Gender & Development 5 - The Concept of Development and Sustainable Development PDF

COURSE TITLE: GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA (GPDG 122Ba) The Concept of Development and Sustainable Development Ayine Akolgo [email protected] What is Development? What is Development?  What is Development? v In your own words,...

COURSE TITLE: GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA (GPDG 122Ba) The Concept of Development and Sustainable Development Ayine Akolgo [email protected] What is Development? What is Development?  What is Development? v In your own words, how would you describe development? v Is Development the same as Modernization? High-rise shiny buildings and first-class roads, hospitals, schools, high national per capita income, GDP, Industrialization, etc.? v How do you determine which country is developed and which is less developed? And who determines that? v How is development related to gender? Why should we care?  What is Development? _ 1 Kwesi Kwaa Prah, a Ghanaian sociologist, defines it as: The improvement and upliftment of the quality of life of people, that they are able to attain their potential, build and acquire self-confidence, and manage to live lives of reasonable accomplishment and dignity. (Kwasi Kwaa Prah 2001, p. 91)  What is Development? _ 2 Amartya Sen, a Nobel prize winning economist defines it as: Development can be seen as a process of expanding real freedoms that people enjoy. Focusing on human freedoms contrast with the narrower views of development, such as identifying development with the growth of gross national product, or with the rise in personal incomes, or with industrialisation or with technological advance, or with social modernisation. (Amartya Sen, 1999 p.3)  What is Development? _ 3 The United Nations Declaration of the Rights to Development views development as a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process, which aims at the constant improvement of the well- being of the entire population and of all individuals on the basis of their active, free and meaningful participation in development and in the fair distribution of benefits resulting therefrom. v This implies that development should be a positive, and desirable improvement and must be sustainable.  What do all these mean to us? v improvement v ? quality of life v are able to v attain their potential v lives of reasonable accomplishment and dignity v process v expanding real freedoms v comprehensive v constant improvement v entire population v all individuals v active, free and meaningful participation v fair distribution of benefits What is Sustainable Development? ? What is Sustainable Development? ?  What is Sustainable Development? Sustainable development means present development of available resources will not compromise the ability of future generation to meet their needs (Pickering & Owen, 1994).  What is Sustainable Development? Sustainable Development Society Economy Environment v Welfare v Economic growth v Consumption of resources v Equal Opportunity v Efficiency & competitiveness v Materials & wastes v Social cohesion v Flexibility & stability v Risks v International solidarity v Production / consumption v Rate of change v Maintenance of human capital v Employment v Natural & cultural landscape v International trade  Why is gender a development issue? v All aspects of life are gendered - family life, work, and livelihoods, sexuality, social relations, access to opportunities, etc. v Established social structures or institutions have gendered dimensions which will influence the processes and impact of development. 1. THE FAMILY– the basic unit of society 2. TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY– chieftaincy, lineage 3. INSTITUTIONS OF MODERN GOVERNANCE – district assemblies, parliament, judiciary, etc. 4. ECONOMIC STRUCTURES – labour organisations, employment patterns (formal and informal)  Why is gender a development issue? _ 2 v Every development policy, program, or project is gendered…. ü in nature (its assumptions, goals, and implementation) ü in the assignment of roles, responsibilities, benefits and ü in impact  UN Sustainable Development Goals _ 1 v United Nations has 17 sustainable development goals. v The goals are supposed to be achieved by the year 2030 globally. 1. No Poverty: End extreme poverty in all forms everywhere; 2. Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. 3. Good Health and Well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well- being for all at ages. 4. Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all;  UN Sustainable Development Goals 5. Gender Equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; 6. Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; 7. Affordable and Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; 9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation;  UN Sustainable Development Goals _ 2 10. Reduce Inequalities: Reduce inequality within and among countries; 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; 12. Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns; 13. Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; 14. Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and water marine resources for sustainable development;  UN Sustainable Development Goals _ 3 15. Life on Land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss; 16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels; 17. Partnership for the Goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. UN Sustainable Development Goals _ 4  FORM GROUPS – for Presentations v GROUP 1: Education v GROUP 2: Health v GROUP 3: Economics/employment v GROUP 4: Politics/leadership v GROUP 5: Sports, and v GROUP 6: Religion TOTAL OF 123 / 6 Approximately 20 in each group  FORMAT for Presentations v Introduction and statement of purpose – what do you want us to know? What do you want to tell us? v What is the nature of the problem? How serious is it? Statistics? Cases, examples, pictures, scenarios? v What do you think are the causes of the problem? v How do you propose that this problem is addressed? EACH PRESENTATION WILL BE FOR 10 minutes