My Development Philosophy
My general development philosophy is that people should be able to improve their lives without destroying their natural resources. Furthermore, it is imperative to preserve natural resources, since “Environmental degradation stunts people’s capabilities in many ways, going beyond incomes and livelihoods to include impacts on health, education and other dimensions of well-being” (UNDP, 2011).
The term “sustainable development” has come to mean multiple things in recent history. I define it as any project or program that seeks to hit the triple bottom line, or has economic, environmental, and social goals. These goals are not added as separate features to a program or project or as an afterthought, as a company might do by having a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, but rather environmental, economic and social concerns are included within the structure of the mission statement and design.
This holds particularly true for preserving freshwater resources, because without water, no living thing on this planet survives. Lack of access to fresh water can lead to severe health complications, especially for the very young and elderly. By ensuring people have access to clean drinking water now, while maintaining a certain level of quality and quantity for the future, we are ensuring the survival of our species.
We have finite freshwater resources, and with climate change, the locations of those resources will change, as well as the quantities of water held within them. Currently many people, organizations, and governments treat water as if it will always be there. With changes in water quality from contamination, in conjunction with the potential changes from climate change, it has never been more critical to take care of the freshwater resources on Earth, not just for their intrinsic values, but also for the survival of our species. It is possible with advances in technology, such as desalination, that we will essentially be able to create sources of potable water. Unfortunately, a) we do not currently have the technology for this, b) we do not have the regulations in place to monitor these processes properly, c) it is very expensive, d) we need to preserve the biodiversity held within freshwater resources, and e) we do not want to save one resource only to find we have now placed an undue burden on other resources, such as the oceans. With the development of new technologies regarding fresh water, there is also the risk that only wealthy developed countries and peoples will have access to these technologies, while poorer less developed nations will be left to struggle.
As such, my vision for the future is one in which communities in the developing world protect their freshwater resources while simultaneously improving their livelihoods. The first aspect of this goal is to ensure that all people have access to clean water. As stated before, humans need clean water to survive. With our current technology and our increasing global interconnectedness, it is cruel that not all people on this planet have access to clean drinking water. We have the technologies, but socio-economic and political differences prevent all people from having this human right. Most countries do not legally entitle their citizens to access to potable water. In conjunction, most countries do not place importance on the value of their natural resources, both to humans and their intrinsic values. Ethically, as a global community, we need to start taking responsibility for each other and for our actions concerning the planet.
Without addressing the needs of people, especially local communities, environmental projects have no hope for significant positive change. People must have their basic needs filled and must understand how their needs are tied to environmental resources and problems. Thus, by providing access to potable water while educating communities on the nature of their freshwater resources, I can hope those communities will then take pride in their natural resources. If I do my job correctly, those same people will then want to protect their freshwater resources, both for themselves and for future generations. True sustainability can only occur over generations, and not solely during a period of three to five years, the current average time period of a non-profit or government-funded water program in the developing world.
Sustainability is the most fundamental aspect of my development philosophy. The sustainability of benefits for environmental projects is essential for success. For example, if the goal of a project is to protect an endangered species, doing so for only the time of the project, perhaps five years, will not in all likelihood make a significant difference for the long-term survival of the species. To this end, it is imperative that the communities involved in the environmental project also retain the benefits from the project, in order to minimize the chances of continued destructive behaviors toward the environment. To this end, all projects and programs I design must have realistic goals, adequate timelines, and fully developed exit strategies before any activities are implemented. Of course, as projects progress, it is important to evaluate progress and then tweak the conservation/development plans to match the present conditions. Conservation and development projects do not exist in a vacuum, but rather are living documents that need to be adapted as they proceed.
Secondly, to achieve my vision, I will ensure that in as much as it is possible, I will always have direct causations between my targets and their direct threats. Having direct workflows ensures that all activities will directly address the stated problems, which will ultimately lead to sustainable solutions. I will also always have an exit strategy to ensure the sustainability of benefits to both the people and the environment.
Moreover, I strongly believe in facilitating solutions for environmental problems and the need for education. As an environmentalist working in the developing world, I will always have an agenda for my development projects. That agenda is the idea that people can create better lives for themselves without destroying their natural resources. In fact, by maintaining those natural resources, communities will have a greater likelihood of sustaining the benefits derived from development activities. I recognize this bias, but I also recognize that it is imperative that my role be as a facilitator to help people realize how critical these natural resources are. This is not to say that I do not firmly believe in the importance of education, since this is also a cornerstone of my development philosophy, as mentioned above. With projects that address environmental as well as development goals, it is often necessary to educate local populations on their natural resources before any further conservation plans can be implemented. Educating young people on the importance of local environmental resources can be fundamental in establishing an appreciation and ownership of local natural resources.
Aside from contributing to the survival of the species, access to clean drinking water has profound social implications for a community. With regular access to clean drinking water, girls and women do not have to spend the majority of their days transporting water. Girls can then go to school for longer, increasing the educational levels within a community and reducing the gender gap. With greater access to clean water community members are then more productive. People have fewer health ailments, which adds to the productiveness of a community and decreases burdens on families and health care systems. I value human lives. I value increasing educational levels and livelihoods. I value decreasing the gender gap. I also value water for its intrinsic value, that of existing in nature. I value the fish and other biota that live in waterways, not just for their importance to people, but also for existing on this planet.
I have lived in communities where the people do not always have access to clean drinking water. In those same communities, people do not view their water resources as precious. They place waste directly into waterways, as well as indirectly contaminating the water. I have seen how this lack of understanding and appreciation for natural resources has only served to make community members’ lives more difficult every day. By focusing on freshwater issues combining social, environmental, and economic needs, I hope to change the world. I will use tactics such as directly linking all my targets, threats, and goals, facilitating solutions for adult learning in order to promote change, incorporating exit strategies into the original plans for projects and programs, and partnering with others who want to achieve the same goals but fill niches my organization cannot. I will always remember that it is necessary to promote behavioral change that will be continued after my team has left an area; awareness is not enough. I will monitor and evaluate my work, and if we are not achieving targets, I will speak with my team and correct our course. For all my work, I will attempt to scale up my ventures to achieve the best results possible for the world. In this way I will hold true to my development vision and I will succeed.
Works Cited
Freireich, J. and K. Fulton. 2009. Investing for Social & Environmental Impact: A Design for Catalyzing an Emerging Industry.” Monitor Institute.
Kubzansky, M., A. Cooper, and V. Barbary. 2011. “Market-Based Solutions to Poverty in Africa: Executive Summary.” Promise and Progress.
Olsen, S. and B. Galimidi. 2009. “Managing Social and Environmental Impact: A New Discipline for a New Economy.” Brown Journal of World Affairs. Vol XV, Issue II.
Seville, D. et al. Summary Paper. “Under What Conditions Are Value Chains Effective Tools for Pro-Poor Development?” International Institute for Environment and Development.
UNDP. 2011. “Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All.” Human Development Report 2011.
Kubzansky, M., A. Cooper, and V. Barbary. 2011. “Market-Based Solutions to Poverty in Africa: Executive Summary.” Promise and Progress.
Olsen, S. and B. Galimidi. 2009. “Managing Social and Environmental Impact: A New Discipline for a New Economy.” Brown Journal of World Affairs. Vol XV, Issue II.
Seville, D. et al. Summary Paper. “Under What Conditions Are Value Chains Effective Tools for Pro-Poor Development?” International Institute for Environment and Development.
UNDP. 2011. “Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All.” Human Development Report 2011.