How do the WHO, aid and NGOs work to improve global health and human development?
The priorities of the World Health Organization, the types of aid including emergency, bilateral and multilateral aid, the role of non-government organisations, and the Australian Government's aid program
VCE HHD Unit 4 AoS 2 on the WHO's priorities, emergency, bilateral and multilateral aid, NGOs and the Australian aid program.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point asks you to describe the role and priorities of the WHO, define the types of aid, explain the role of NGOs, and outline the Australian Government's aid program - then evaluate how effective these actions are in promoting health and human development.
The World Health Organization (WHO)
The WHO is the United Nations agency that directs and coordinates international health. Its broad role is to provide leadership on global health matters, set norms and standards, shape the research agenda, provide technical support to countries, and monitor and assess health trends.
Its priorities include achieving universal health coverage, addressing health emergencies (such as disease outbreaks and pandemics), and promoting healthier populations by acting on the determinants of health. These priorities link closely to SDG 3.
Types of aid
- Emergency aid (humanitarian aid) - rapid assistance given to people in immediate distress, such as after a natural disaster, conflict or famine, providing food, shelter, water and medical care.
- Bilateral aid - aid given directly from the government of one country to the government of another, often tied to agreed priorities.
- Multilateral aid - aid provided through an international organisation (such as the WHO or the United Nations) that pools contributions from many governments to fund large-scale programs.
Non-government organisations (NGOs)
NGOs are non-profit organisations that operate independently of government, such as Oxfam, World Vision and the Red Cross. They deliver programs on the ground, advocate for change, respond to emergencies and often work directly with communities to build long-term capacity.
The Australian Government's aid program
Australia's overseas aid program provides assistance focused largely on the Indo-Pacific region. It aims to promote stability, prosperity, and development by supporting areas such as health, education, gender equality, governance, infrastructure and humanitarian response. Australia delivers aid bilaterally, multilaterally and through partnerships with NGOs.
When you evaluate global health action, name the body or aid type, describe what it does, then judge its effectiveness against criteria such as reach, sustainability, the determinants addressed and the SDG targets it advances.