Is International Development dead or alive? Why?

Over the past few years, international development has been synonymous with economic growth. But, the scholars began describing international development in a more holistic and multi-disciplinary view, which includes life expectancy and quality of life alongside economic growth. According to United Nations, in the Age of Sustainable Development, there is now a heavy focus on development by promoting Social Inclusion, Environmental Sustainability, and Good governance. The recently developed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are clearly defined as "to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all."

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a collection of seventeen interlinked goals adopted in 2015, followed Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) to help the poorest achieve a better life by 2030. In my opinion, these rules have been able to best address the challenges of eradicating poverty and sustainably developing holistic growth. The SDGs have met the SMART criterion (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely). They have created a need for governments to delegate responsibilities down to the civil servants, thus changing the lives of millions of people, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several initiatives have been taken by governments, development agencies, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to achieve the 17 goals to achieve SDGs. An example is the Poshan Abhiyaan campaign by the Government of India to work towards SDG 2 of zero hunger. The SDG pursuit has increased India's overall score from 60 to 66 in 2021 because of nationwide improvement in 'clean water and sanitation and 'affordable and clean energy.' Several states, such as Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, achieved the highest overall score with their efforts to reduce hunger (SDG 2) and to provide quality education to students (SDG 4). About 22 states in India have moved to the Front Runner category in 2021, compared to 10 states in 2019.

Other initiatives in South Asia include the Government of Nepal's Climate Change Policy in 2019 to promote rural energy. The Forest Act of Nepal to develop new legislation in the context of the federal system in 2019 is also an example. The Government of Bangladesh and UNDP report on SDG implementation estimates that the incidence of extreme poverty rate was 41.1% in 1991, which declined to 12.1% in 2016. The government's poverty reduction measures have helped Bangladesh achieve the corresponding MDG target a couple of years ahead of the deadline. The Government of Bangladesh recognizes the multi-dimensional nature of poverty and the need to address the problem by adopting appropriate policies and strategies.

So, is International Development dead or alive? It is alive and running, providing hope to the world's citizens, including future generations. However, a long journey should be traveled towards socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable goals. In my opinion, increased global collaboration, enthusiastic public participation, and inclusive growth are the key ingredients to sustainable international development.