DEVT 2005 - International Humanitarian and Development Aid

This course examines contemporary issues and trends about international humanitarian and development aid. The course explores debates and contested concepts about different types of international/foreign aid and their role and effectiveness in helping poor people in poor developing countries. The international aid structure, processes and effectiveness of humanitarian aid to countries and people in a humanitarian crisis, and of international development aid with the aim to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals will be discussed. By using case studies, topics such as the privatisation of aid, the emergence of ‘new’ donors, and issues of national security as a key concern in the aid and development landscape will be examined in depth. Over the course, students will be encouraged to think critically about the politics of humanitarian and international aid policy and practice at both a micro level (through the exploration of particular programs or donor approaches) and a macro level (through global frameworks and international policies).