3.2 Opportunities and Limits of Development Cooperation
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3.2 Opportunities and Limits of Development Cooperation
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Ich kann ...- ... verschiedene Nichtregierungsorganisationen (NGOs) nennen.
- ... erklären, was eine NGO ist, sowie die Bereiche, in denen sie tätig sind, beschreiben.
- ... Kritik an der Arbeit von NGOs äußern, aber auch deren Potentiale benennen.
- ... die Bedeutung der aktuellen Praxis der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit Deutschlands darlegen und erläutern.
- ... die zentralen Kritikpunkte an ODA wiedergeben und dazu eine eigene Stellungnahme abgeben.
- ... eine strukturierte Diskussion zu einem Thema führen.
- ... verschiedene Standpunkte zu einem Thema einnehmen und vor der Klasse vertreten.
- ... meinen Mitschülern zuhören und auf ihre Argumente eingehen.
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Intro: NGOs - hands of hope?
source: Unsplash+ by Getty Images
1. Brainstorm which non-governmental organizations you already know. Write them on a card and post them.
https://oncoo.de/myro
Have you ever thought about doing a voluntary social year with an NGO after graduation? Exchange experiences in class.
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Activity 1: Podcast "Generation Aid: Young Changemakers in NGOs"
Lisa is a student and since her graduation she has been volunteering with Oxfam.
In a podcast series about NGO´s she reports on her work and her experiences.
Listen to the podcast and find out how NGOs work. Then check your knowledge here.
Complete the fact sheet.
You can check your solutions here. -
Activity 2 Group A: German development cooperation - more than bike paths in Peru?
Germany's financial support for other countries is repeatedly the subject of criticism. The latest controversy in the media was the report that German funds are being used to build bicycle paths in Peru at a cost of several million euros. What is the basis for this criticism? How much money does Germany actually spend on development aid each year? And what is it used for?
1 Research Assignment: Research the most important facts and figures about German development assistance on the website of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and take notes on the collaborative document.
Test yourself by doing the multiple choice activity. .
2 Watching Assignment: Watch the following YouTube video "Diskussionen über Kürzungen in der Entwicklungshilfe" with former SPD Development Minister Schulze (2024).
If the YouTube video is no longer available or you would prefer to complete a reading assignment, you can find an adapted version of the interview here. List at least three arguments that former SPD Development Minister Schulze uses to justify spending on development aid. Create a table and list criticism of development aid spending in one column and Schulze's arguments against budget cuts in the other. Create a table and list criticism of development aid spending in one column and Schulze's arguments against budget cuts in the other.
Develop your own interview questions that you would ask Svenja Schulze on a specific topic related to development aid. Conduct a simulated interview in pairs, with one person playing the role of Schulze and the other asking the questions.
Leave your assignments in the student folder.--------------------------------------------------------
For more information on Germany´s official development cooperation (ODA), visit the website of the BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) and discover what is being done, how much money is raised annually and where it goes. On the transparancy portal of the BMZ you´ll find projects worldwide where Germany is currently active.
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Activity 2 Group B: Is aid helping or hindering development?
After decades of development aid and many billions of dollars pumped into the African continent, millions of people still live there in absolute poverty. "How can that be?", asks the Zambian economist Dambisa Moyo, author of Dead Aid (2010), a book in which she criticises the practice of Western development aid.
1 Research assignment: Work in small groups to research the development aid that has been given to Africa in recent decades. Take notes on the collaborative document.
2 Watching Assignment: On YouTube you can find interviews where Moyo explains her criticism and presents alternatives for Africa. Watch the video "Is Aid Killing Africa?" and summarise her most important statements.
If the YouTube is no longer available or you would prefer to complete a reading task, you can find an adapted version of the interview here. List at least three arguments Dambisa Moyo uses to criticize development aid in Africa. Identify and write down the key arguments that Dambisa Moyo presents against development aid in Africa. Additionally, note two of her suggestions for improving the situation in African countries. List Dambisa Moyo's main arguments against development aid in Africa and the suggestions she offers for improving the situation in African countries. Then watch Katharina Jung's TEDx Talk. She is a young German changemaker and the founder of GlobalMatch. Add to Moyo's criticism by highlighting further points from her speech.Why we need to transform development aid. | Katharina Jung | TEDxUniMannheim (youtube.com)
Test yourself:
For more inspiration:
Entwicklungspolitik - Wider den gut gemeinten Paternalismus (deutschlandfunkkultur.de)
Leave your assignments in the student folder. -
Task: Let´s debate - "Should official development cooperation for Africa be put on hold?"
Unsplash+ -
Organize Teams:
- Group A: The Proposition (supporting development aid)
- Group B: The Opposition (against development aid)
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Review Arguments: Each team should revisit the arguments they developed during the group work on development aid in Africa.
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Anticipate Counterarguments: Think about the arguments the opposing team might make and prepare responses to counter those points.
Here you will find an overview of the structure of a debate.
In class, reflect on which of the four arguments on each side were the strongest. Rank them and record them in the table.
Think together about how the debate influenced your opinion on the topic.
If you want to further develop your debating skills, sign up for the Moodle course “Words, not Weapons! - Debating in Global Studies.” -
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Reflection: Glam Aid
Look at a picture of a celebrity (e.g. this one with Angelina Jolie) who is working in a developing country and is pictured with children or local people. Pay attention to the emotions conveyed by the picture and the way the celebrity is portrayed.
Divide into groups of 3-4 students and briefly discuss the following questions:
Think about how power and privilege play a role in the portrayal of development aid. How does the origin of the aid providers (e.g. prominent white people) influence the perception of the recipients (e.g. black children)?
To what extent might the portrayal of white aid workers distort the reality of the people who need help or reinforce stereotypes?
After the discussion in the groups, each group gives a short summary of their most important thoughts and findings (max. 1-2 minutes per group).
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