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Whilst China's aid and development model has been traditionally understood as divergent from the dominant post‐1945 liberal development model, scholars are also increasingly exploring convergence between features of the two development models. Recently, scholars from a range of disciplines including development studies, development geography and international (business, environment and legal) studies have explored a process whereby China's Belt and Road Initiative and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals converge ('BRI‐SDG integration'). This paper brings these multidisciplinary strands of scholarship together and places them in dialogue with social sciences convergence theory to understand how BRI‐SDG integration aligns with or challenges previous conceptualisations of Chinese‐dominant development convergence. The paper first demonstrates that BRI‐SDG integration proposes a novel and deliberate convergence process ‐ which the paper names 'complementary convergence'. However, BRI‐SDG integration also underscores the need for more multidirectional frameworks that reject Eurocentricity for evaluating the contemporary Chinese‐dominant relationship, and an enhanced focus on how China is influencing dominant development institutions. Finally, BRI‐SDG integration reiterates the methodological difficulties of delineating between 'development models' in an increasingly interrelated global governance of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A local development strategy allows the active coordination of the development process taking place in the territory, taking into account local characteristics, changes in the external environment and allowing a positive approach to territorial development in an innovative way. Local development strategies are characterized by at least seven characteristics recommended to local managers responsible for development: vision for the future, creativity, flexibility, activity, created for action, orientation to change and orientation to sustainable gain. The purpose of this paper is to highlight both the needs and requirements of the inhabitants of the Snagov commune, respectively the degree of satisfaction with the public services they benefit from, as well as the development vision of the Snagov commune. To obtain the information necessary for the study, the questionnaire method was used, and the group of people related to the sample filled in the requested data and expressed their opinions regarding public services, infrastructure, community projects. The key challenge is to ensure a balanced and sustainable development of the territory based on polycentric development, providing services to the surrounding rural areas, avoiding the decline of the rural population and ensuring the continued attractiveness of these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are in trouble half-way towards their target date of 2030. With increasing global inequalities, and reversal in developmental gains because of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as financial and political instability, achieving the goals in the next seven years seems difficult. We undertake an exercise in defining an ecological system of the SDGs to argue that focusing on two sentinel goals of SDGs 5 & 12 ('gender equality' and 'responsible consumption and production') could be key to achieving the other goals. The linkages posited in the SDG ecosystem are based upon our reading of the literature from a political economic and political ecological perspective. Prioritising SDGs 5 and 12 requires more of political rather than a financial commitment. The paper proposes a pathway to achieving some success in realising SDGs during their remaining half-life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With 85% of this planet's population adhering to a religion, faith communities are the largest transnational civil society actors in the world. This accords them a major role in societal processes, aincluding current global challenges as spelled out in the 17 SDGs, the core of the Agenda 2030. After decades of neglect, recent years have seen a rise in interest in the role of religion in the public agenda. Academics, policymakers and practitioners alike increasingly acknowledge the significance of faith actors for the SDGs. Key terms such as "Common Home", shared by faith and secular actors, already indicate their mutual relevance. At the same time, there is a lack of religious literacy in recognizing and interpreting religious dimensions in a given development context. This paper therefore seeks to shed light on the often nebulous "religious factor" in the SDGs in two consecutive steps. At first, the historical part traces the rise of religion in development. In the second step, an analytical part then provides a seven-dimensional model to enhance religious literacy and to provide a better understanding of both the potential and the problems of religion in the global quest for implementing the SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religion and Culture permeates the life of every human being as well as every society throughout the world. Every religion and culture has norms, values and acceptable standards reflected in its doctrines and ways of life. By inculcating in adherents and members of the society these norms and values, religion and culture are expected to act as agents for sustainable development in Nigeria. In-spite of this, Nigeria is facing problems of underdevelopment that are evidenced in the educational sector, social, political and economic deterioration. This paper therefore seeks to discover the reason for the lack of development and look at the various roles religion and culture can play in the sustainable development of Nigeria. The paper adopted phenomenological approach and discovered that, vices like corruption and materialism contributes largely to this underdevelopment and that religion and culture can play cardinal roles in growth of our society for sustainable