Month: December 2017

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Intersectionality in International Development

Intersectionality “recognizes that a group that inhabits multiple categories simultaneously has experiences that can be seen both as unique to that group and as a result of the overlap of individual categories (Davis, 209).” This concept demonstrates that multiple identities can be reflected on the same person. For example, a person with disabilities can also be a woman who comes from an indigenous community. In international development, to successfully carry out projects, intersectionality needs to be taken into account because it influences individual experiences that determine whether or not a project can be effective. Adoption of this concept can encourage inclusive development but also presents some drawbacks. Recognizing co-existence of identities means that there can be numerous different combinations of identities. The number of combinations can even be countless and creates an endless black hole for understanding of individual identities. What’s more, identity, after all, is a socially constructed concept. How a person perceives himself or herself could be different from the society’s perception. To take every individual’s perception into consideration would endlessly prolong the process of setting up a development project. There is a fine line between the appropriate level of recognizing intersectionality and going too far. Because of this challenge, the first step that can be taken by global policy-makers is to recognize different categories of identities.

The UN major groups and other stakeholders recognize twelve distinct groups of people who play a role in inclusive and sustainable development. One can argue that there is no need of identifying all twelve because some are included in the others. For example, “elderly persons” can be included in “farmers” and “indigenous people.” But this practice would fall into the trap of endless overlaps of identities. It would only slow down the multistakeholder governance process instead of helping it become more efficient. Therefore, it is necessary to expand major groups to other stakeholders like persons with disabilities. In fact, the categories need to be further expanded to meet the goals that reflect inclusiveness in Sustainable Development Goals.

Identifying intersectionality in itself is a grand challenge. It is an issue that is still being debated in the academia. There is not yet a definite answer of how to address it appropriately in international development. One thing that can be done, however, is to recognize more distinct groups of people and organizations that are under the influence of and can contribute to sustainable and inclusive development. This will help mobilize more members of international society to address the grand challenge of conceptualizing intersectionality together.

 

Work cited

Davis, Aisha Nicole. “Intersectionality and International Law: Recognizing Complex          Identities on the Global Stage.” Harvard Human Rights Journal, Vol. 28 Issue 1, 2015, p205-242.

 

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The Grand Challenge in International Development

A grand challenge is a technically complex societal problem that has stubbornly defied solution. It can range from cures for cancer to better management of resources. With globalization, a grand challenge is no longer limited to being a domestic issue. There are a number of global grand challenges. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals each copes with a grand challenge that is faced by the international community. With this understanding, solutions to grand challenges are no longer limited to cooperation between domestic actors and coordination between different sectors within a country. The solutions lie in global connection and coordination of resources. Under global strategic frameworks like the MDGs and SDGs, there are a variety of actors including international organizations, international NGOs, private sector, and local and foreign governments. While development projects by international organizations see global strategic frameworks as guidelines, it is not always the case for foreign government projects. To address grand challenges, an alignment between different actors is essential.

One of the many ways to encourage various actors, especially governments to follow international guidelines in the face of grand challenges, is to build platforms for multistakeholder global governance. The absence of such multistakeholder governance mechanism may result in escalation of conflicts. In early September, 2017, indigenous communities in Ecuador carried out protest against Chinese mining because the mining company did not negotiate with the communities for its projects which were creating damage to local environment and wildlife protection. The protest escalated into violent conflict and resulted in one death and multiple injured. If there were a multistakeholder governance mechanism in place for this project, a more peaceful conversation would have taken place instead of violent conflicts. A global multistakeholder governance mechanism would create a platform where the Chinese state-owned mining company and local communities would be equal actors in the face of the global grand challenge of resource management. This would encourage the Chinese government to apply global strategic frameworks to its development projects and contribute to the global efforts by making positive impact.

Multistakeholder global governance mechanism is valued more and more by international organizations, such as the inclusion of Major Groups and other stakeholders by the UN. This mechanism should not be limited to policy-making at the global level. It should also be applied to decision-making and policy-making on regional and bilateral platforms. In this way, we can build a more holistic global partnership in addressing the grand challenges faced by all.

