Preface

**Section 4 Human Development/Institutional Strengthening 133**

Chapter 8 **Developing Competencies for Rural Development Project**

**Management through Local Action Groups: The Punta Indio**

Ricardo Stratta Fernández, Ignacio de los Ríos Carmenado and

**Development in Africa 135**

**VI** Contents

**(Argentina) Experience 153**

Miriam López González

Gabriel Staicu and Razvan Barbulescu

Chapter 7 **A Study of the Relationship between Foreign Aid and Human**

Development is a multidimensional process involving positive changes in social structures, popular attitudes, and the acceleration of economic growth. The end result is a reduction in equality and eradication of absolute poverty. According to the United Nations Development Program, the components of development are improved life sustenance, equity, empower‐ ment, and sustainability. In the realm of international development, nations are expected to strive for the ability to provide the basic necessities of life without which life will be mean‐ ingless. No matter how fast a nation grows, if only a small segment of the population bene‐ fits from it, then development hasn't addressed inequities. Empowerment implies giving leverage to the poor and marginalized people to participate in decisions affecting their lives. Finally, sustainability implies that the development of a nation must be in harmony with the environment in both the short and the long run. The finiteness of a nation's natural resour‐ ces requires it to consider the prospects of a sustainable future. In other words, development must be conducted in ways that meet the needs of the present generation without compro‐ mising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The converging effects should indicate in time a rise in the standard of living or favorable changes in the way of life of the citizenry.

It is in the light of this that this book brings together leading researchers in the field of inter‐ national development to examine issues relating to food security, health, rural development, human development, and institutional strengthening in developing countries. Using empiri‐ cal research, the book discusses a variety of topics including nutrition-sensitive agricultural development in South Africa, household food security in Tanzania, medical research in Egypt, child mortality in Christian and Islamic countries, spot improvement of rural roads in Asia and Africa, resilience in natural disaster, the relationship between foreign aid and human development in Africa, and developing competencies for rural development project management through the creation of local action groups in Argentina.

This book must be seen as a wide brush stroke pointing the way to matters to be addressed in the latter volumes because it does not cover every important issue in international devel‐ opment. It is concise, insightful, and easy to understand and could serve as an important reference material on international development.

> **Seth Appiah-Opoku, PhD, AICP** Geography Department University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

**Section 1**
