NATIONAL SURVEYS

by David Nuttle

After some successes with national development & security projects in developing nations, I was asked several times to do surveys by Third World governments seeking my advice on such subjects. In all cases, I found many common problems that impeded development for these nations.

To wit:

a) Incompetence, corruption, and nepotism made most government agencies ineffective.

b) One or more groups, in each nation, were socially, economically, and politically isolated for being in some way different than the leaders/ population in political control.

c) National debt and inadequate funds as well as resources were in short supply.

d) Borders were not totally secure and illegal migrants caused shortages/ disruptions.

e) Gangs, criminals, narco-terrorists, terrorists, and/or insurgents were present with the result being some internal insecurity.

f) Educational, job training, entrepreneurship instruction was marginal or deficient in some regard. There was little or no funds to support new business starts.

g) Economic development was not sufficient to provide meaningful employment for large numbers of youth.

h) Food insecurity, and inflation were common. Health services were poor as well as denied to some population segments based on discrimination.

i) Military and police forces were marginal, and they generally had dated equipment.

j) Industries were limited and created few exports with low production resulting in shortages.

k) Farms have soil fertility problems and irrigation water for crops was in short supply so low crop yields and food insecurity were significant problems.

l) Internal and external armed conflicts are a periodic national threat.

m) Outside support from the U. N. or others is limited and not always available.

n) Diseases and pandemics occur reducing numbers of healthy workers.

o) Good "safety nets" are seldom available and poverty impedes development.

p) In some cases. there was an existing threat of armed conflict with another nation.

q) Future generations are faced with massive national debts and continued problems.

Creation and sustaining a viable nation, benefiting all their populations, is a complex and very difficult task. (See the history of the rise and fall of nations.)