This comprehensive survey presents a critical analysis of the United Nations programs that offer aid to developing countries for their economic and social growth. Explaining in detail the political struggles and considerations underlying the birth of each of the programs, this study covers the inherent flaws in their conceptualization while analyzing the growth and changes in structure over the last five decades. This reference explores the chronic problems encountered in implementation, discussing the need for further progress in coordination, and for simplifying the legislative decision-making structure relating to development aid.

The UN and Development provides the first comprehensive overview of the development policies and activities of the United Nations system from the late 1940s to the present. With an explicit focus on the history of the ideas that have been generated, institutionalized, and implemented by UN organizations, this book examines changing trends in development paradigms from the concept of technical assistance to underdeveloped countries, as they were called in the late 1940s, to development cooperation in the 21st century. Olav Stokke traces this fascinating story and demonstrates the UN's essential role and its future challenges in aiding the least developed countries and the globe's billion poorest inhabitants.