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Inclusive International Education

Education is a key component of development. Unequal access to education resources and opportunities is a global challenge. While international organizations recognize the importance of inclusive education, there are still some missing components. For example, in SDG 4 Quality Education, the emphasis for promoting inclusive and quality education is on pre-school, primary and secondary school, and adult vocational training. Not much is said at the level of higher education. I believe that higher education is as important as other stages of education, and an inclusive international higher education can create next generation of global leaders who have greater cultural sensitivity and understanding of inclusive development.

In 2015-2016 academic year, 325,339 American students studied abroad, which takes up 1.6 percent of all American students enrolled in higher education institutions. Among the students who studied abroad, 8.8 percent are students with disabilities. In fact, there has been a growing trend of American students with disabilities to study abroad, from only 0.1 percent in 2011 to today’s 8.8 percent. This is indeed an astounding jump and one big step towards inclusive education. While their peers have the opportunity to study abroad, students with disabilities are increasingly able to enjoy the same education resources. With experience living and studying abroad, students can build better cross-cultural communication skills and are more likely to take initiatives on global issues.

While study abroad for American students is becoming more inclusive and accessible, it might not be the case for students in others countries. Achieving inclusive international education is a long-term process that requires not only efforts of education experts, but also cooperation between different actors including government officials, legislators, private sector actors, etc. Inclusive education initiative in one country might benefit students from other countries in the globalized world. Master’s of International Affairs in Comparative and International Disability at the IDPP is an example of inclusive international education, since international students with disabilities can fully participate in this program. It is through initiatives like this that students who are traditionally underrepresented in international education can also benefit from it and earn degrees on issues that affect them. This empowerment will enable them to better advocate for their own rights in global governance in the future since they are trained on language and practice that are common in the global policy-making scene. What’s more, a diverse pool of students studying together, although virtually, enhances their mutual understanding.

Inclusive international education is not captured by many global strategic frameworks. But it is an essential component in the concept of inclusive education in globalization. It requires more initiatives like the ones taken by the IDPP to move international education towards a more inclusive direction so that people who benefit from inclusive international education can one day make an impact and fill in this blank in global strategic frameworks.

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Net Neutrality and The Value of Fair Internet Governance

The Internet is perhaps the most accessible forum space in the world. The sheer number of actors around the world can make internet governance a herculean task, with a number of pitfalls to be found. The battle over net neutrality in the United States is demonstrating how corrupted actors can profoundly upset the balance of internet governance around the world.

At its most basic, the loss of net neutrality in FCC regulations will lead to uneven traffic of internet data, which will affect both producers and consumers by increasing the price of participation for all parties. The only group to benefit from the loss of net neutrality is the internet service providers themselves, who stand to make even greater profits should the FCC decide to do away with net neutrality. The ways in which the internet communities will suffer shows how fair internet governance is key for its sustainability in the future.

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“Right to the City”: Changing the Meaning of Participation

The New Urban Agenda (NUA) formed a new basis from which urban policy might be developed. Focusing on the accessibility of all components of a city, for all of its citizens, was a key step towards further improving approaches to development and solving urban issues. Where previous urban development approaches focused on a physical lack of urban infrastructure, the NUA centered on the lack of accessibility in many aspects of urban life for disadvantaged citizens. As development actors begin to realize more and more that accessibility is a key factor in creating successful development schemes, more documents like the New Urban Agenda can be expected to place accessibility for minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and children in a place of priority.

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Multistakeholder Internet Governance and Sustainable Development

Internet governance is the development and application of principles, norms, decision making and programs that shape the utilization of the internet. However, the actual definition of internet governance is up for debate, as some question who has the authority to control the internet. Some believe it is the job of the government, while civil society and corporations feel that they should have larger participation in internet governance. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has no control over the available content on the internet but is a global organization that works to protect the security and safety of the internet.

Lawrence Strickling cites multi-stakeholder internet governance as, “the best mechanism for maintaining an open, resilient, and secure Internet because, among other things, it is informed by a broad foundation of interested parties – including businesses, technical experts, civil society, and governments – arriving at consensus through a bottom-up process regarding policies affecting the underlying functioning of the Internet domain system.” Multi-stakeholder internet governance increases global ability to address internet policy reform. The internet governance forum (IGF) is a multi-stakeholder platform that discusses the internet and public policy.

