$50 Billion to Save the World - Case Study Example

50 Billion to Save the World (Bolivia and South Sudan) Every individual dislikes poverty all over the world. However, the world is full of cases where people live in abject poverty. The war-torn South Sudan state could have better living standards if the war is overcome. On the other hand, a country with a high level of poverty such Bolivia requires measures that will ensure the future of the country and its citizens is guaranteed. With adequate funding and support from the respective governments, these countries can achieve a great success. Bolivia stands to benefit greatly if its people are empowered through training and education. On the other hand, peace building in South Sudan is a necessity for the country to reach a higher level of economic prosperity. Introduction Money has the capacity to influence a change in the world when it is well managed. Poverty is one of the major contributors of conflict in the world today. However, the insatiable nature of humans predisposes the world to conflict. In this essay, I will focus on the use of $ 50 billion dollars on improving the security situation in South Sudan as well as promoting education and training in Bolivia. South Sudan This is the youngest country in Africa that is located in the northeastern part. It gained its independence in 2011 from Sudan. Since then the country was engulfed by conflict with Sudan but later rival groups have been fighting in the country since then. The main issue contributing to the Sudan-Southern Sudan conflict has been oil wells in the border regions between the two countries. In addition, there has been a deep-seated rivalry between the two countries over decades. The internal wars are mainly as a result of tribalism. The ethnic groups have developed tension especially between the Dinka and the Nuer, others include the Azade and the Bari. The situation in South Sudan has been getting from worse to worst. In the recent past there was a massive killings in the country just one week after forty eight people were killed while others were injured in a UN base in Bor (Taylor & Abedine, 2014). The Dinka and the Nuer are on opposing ends after President Silva Kiir who is a Dinka sacked his vice President Reik Machar who is a Nuer (Olukya, 2014). To date the country is in conflict with some of its towns being dominated by militants while others under the control of the south Sudan army and peacekeeping forces. Apart from the ethnicity that is being seen to be spread by the leaders, the root of the problem comes from greed for power. Bolivia This one of the poorest countries in South America. In addition, the wealth that is present in the country is distributed inequitably across the regions. It is estimated that in the rural areas at least two out of three people live in abject poverty. This has facilitated the widening of the gap between the rich and the poor. On the other hand, a majority of the Bolivians live below the poverty line with women and children being the most affected (UNICEF, n.d). This is facilitated by the fact that a number of the rural population in Bolivia has no or little access to credit facilities, education, training, and health services. The levels of unemployment in the country are quite high. Worse enough, the young people in rural areas have limited access to education. A number of factors have contributed the predicaments of Bolivia. Firstly, the institutional capacity to develop some of the strategies required to alleviate poverty is limited. Secondly, while mining and farming are the major economic activities, their employability capacity does not meet the threshold of sustaining the employment needs in the country (Rural Poverty Portal, 2014). Thirdly, the country’s leadership has been incapable of developing proper natural resource management practices that would be beneficial to its people. Finally, there is a problem with access to the basic services such as healthcare, education, and proper sanitation (IFAD, 2014). All these among other aspects have greatly contributed to the increased poverty situation in Bolivia Recommended Policies in South Sudan The situation in South Sudan is a threat not only to the future of the country but also to the region. Lack of peace brings back development. Through the $ 50 billion financing, the funds will be channeled to peace building in South Sudan. The two rebel groups have conflicting interest with each side having its issues that it feels needs to be addressed. This means that the real cause of the problem emanates from the leaders and not the citizens. Peace building can be achieved through different interventions. These interventions do not have to necessarily target the citizens but their leaders. The first batch of the funds for peace building would be spent in developing negotiations and mediation between the leaders. The finances would be used for all the logistics required in meeting the leaders together as well as for hiring respected personalities to mediate the talks. Bothe sides are given a platform to present their issues. The immediate result that should be focused on, is the ending of the fighting between the government forces and the rebels. When this is achieved, then the negotiations can be done until a solution is reached. The demands of both parties should be carefully scrutinized and an agreement that is acceptable to both leaders reached. Part of the funds can also be used in peace building among the people. This can be done through integrated community activities such as joint projects, seminars, and trainings among others (Bell, 2003). One of the proposals would be to have an integrated economic activity that comprises of people from the four tribes in the country. For example, since the people rely a lot on pastoral farming, there can be established an integrated ranch that is kept under the management of a non-governmental organization established through this fund. The management would establish a committee that would see into the welfare of various groups. The committee would comprise of members of the different groups including the minority. Such a project would encourage integration of the communities hence there is reduced conflict in the region. The South Sudan culture is one that has greatly been affected by the culture of their neighbors. Most of the people from this region have fled to the neighboring countries in search of refuge where they have adopted foreign cultures. The leaders of warring pacts are educated individuals that understand the need for reconciliation, this means that there is flexibility in the introduction of the joint-project policy. On the