development. The paper recommends that Religious leaders, Traditional rulers, Custodians of morality and Government at all levels should not isolate religion and culture to the background since the two could be found in every strata of the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes goals, process, and results in the effort to introduce new curricula at The Faculty of Technical Sciences of University Mother Theresa - Skopje fully devoted to teach students in the direction of sustainable development. The idea was born in the process of reaccreditation of the old curricula named "Mechanical Engineering and management" at The Faculty of Technical Sciences. The authors of this paper, and the idea for reconstruction were fully aware of the direction Mechanical Engineering needs to go to contribute to the sustainable development of the country and wider. Therefore, that idea led the developing process into new curricula titled: "Sustainable Design in Mechanical Engineering". From total of 40 courses, 15-20 are fully related to sustainable development goals and the curricula includes also a number of projects and diploma work by which students will additionally have an opportunity to add to their understanding and knowledge of sustainable development tools. The new curricula successfully passed the process of accreditation and it is now a part of this University offer. Based on this curricula, a number of courses for lifelong learning will be developed. It is expected that this curricula will attract attention both of the new students, but also of the professionals at different companies, state and municipality institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since their independence from colonial rules in the late 1950s and early 1960s, most countries in African continent have been sleepwalking in developmental realm due to a myriad of human security threats including internal conflicts, military dictatorships, public sector corruption and generational poverty among others. Consequently, the continent, in sharp contrast to others, failed to achieve some of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the comity of nations at the turn of the 21st century. As all the African states pledged unwavering commitment to achieving other sets of global goals--the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set in 2015, --concerns over their actual capacity to achieve them by the target year (2030) are being raised. This is because they not only epitomise most of the challenges being confronted but also lag far behind in the global race for digitalisation, precipitated by 21st century digital revolution and widely regarded as an essential driver in governments efforts towards achieving national objectives. Using desk review of secondary data, this paper examines the instrumentality of digital technologies to the achievement of sustainable development in Africa, with specific reference to Nigeria. The SDGs serve as the basis for the analysis while system theory, emancipatory realism and Digital Era Governance model among other scholarly and expert perspectives provide reasoned lines of explanation. The paper concludes that digital technology is an indispensable mechanism to the achievement of sustainable development. It recommends that while curbing corruption and insecurity are considered Nigeria's developmental priority, digital technologies should be used to accelerate their achievement and other lofty ideals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of sustainable development has been attracting the attention of the scientific and professional community for decades. Various researches and papers focused on the concept of sustainability, exploring it through the prism of the economic, ecological and social subsystem. In this paper, the authors focus on agriculture and its sustainability. Starting from the assumption that organic farming is a sustainable system production, the authors turn to institutional support, trying to find a link between EU agricultural policy (CAP) and the growth of areas in organic agriculture. The research showed that this kind of support system failed to play the role that was intended for it and did not lead to mass acceptance of organic agriculture everywhere. Authors on the example of Denmark, Germany and Italy show the extent to which state support has influenced the expansion of areas under this system. Also, the comparison with the US agricultural policy leads to the conclusion that support policies for organic production constructed on a one-dimensional focus of payments per unit area will not lead to the expected results in terms of further progress and development of the organic sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the perspectives of sustainable development among the Nyishis of Kurung Kumey district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh who have the status of a Scheduled Tribe but are somewhat deprived of the benefits of development even after India's economic reforms. The study reveals that Nyishis living in remote and inaccessible villages have remained neglected over the years due to the following three main reasons: firstly, the benefits of development do not reach these remote villages due to their distant and isolated location; secondly, the administration of these villages is in the hands of political/panchayat leaders which is more concerned with the collection of petty amount without doing anything good for the people, and in the process, the needs and concerns of the people often get neglected. Thirdly, there is a lack of proper execution of the developmental works by the government agencies/officials, due to which initiated work is stuck on the way. The paper attempts to raise the conceptual issues and constraints of post-reformation development programmes resulting in the obscured and neglect of the people in the process of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) constitute an overarching global milestone for creating a better sustainable future worldwide. The risk component of the agenda under the SFDRR must be better embedded into the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and integrating disaster risk management policy with broader development objectives at national and subnational levels in many countries is still a work in progress. