International Data Sources
Transparency International: Transparency International is a global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption. It brings people together in a powerful worldwide coalition to end the devastating impact of corruption on men, women and children around the world. Transparency International challenges the inevitability of corruption, it raises awareness and diminishes apathy and tolerance of corruption, and devises and implements practical actions to address it. http://www.transparency.org
World Bank: The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. Our mission is to fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results and to help people help themselves and their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors. http://www.worldbank.org
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development: OECD brings together the governments of countries committed to democracy and the market economy from around the world to: Support sustainable economic growth, boost employment, raise living standards, maintain financial stability, assist other countries' economic development and contribute to growth in world trade. The Organisation provides a setting where governments seek answers to common problems, identify good practices and coordinate domestic and international policies. http://www.oecd.org/home/0,2987,en_2649_201185_1_1_1_1_1,00.html
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO: Leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information. We help developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all. Since our founding in 1945, we have focused special attention on developing rural areas, home to 70 percent of the world's poor and hungry people. http://www.fao.org
United Nations Millennium Development Goals: The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015 – form a blueprint agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the world’s leading development institutions. They have galvanized unprecedented efforts to meet the needs of the world’s poorest. http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals
United States Agency for International Development (USAID): The United States has a long history of extending a helping hand to those people overseas struggling to make a better life, recover from a disaster or striving to live in a free and democratic country. U.S. foreign assistance has a twofold purpose of furthering America's foreign policy interests in expanding democracy and free markets, while improving the lives of the citizens of the developing world. Spending less than one-half of 1 percent of the federal budget, USAID works around the world to achieve these goals. http://www.usaid.gov
The World Trade Organization (WTO): the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business. http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/statis_e.htm
Human Development Reports: Human Development is a development paradigm that is about much more than the rise or fall of national incomes. It is about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests. People are the real wealth of nations. Development is about expanding the choices people have to lead lives that they value. http://www.hdr.undp.org/en/statistics