well as nutrition factors. This programme aims to provide and help Least Developed Countries to have an access to water by 2015. The countries are also encouraged to maintain and provide their support for the development of infrastructure, which includes water (Chowdhury, 2003). The report published in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2006, further shows that there has been an uneven distribution of aid from the rich countries to the Least Developed Countries. For example, the aid increase was mainly for increasing debt relied as well as assistance in emergency situations. 30% of such increase straight went to Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To deal with the poverty-stricken people of the Least Developed Countries, scores of developed countries are offering assistance in providing sanctuaries to refugees and displaced people (Assembly President Vows to Keep problems of Least Developed Countries at Forefront of International Concern, 1996). According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (2006), more aid has to be channelled properly into the building of productive bases of LDC economies, as productive jobs will be able to uplift the living standards, help in production of products, especially products of ‘increasing complexity and value-added’, increase unemployment, and even reduce pressures of international migration. 1.4 Conclusion: An analysis of the essay reveals that the Economic and Social Council (2004), conducts a survey once in every there years and identifies the Least Developed Countries of the world on the basis of some criteria such as low-income, economic vulnerability, and human resource weakness criteria. The main problems of the Least Developed Countries remain poverty, economic and social deterioration, water, environmental and trade problems, among many others. Studies show that even today, there are widespread water-borne diseases due to degraded and unclean water conditions, including underground water in many Least Developed Countries. Besides, there are economic problems, widespread poverty, as well as environmental problems and conservation problems which hinder their exportation and trading too. Organisations such as World Trade Organisation, United Nations, together with all developed countries are trying to help the Least Developed Countries in numerous small as well as big ways. Results show that although in some circumstances, the Least Developed Countries have improved in their conditions, they still exhibit an irregular pattern of development, such as a short phase marked by a burst of development and advancement followed by a phase of decline in all areas (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2006). Thus, although there is a continuous help and aid being meted to such Least Developed Countries, aid has to be monitored and distributed in a uniform way. Countries should also take care and use the aid provided in the best possible manner. Only through the combined efforts of the International bodies, developed countries, and the Least Developed Countries, the conditions of the Least Developed Countries can improve. 1.5 References: Department of Public Information, Public Inquiries Unit 2004, ‘Fact Sheet’, Available at: http://www.un.org/geninfo/faq/factsheets/FS20.HTM United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, ‘Aid to Least Developed Countries Increases, but is mainly driven by Debt Relief and Emergencies’, Available at http://www.unctad.org/TEMPLATES/webflyer.asp?docid=7109&intItemID=1528&lang=1 Chowdhury, Anwarul K. 2003, ‘12th International Conference “Health and Environment: Global Partners for Global Solutions” on the theme “Water and Health: Problems and Solutions”, The World Information Transfer, Inc., in Collaboration with the Government of Ukraine and The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Counties, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Developing States, Available at: http://www.un.org/special-rep/ohrlls/ohrlls/hr%20statement%2024%20APR%2003%20-%20WORLD%20INFORMATION%20TRANSFER.htm Current Debt Situation of Developing Countries and Countries in Transition, Available at: http://www.cepal.org/publicaciones/xml/6/4306/lcl1230i.pdf#search=%22what%20are%20least%20developed%20countries%20and%20problems%20and%20solutions%22 European Union @ United Nations 2001, ‘Poverty Fight in Least Developed Countries, Available at: http://www.europa-eu-un.org/articles/en/article_126_en.htm The WTO Multilateral Trade Agenda and the South, ‘Part IV: Issues Related to Least Developed Countries and Accession to the WTO’, Available at: http://www.southcentre.org/publications/wto/wtopaper-06.htm World Trade Organization 2001, ‘DOHA WTO Ministerial: Least Developed Countries: Towards Free Markets Access for Least-Developed Countries’, Available at: http://www.wto.org/english/theWTO_e/minist_e/min01_e/brief_e/brief03_e.htm ‘Assembly President Vows to Keep problems of Least Developed Countries at Forefront of International Concern’, Science Blog 1996, Available at http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/archives/L/1996/B/un961535.html Vossenaar, Rene, ‘Helping to Removing some of the Obstacles to Sustainable Development’, Available at: http://www.unctad.org/trade_env/test1/topics/ldc.htm Read More