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the progress between the SDGs and the SFDRR in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and its complementary features Design/methodology/approach: Comprehensive and contextualized analyses of the progress of SFDRR and SDGs related to the LAC region need to be fully addressed to examine synergies and trade-offs with the two global agendas. Based on empirical evidence from United Nations global reports, a literature review of DRR and DRM, as well as development planning evidence, this paper addresses the implications of building coherence between the SDGs and the SFDRR in the region. Findings: Interplay and connections of the two agendas are highlighted together with an analysis of coherence among indicators. Despite the richness of several indicators, the examined evidence suggests that derived from the current progress, indicators are unable to completely reflect the dynamics among disaster risk drivers for both the SFDRR and the SDGs in the region. Research limitations/implications: Data availability at UNIDSR as well as at the regional level can limit the scope of the research. When comparing and matching the agendas, results could be further improved upon new releases of data. SFDRR and SDGs have also ground for improvement and countries are doing well but still slow. Practical implications: The paper offers new insights and findings for decision/policy makers in Latina America and the Caribbean. Originality/value: The paper offers an overall understanding of the progress and coherence among SFDRR and SDGs global frameworks and provides insights to identify the gaps and opportunities that need to be addressed to integrate disaster risk reduction into sustainable development planning at national and regional scales in LAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's progressive assumption as a major actor on the African scene needs critical academic attention and examination. Although there are undoubtedly varied benefits, there are also concerns about whether China's win-win rhetoric is sincere or just empty propaganda. This paper contributes to the debate by examining the relationship between China and Africa through the lens of neo-colonialism. In this regard, the paper examines China's involvement in the textiles and mining industries of Ghana as a case study to argue whether the partnership between China and Africa is one that actually promotes development or engenders a new trend of neo-colonialism. Since this research focuses on areas such as partnership (i.e., between Ghana and China) and illegal mining with its effects, it intersects four of the SDGs (clean water and sanitation [SDG 6]; sustainable cities and communities [SDG 11]; life below water [SDG 14]; and partnership for the goals [SDG 17]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization is the process of transformation through which cities develop, and higher percentages of the population come to live in the city or urban area. Urbanization has a positive impact in the path of development. According to World Bank estimation, more than 80% of global GDP generates in cities. Urbanization can contribute to sustainable growth through increased productivity and innovation if managed well. During 2011 census, Assam has an urbanization rate of 14% approximate which is lower compared to 31% of national urbanization rate. This paper intends to study the trend of urbanization in Assam over the years and the rate of growth of urban population. It also seeks to study the impact of urbanization on socio economic development and environment. The findings show that there is an increasing trend in the rate of growth of urbanization. Proper management and planning is required to induce organised and sustainable economic development and to protect the environment from degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sustainable Development Report 2019 points out that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) might not be achieved, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (sic). This paper tries to investigate alternatives to the hegemonic "development" discourse and ideas of "development": what would be the notion of "development" in Ubuntu? The paper proposes a contextual understanding of "development" rooted in tradition, religion and culture by using Michel Foucault and Ferdinand de Saussure as a theoretical basis. The heterogenous understanding of Ubuntu and its diverse understanding definition of "development" are an argument against universalising "development" ideas, but for tailor-made solutions. The paper follows the hypothesis that the SDGs rely on premises of epistemologies of the Global North which are (post)colonial. It also proposes that failing "development" strategies rely on epistemologies from the Global North which are excluding, imperial, Eurocentric and rely on abyssal -- extractive and postcolonial -- productions of knowledge (Sousa Santos 2018). The paper is a contribution to the decolonisation of knowledge in the Global North, to challenge hegemonic northern epistemologies and to bring them into contact with knowledge from epistemologies of the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State's progress is dependent upon its political and socio-economic development which is tantamount to an increasingly adverse impact on climate. These adverse impacts on climate not only endangers our life but also our future generations, resulting in political and socio-economic instability. These irrational and rampant developments of any state require a systematic strategic principle. Following such a principle, a state can be progressive in a real sense by gaining political and socio-economic development while simultaneously