Types of aid

• Development aid


  • Development aid given to developing countries to support long-term development
  • Most aid comes from governments, IGOs and NGOs
  • E.g. £12 billion from UK per year, developed countries agree to give 0.7% of their GNI per year to underdeveloped countries
  • Effectiveness - Can be spent on infrastructure, education and healthcare
• Trade embargoes


  • Government or international ban on trade
  • Political tool used to encourage policy change
  • E.g. 1980s - UN embargo on oil and military supplies to South Africa to end Apartheid
  • Effectiveness - No, countries can easily get around (Russia)
• Military aid


  • Money, weapons, or equipment given to developing countries to defend their borders or kill terrorists
  • Sometimes given to rebel groups fighting for democracy
  • OECD changed definition of aid to include military aid in 2016
  • E.g. USA and UK have sent vehicles and armour to Syrian rebel groups fighting against President Assad
  • Effective - Mixed, tackles extremism but less money is spent on poverty reduction
• Direct military action


  • Last resort - air, strikes, troops, etc
  • E.g. 2003 - USA and UK missiles in Iraq
  • Effectiveness - Effective
• Indirect military action


  • Military and political assistance
  • E.g. 2017 - British army trained Nigerians to fight Boko Haram
  • Effectiveness - Effective