The 12th annual meeting will take place during the month of December in 201 to discuss the theme, “Shape your digital Future.” It will discuss Generation Z and the challenges of internet identity and works to create solutions to increase digital communication. It will also discuss internet regulation, security and safety concerns for growing youths.

Internet governance is a part of sustainable development. In 2007 the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) research internet governance’s view on sustainable development. Research included:

  • Governance processes
  • economic barriers to development
  • developing countries to participate in international governance
  • access to knowledge
  • indicators for development.

 

As a result, IISD developed a series of papers that inclusive internet governance observations, mutual challenges internet governance and sustainable development face, and conclusion as to how to work to promote overall development.  

 

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Inclusive Education as a Human Right

Education is a basic human right. If education is a human right, then all education shall be inclusive education. Providing inclusive education is paramount for the establishment of quality education for all those who seek to learn. Increased education is directly correlated to overall development. The Salamanca Statement cites inclusive education as, “recognition of the need to work towards ‘schools for all’ – institutions which include everybody, celebrate differences, support learning, and respond to individual needs’. Inclusive education works largely to ensure that people with disabilities are able to access high levels of education. Furthermore, the United Nations Convention of the Right of Persons with Disabilities describes people with disabilities as, “those who have long-term, physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others’. Because disabilities range across a large spectrum, inclusive education must take into account all of these factors.

Inclusive education also works to change societal norms regarding persons with disabilities. Its goal is to become a norm that persons with disabilities are able to access education and education facilities without obstacles or extra costs.

 

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies has worked to create, The Model Policy for Inclusive ICTs in Education for Persons with Disabilities. This document works to develop a “model policy” for nations to utilize as a template. It also works to encourage countries to further implement the UNCRPD. It includes processes for policy development and reform to achieve smaller and wider goals of expanding education sectors within countries and regions. The initiative emphasizes inclusive ICTs within education for individuals who have disabilities. It states that no person shall be a victim to the exclusion of education at any level.

 

The policy also talks about funding opportunities for persons with disabilities and inclusive education. Often times, inclusive education can be costly. It states the following recommendations to ensure proper budgeting and funding:

-Decentralising the use of funds within the education system that allows flexibility in supporting the use of inclusive ICTs in education.

-Defining the roles and responsibilities of all main stakeholders at the national, regional and organizational levels in relation to the budget implementation strategy.

-Securing and effectively co-ordinating inclusive ICT-related funding from different ministerial budgets (information society, social affairs, health, education, etc.)

 

Overall, inclusive education is an important facet of inclusive sustainable development and shall constantly work to include marginalized groups.

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ICTs and Inclusive Sustainable Development and Digital Divide(s)

Technology is a constantly changing field. It prides itself on innovation. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are the technologies in the conveying, manipulation, and storage of data through electronics. This includes radio, televisions, smartphones, computers and other tablet devices, etc. Particularly before the internet was invested, populations relied on radios for their information, and have a long-stemmed history in how political actors and important figures used radio to convey messages to populations. Technology and these platforms of receiving technology can be used for education purposes, to not only increase information and research but to expand the ways in which individuals can receive and give and education. It moved education away from the classroom, which creates further opportunities for youth and adults.

 

However, within developing countries, technology is not nearly as accessible. There is an overall lack of infrastructure for these types of mechanisms within developing areas. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the groundwork for projects like technological infrastructure, as it will increase the ability for rural populations to obtain an education.

 

Sustainable Development Goals can utilize ICTs within their framework. The world has accepted SDGs and has committed to working to achieve them. Therefore it is necessary that all countries explore all options and tools available. ICTs can be utilized to drive progress and help countries achieve benchmarks. The Earth Institute of Columbia University discusses the potential barriers between SDGs and ICTs. It stated that policies and regulations need to play catch-up to the ever-changing innovations of ICTs and continuously re-work mechanisms to achieve their goals.

 

Furthermore, the report also discusses how public policy and regulations are not fully utilizing ICTs and that more infrastructure is needed to decrease the number of people who do not currently have access to the internet. There needs to be a heightened collaboration between the public and private sector, to increase funding opportunities to increase opportunities for populations to utilize ICTs.