maintaining sustainability. In this paper, through examining J. S. Mill's doctrine of liberty and utilitarian morality, a valiant attempt has been made to resolve the problem of the free individual within the social whole by including sustainable development as a part of the progressive accomplishment of well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examined the polemic between the advocates of democracy, development and dictatorship. It exposed the philosophical foundation of democracy, development and maintained that democratic principles could facilitate development within the African continent. This argument is supported by the claim that the process and outcome of democratic practice are likely to bring about development aimed at improving the living standard of citizens in the society. The paper further maintained that the likely way by which democracy can be seen to be worthwhile is when it is geared towards societal development. Finally, the paper affirmed that since the two concepts of democracy and development are like the Siamese twins set to better the wellbeing of citizens, then the way out of Africa's present crisis of development is to embrace democracy and its principles in practice properly. It concluded that only when a deliberate attempt is made at the practice of proper democratic principles with all sense of purpose that sustainable development can be attained on the continent of Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the establishment of the Climate Convention and its recent Paris Agreement, capacity building has been considered as a fundamental prerequisite for achieving the goals of the climate regime. Various institutional architectures have been explored, while the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21) established the Paris Committee on Capacity-Building aiming to address needs and gaps, along with promoting current, emerging, and further capacity-building efforts. Efforts to build capacity have been underway for decades but have largely failed in their objectives as they were not designed from, and rooted in, the local context. Drawing from the author's more than 40 years of personal experience in capacity building in Africa, this paper sheds light on the systemic challenges involved in building capacities. Arrangements that do not entail working on, or being led by, an agenda set by those in capacity needs are not, by definition, capacity mobilization or capacity building efforts. It is argued that capacity is tied to self-reliance and self-determination and thus ability to set and pursue the recipient's own agenda must be at the core of development narratives. Key policy insights Self-reliance and self-determination are at the core of capacity development. Therefore, countries need to set and pursue their own agenda by creating and following a bottom-up and inclusive development narrative. Intellectual, financial, and other important resources need to fall under the control of local leadership. Partnerships and networks of research centres think tanks and similar institutions in the South should be created and maintained to build capacities. Climate change, while a global issue, must be addressed based on a deep understanding of the local and national contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As we face different crises – democratic, social and environmental – there is a need to rethink the assumptions we have made about sustainable development. This paper aims to consider alternatives to development and their fundamental connections to economics. Because discourse is connected to practice, it is important to question definitions. By drawing on existing theories, discourses and practices, I present an economic perspective to accompany post-developmentalist theories and contribute to the collective thinking on alternatives to development. Using the framework of Polanyi, I show that the mainstream view of development, based on a formal definition of economics, has not only failed to address the needs of many but also built a strong imbalance between the Global North and the Global South. A substantive view could be the basis for an alternative to development, relying on the relationship between basic needs, nature and institutions. Profound transformations are needed to balance the economy, society and the environment. To achieve these transformations, alternatives to development must involve rethinking structures, re-embedding the economy and considering the power of collectives and the multiplicity of ideas across the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically interrogates the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in relation to higher education in low-income countries. While the SDG Goal 4, Target 4.3, calls for ensuring 'equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university' around the world by 2030, the SDGs lack targets that would make this a reality in many countries where higher education requires reform and rebuilding. Instead of providing assistance to these countries to (re)build and strengthen their fragile higher education systems and institutions, the SDGs, as expressed in Target 4.7, aim to only provide opportunities to a select group of individuals to study at universities in developed and some developing countries. This approach has failed in the past and will only lead to the creation of dependency on foreign aid and assistance and continuation of chronic lack of capacity in many countries. This paper will show that despite the rhetoric about leaving no one behind, the SDGs will leave many behind through the neglect of higher education in low-income countries. Building local institutional and other forms of capacity in the higher education sector in low-income countries should have been one of the priorities in the SDGs. This way countries would be able to develop and strengthen universities and other institutions of higher learning and deliver quality education to their populations. The paper will map out a possible way forward for those interested