001 - International Organisations

Geographic Knowledge and Understanding

The roles of international organisations (such as the World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organisations of the United Nations, and World Health Organisation), governments and NGOs in combating food insecurity and disease.

Concept

The power to effect change to eradicate diseases and reduce food security is often in the hands of NGOs, governments and International Organisations.

Aims

To have knowledge and understanding of the role of international organisations, governments and NGOs have in combating food insecurity and disease.
To be able to use a range of examples to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding.

Key Terminology

- - - - Food Insecurity
        Chokepoints

Define the key terms above by using the 'Useful Links' below.

Useful Links

- - - - Food and Agriculture Organisation Definition - Food Insecurity
        Wikipedia Definition - Chokepoints

Activity One - Describe

Before we look at how different organisations approach trying to increase food security in different regions of the world we need to look at whether food security is actually an issue?

- 1. Find six newspaper headings to suggest that food security is a problem in both high and low income countries (three for both).
  2. Discuss your findings with the group.
  3. Watch the two YouTube clips below. The first one highlights issue of hunger within the USA and the second one was raising money for a UK food bank trust this Christmas. It is to show how relevant the issue of hunger is, even in high income countries.

Sesame Street

Growing Hope Against Hunger

Trussel Trust

UK Food Bank Charity - The Trussell Trust and LadBaby- 5 Christmas Number 1s

Activity Two - World Food Programme

The World Food Programme was set up in 1961 with the principle aim to provide food aid in emergencies and to aid in the development of countries. It is now the largest humanitarian agency that aims to fight hunger. Answer the following questions:

- 1. What is the World Food Programme?
  2. What are the aims of the World Food Programme?
  3. How is the World Food Programme funded?
  4. Write a description of the recent action taken by the World Food Programme to combat food insecurity. You could do a quick Google search for this or have a search around the World Food Programme website.

Useful Resources

History of the World Food Programme

Activity Three - Food and Agriculture Organisation

The Food and Agriculture Organisation is a specialised agency that was devised to try and help defeat hunger. The organisation works in over 130 countries and has 194 Member States today. The FAO was set up in 1945 in Quebec City. Answer the following questions:

- 1. What is the Food and Agriculture Organisation?
  2. What are the aims of the Food and Agriculture Organisation?
  3. How is the Food and Agriculture Organisation funded?
  4. Write a description of the recent action taken by the Food and Agriculture Organisation to combat food insecurity. You could do a quick Google search for this or have a search around the Food and Agriculture Organisation website.

Useful Resources

About the Food and Agriculture Organisation

Activity Four - World Health Organisation

The WHO's aim is to build '...a better, healthier future for people all over the world.' It was set up in 1948 and now works with 194 Member States of the UN to try and combat diseases. Answer the following questions:

- 1. What is the World Health Organisation?
  2. What are the aims of the World Health Organisation?
  3. How is the World Health Organisation funded?
  4. Write a description of the recent action taken by the World Health Organisation to create a healthy future for all. You could do a quick Google search for this or have a search around the World Health Organisation website.

Useful Resources

About the World Health Organisation

Activity Five - NGO for Food - Trussell Trust

The Trussell Trust aims to help the 14 million people in the UK who are currently living below the poverty line. It has over 400 food banks across the UK and hands out free emergency food to get people through three days. The trust was set up in 1997 to help feed starving children in Bulgaria but was prompted to help people much closer to home after a phone call from a parent in the UK. In 2004 the trust went national to develop the Foodbank Network in collaboration with churches and now supports 1000s of people a year. Answer the following questions:

- 1. What is the Trussell Trust?
  2. What are the aims of the Trussell Trust?
  3. How is the Trussell Trust funded?
  4. Write a description of the recent action taken by the Trussell Trust to provide food to people. You could do a quick Google search for this or have a search around the Trussell Trust website (their website gives you lots of statistics).

Useful Resources

About the Trussell Trust

Activity Six - NGO for Disease - NothingButNets

This is a grassroots NGO that aims to raise money to fight malaria. It was set up in 2006 by a columnist for Sports Illustrated who wanted to raise money to protect families in malaria hit areas. The NGO has gone from strength to strength has been essential in helping to prevent, treat and train people about malaria. Answer the following questions:

- 1. What is Nothing But Nets?
  2. What are the aims of the Nothing But Nets?
  3. How is the Nothing But Nets funded?
  4. Write a description of the recent action taken by the Nothing But Nets do to combat malaria. You could do a quick Google search for this or have a search around the Nothing But Nets website (their website gives you lots of statistics).

Useful Resources

About Nothing But Nets

Activity Seven - Governments

I could force you to look at a particular government to illustrate how they help to reduce the incident of disease and increase food security but I am going to give you free rein to decide on which country you would like to focus on. Answer the following questions:

- 1. From what you have already found out, how have countries been involved in reducing disease and increasing food security?
  2. For a country of your choice, describe how that government has taken action to combat food insecurity both within their own country and abroad.
  3. For a country of your choice, describe how that government has taken action to combat disease both within their own country and abroad.

Exam Style Question

'NGOs play a larger role in combating either disease or food insecurity that government organisations.' Discuss [10 marks]

This lesson was development in collaboration with Richard Allaway from geographyalltheway. For more resources please visit www.geographyalltheway.com

Report abuse