 

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is a United Nations-sponsored event that discusses.  information and communication. WSIS+10 was representative of the decades since the first summit in 2005. The summit mainly works on the implementation of technologies in developing countries. Through this summit, steps are being taken to allow populations to utilize ICTs to their fullest extent, and in turn, allow countries to work towards achieving 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

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Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sendai Framework

In the wake of climate change and increased pollutions, natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and more, are becoming more common across the globe. The United Nations Office for Disaster and Risk Reduction state that these events are more about disaster hazards, and as a result are working towards reducing the damage caused by such events. These disasters can have a serious impact on not only environmental but also infrastructure and societies as a whole. Depending on the severity of the disaster, it can have major impacts on how individuals live their lives. For instance, Puerto Rico is still struggling to regain power. Furthermore, this disaster left families with little to nothing as their homes and belongings were completely destroyed.  Disaster risk reduction works to reduce the risk of disaster by examining its causes. These include:

-exposure to hazards

-minimizing vulnerability

-land management

-improving preparedness

-increased detection of warnings for disasters.

Risk reduction for disasters is about not only reducing risk after disasters have already happened but also mitigating disasters by improving preparedness for populations.

 

The Sendai Framework is a 15-year agreement that discusses the role of multi-stakeholders in disaster risk reduction. Work for this framework began in 2012 and proceeded with negotiations in 2014-2015. It focuses on practical and evidence-based guidance. There are 7 global targets that include: reduce disaster mortality, individuals affected, economic loss, infrastructure, increase international cooperation and availability and access to resources to disaster risk information. Furthermore, there are 4 priorities of action:

  1. Understanding disaster risk
  2. Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk
  3. Investing in disaster risk reduction
  4. Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction calls for guidance on implementation support and works to continuously engage multilateral stakeholders, strengthen accountability, and overall reduce disaster risk. The framework wants to capitalize on the opportunity of mutual reinforcement between states and international agreements. It works to increase reporting by state actors, continued collaboration. Goal setting and target indicators, and cooperation across the multiple actors involved in the framework.  

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Intersectionalities and Sustainable Development

Intersectionality has become quite a” buzzword” both within academics and everyday life. Intersectionality and the impact of intersectionality in institutions has become increasingly discussed. Intersectionality refers to the interconnectedness of social categories such as race, class, sexuality, gender, ethnicity, etc. These categories create overlapping systems of discrimination, and puts people at a disadvantage. Intersectionality calls for the simultaneous examination of these identities, how they relate to each other, and how they relate to personal development. Intersectionality also bring up the idea of power and how power has created social hierarchies that perpetuate the advantage or disadvantage of certain aspects of identities.

 

Intersectionality and inclusive development are widely interdependent. SDGs should take an intersectional approach, to account for gender, youth and disability and how they will influence each other. For instance, women are already a marginalized group, in comparison to men. However women throughout different communities will face different types of oppression to put them at a further disadvantage. Economic oppression for example: Some women, depending on ethnicity, race and class will have larger opportunities for economic mobility than others. Class widely intersects with access to education, as those of a higher class will be able to obtain more formal education. Education in turn, allows for more opportunities to increase social and economic status. This example highlights the interconnectivity of identities, and how the overlapping of identities relates to power structures and hierarchies.Women with disabilities are put at an even heightened disadvantage. The needs for not only those with disabilities, but for women with with disabilities is often underrepresented within social reform and development strategies. Therefore, it is necessary that SDGs and other united nations organizations work to create ways to understand how these identities will hurt overall development, exclude individuals and in turn create tactics and goals that work to include them.   

 

As populations are increasing life expectancy, it is also important to understand the intersectionality of age and development. For instance, older people have a higher risk of developing a disability. There needs to be more research on how age and older populations can be taken into account in policy reform.

 

Kimberle Crenshaw, a scholar who is most noted for her work on intersectionality and African-American women. She catches the essence of how intersectionality impacts inclusive sustainable development when she states, “If efforts began with addressing the needs and problems of those who are most disadvantaged and with restructuring and remaking the world more necessary, then others who are singularly disadvantaged would also benefit.”