in assisting low-income countries to strengthen their higher education systems and institutions as this is a prerequisite for inclusive socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to trace the evolution of development aid in Malawi from 1964, when the country became independent, to date. It also analyses sustainable development in the light of democracy in Malawi and local reactions to the former by the citizens. The paper contends that development aid needs to be linked to the notion of local development in Malawi. It notes that development was a key word that was popularly used during the reign of the founding president of Malawi, Dr Kamuzu Hastings Banda (1964 to 1994). For Banda, it was critical to have development which simply meant food security, decent housing and clothes. The paper also pays attention to local actors' responses to development aid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following is a cultural anatomy of the city of Galway in the west of Ireland. The paper traces the evolution of the cultural profile of the city over the past four decades. It places the city's recent success regarding international accolades in the context of the creative city script. This work sets out to explore how the city, once famed for its cultural producers, has evolved into a site for cultural consumption; an evolution of a city of culture making to culture taking. Reference is also made to how local government has branded the city as a creative one by targeting cultural designations (such as UNESCO Creative City; European Capital of Culture). The purpose of the paper is to situate Galway's cultural anatomy in the broader context of neoliberal urbanism, one that takes culture as ancillary amenity to attract tourists and investors. The paper finishes by positing a future path for a sustainable development for the creative/cultural sector and the city more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to identify how to approach sustainable development in regional development strategies, having as a case study the North-East Region, and to evaluate how to implement strategic objectives, at regional and rural level. The document aims to identify new strategic proposals to ensure the sustainable development of rural areas, using a system of specific, quantifiable and representative indicators that allow, through econometric analysis, the evaluation of results and the projection of sustainable development developments. The approach of sustainable development and rural development in a strategic context had above all a theoretical character, the analysis being oriented towards: the delimitation of the different conceptual aspects regarding the sustainable development and the strategies of sustainable development; addressing rural development from sustainable development; regulations on sustainable development at global, European and national level, etc. The paper thus highlights, starting from the analysis of regional development strategies of the Northeast Region, solutions to improve the process of strategic implementation of development objectives, by providing viable tools for monitoring development, sustainable development at regional and rural level, eliminating their trends disproportionate. The target indicators proposed by this document and their justification allow such a realistic and accurate estimation of the strategic implementation and the measurement of the impact of the strategic objectives. At European level, concerns about incorporating the principles of sustainable development into Member States' development strategies emerged with Agenda 21, but the approach was fragmented and policy implementation was inconsistent in trade, investment, technology and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development - a development model that seeks to ensure a balance between economic growth, quality of life and environmental conservation in the medium and long term, so as to meet the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability to meet the needs of future generations - has represented decades, the guideline that has underpinned development policies, programs and strategies. The issue of the mechanisms of financial support for Romania's agriculture is very important in our country's efforts to become competitive on the European agricultural market. However, the peculiarities of Romanian agriculture remain almost similar to the pre-accession period (fragmented agrarian structures, low technical and economic yields, outdate technical endowment, etc.), and the main question is whether community support mechanisms increase or remain Romanian farm performance, support measures to ensure their survival on the market. The paper highlights the regional development strategies of the NorthEast Region, solutions to improve the process of strategic implementation of development objectives, by providing viable tools for monitoring sustainable development at regional and rural level, eliminating their oversizing trends. The target indicators proposed by this paper and their rationale allow such a realistic and correct estimation of the strategic implementation and the measurement of the impact of the strategic objectives. In this context, we consider that proposed and substantiated result indicators starting from the previous trend of the region, for all strategic priorities 2014-2020, can be much better materialized in projects with major impact on sustainable development both at regional level and the rural environment, and the way of their evaluation and estimation represents a viable methodology for monitoring the regional development strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is centered on roles of Library and Information Professionals (LIPs) towards the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The highlights of the paper are: understanding the context, content, and commitment of the SDGs, the expected roles of Library and Information Professionals (LIPs) towards the realization of SDGs, the strategies for actualizing