other hand, the introduction of the dialogue and negotiations can be made possible when a renowned world leader such as the former Secretary General of UN, Kofi Annan is involved in mediating peace between the leaders. Due the respect, that he commands in the continent the two leaders would not hesitate to listen to him. The fact that the leaders have interacted with other world leaders breaks the barrier that they would be tied to their respective cultures. The most important aspect that can encourage unity between the leaders is the belief that their interests will be given a consideration. Recommended Policies for Bolivia Poverty is an aspect that should be fought all across the world. The poverty situation in Bolivia is contributed by factors that could be solved if adequate interventions are made. The country, which has less than ten million people, has the capacity to be self-reliance while ensuring that its citizens do not languish in poverty. The situation is quite critical, therefore making it possible to have both long-term and short-term interventions. Through the funding, the short-term intervention would be through provision of training while on the long-term, provision of quality education. To help facilitate these interventions. Some of the funds will be channeled to training the rural dwellers on basic skills such as weaving, art, tailoring, and carpentry among other skills that could help them generate some extra income. The locals can also be trained on good agricultural practices, which include the marketing of their products. To be realistic to the training, the fund can facilitate the establishment of a demonstration farm that would be used for the trainings. Where possible the famers can be encouraged to consolidate their farms in an endeavor to maximize their returns. The training is geared towards making the farmers realize the modern farming methods that could be more productive than the conventional methods. As a complement to this strategy, the fund can facilitate the acquisition of quality seed s for farmers as well as provision of water in order to encourage irrigation farming. The second intervention would be to invest in education. Education standards in Bolivia are quite poor especially in the rural areas. The rate of dropouts from school is high. To prevent this, the fund can be used in promoting the quality of education in three main ways. First, the fund would be channeled to curriculum development that would ensure the quality of education that is provided is relevant to the society (Buzaglo & Calzadilla, 2009). Secondly, the fund would be channeled towards the implementation of free and compulsory primary school education. This would facilitate the realization all the children get basic education throughout the country. In addition, to facilitate the realization of a successful free education, the schools in the rural areas where there is inadequate food to introduce a feeding program. Finally, to promote the quality of education, the fund would facilitate training of teachers through facilitation of refresher programs that would ensure the teachers are competent and provide a better quality of education that would prepare the pupils for their later life (Thiele, 2003). Still on education, the fund would subsidize the fees that are paid in the secondary education. This would ensure that after primary education the pupils get a chance to continue with their education without being influenced by the poverty levels. To ensure adequate benchmarking, the fund would sponsor though providing scholarships to the best one hundred students in the country to go and study in the developed countries such as US, Japan, Germany, UK and China. Comparison between Bolivia and South Sudan The context of South Sudan is greatly different from that of Bolivia, this makes it possible to develop different interventions for the situations in these countries. South Sudan has been marred with wars that have greatly derailed economic development in the country. If the country was peaceful, and the management of resources done well, the oil-rich country would be a role model for Africa. On the other hand, Bolivia is a country that has a high level of inequality that makes the rural dwellers to live in abject poverty. Education is the most appropriate intervention in Bolivia since it has the capacity of making people equal. On the other hand, peacebuilding is the only solutions that can help the state of South Sudan achieve prosperity. Conclusion Money is quite influential and it has the power to influence a number of things in the world. Peace building in the context of South Sudan, through negotiations and mediation for the leaders and joint projects for the locals can be facilitated through the $ 50 billion funding. On the other hand, the case of Bolivia requires interventions that can help focus on poverty in both the short-term and the long-term. This means that implementing training opportunities that empower the rural residents, then hey will be able to generate income and overcome poverty. Besides, implementation of a better education through free and compulsory education, curriculum development and teacher-training, the issue of poverty will be fought. References Bell, P. D. (2003). Fundamentals for peace-building in Sudan. The Christian Science Monitor Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/405661231?accountid=45049 Buzaglo, J., & Calzadilla, A. (2009). Towards a new consensus: Poverty reduction strategies for Bolivia. International Journal of Development Issues, 8(1), 18-39 IFAD, (n.d) Enabling Poor Rural people to overcome poverty in Bolivia. Retrieved from http://www.ifad.org/operations/projects/regions/pl/factsheet/bolivia_e.pdf Olukya, G.(April 23, 2014). South Sudan: mass killings blamed on hate broadcasts. The Africa Report. Retrieved from http://www.theafricareport.com/East-Horn-Africa/south-sudan-mass-killings-blamed-on-hate-broadcasts.html Rural Poverty Portal, (2014). Rural poverty in Bolivia. Retrieved from http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/country/home/tags/bolivia Taylor, P. & Abedine, S. (April 19, 2014). 48 killed in an attack on peacekeeper’s base in South Sudan, UN says. CNN. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/18/world/africa/south-sudan-un-attack/?hpt=bosread Thiele, R. (2003). The social impact of structural adjustment in bolivia. Journal of International Development, 15(3), 299. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/214916426?accountid=45049 UNICEF, (n.d). Bolivia: Situation of poverty in the country. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/bolivia/resources_2332.htm Read More