The Effectiveness of the United Nations, Through the United Nations Development Program, in the Economic Rebuilding of South Africa

Abstract

With a vast amount of resources, the Republic of South Africa indeed has the capacity to provide basic social services to its people. An abundant supply of minerals, raw materials and cheap labor, together with an advanced infrastructure, good telecommunications and energy supply networks, will make possible for the development of the country. However, the legitimization of racial discrimination in South Africa paved the way for economic exploitation and vast inequities that eventually hampered the advancement of the country. The country is characterized by widespread poverty, increasing unemployment rate, racial and class divisions, and high inequality level. These problems had its roots back at the apartheid era, wherein racial discrimination was legitimized. Apart from the social consequences, economic repercussions came about as a result of this segregation policy. The post-immediate apartheid era gave the government a formidable challenge of restructuring the economy and the whole system itself that was corrupted by the discriminative system. And since the government was not able to achieve this, there is a need for the United Nations to extend assistance to South Africa. Committed to bring about social and economic development, the United Nations, through the UN Development Program, implemented policies and frameworks to facilitate the country's development. Has the United Nations able to achieve its primary goal of reducing poverty and inequality in South Africa? Has it promoted economic development? Hence, it is the prime objective of this study to determine whether or not the United Nations, through the UNDP, is effective in the economic rebuilding of South Africa.