the SDGs by Library and Information Professionals (LIPs). Expected roles such as creating of awareness on SDGs, organizing of continuing education programme, establishment of viable community information centre, partnering with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), translation of SDGs documents into local language and provision of information resources/services to support institutes for disadvantaged people were extensively examined. The position of the paper is that expectations are high for library and information practitioners in the sustainability of developmental goals. The paper concludes that as information providers and managers, it is imperative that achieving the SDGs by 2030 through the provision of qualitative and enduring information services should be given priority. Intensive lobbying and advocacy, reviving of public libraries in Nigeria, re-engineering of school libraries, sustainable partnership and collaboration were recommended as key strategies to the actualization of the expected roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban poverty coupled with housing shortages have contributed to the proliferation of informal settlements and slums. This is one of the complex problems arising out of urbanization and which is piling pressure on urban authorities to use unorthodox methods (such as forced evictions) to ameliorate the situation. This paper revisits the use of forced migration in Badia East Community of Lagos city. Using the human security concept as a framework for analysis, the paper chronicles how urban forced migration is used as a tool to relocate the vulnerable urban poor by urban authorities in their bid to achieve sustainable development. Critical insight into the nature of these migrations was achieved by gathering data using the mixed approach. Finding from the study revealed rampant human abuse through the use of force during the eviction process. The paper concludes by recommending that the government should use best practices, (such as adequate government-assistance) during relocations and rehousing option explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) tasks countries with eradicating poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions. This presents considerable challenges for poverty researchers and national statistical offices charged with collecting data to monitor progress on meeting of this ambitious target. Our paper focuses on how the different dimensions of poverty might be mapped out, and compared, within and across heterogeneous countries and societies, using a method called the Consensual Approach to poverty measurement. It explains how the approach can inform different poverty measurement frameworks (e.g. rights based, capabilities or deprivation of basic needs approaches), how it has already been used successfully across low, middle- and high-income countries and sets out some key lessons and future challenges. The paper uses data from the demographic and health surveys (DHS) and World Bank's Core Welfare Indicator Questionnaire surveys to demonstrate cross- and intra-national consensus about what constitutes minimally acceptable living standards across several countries in West Africa; we suggest that existing survey platforms, like national household income and expenditure surveys, DHS or even UNICEF's Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys could (with minor additions) be used to apply the Consensual Approach to measure multidimensional poverty in children and adults across countries, and thus aid reporting for the SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a reaction against the institutionalized top-down developmental orientation, the theory and praxis of development as an inclusive process of socio-political collective transformation has been constantly realized. At this juncture, performative activities have become increasingly instrumental strategies in engaging people more intrinsically in their various personal and social development issues. The focus of this paper lies in studying Jana Sanskriti Centre for Theatre of the Oppressed, which despite being an apolitical organisation, offers significant contribution towards searching for viable socio-political possibilities in contemporary India. The paper delves into discussing some specific ground realities of rural West Bengal, deliberating on the endeavours of Jana Sanskriti in extending onstage representations to offstage reformation. This research investigates how sustainable changes, defined as both individual psychological transformation and groups' socio-political consciousness are generated among spectators through participation in this theatrical process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the essence of sustainable development of a region. It has been noted that achievement of sustainable development of a region is possible under the condition of plurality of transformations and changes in enterprises, institutions, organizations, and societies, which operate in the region. The study proves that the assessment of sustainable development of the region, considering the enterprises' investment activity takes into account the following spaces: economic, territorial, administrative, demographic, institutional and organizational ones. Each of the above spaces can be assessed using indicators that characterize the peculiarities of the region. The objective of the article is to develop a scientific and methodological approach to modeling the impact of enterprises' investment activity on the sustainable development of the region. The proposed approach to modeling the impact of enterprises' investment activity on the sustainable development of the region allows: to analyze the quantitative indicators of the constituent elements and to define the state and level of development of each element, which significantly improves the efficiency of the necessary organizational support. Testing of the proposed model for assessing the impact of enterprises' investment activity on the sustainable development of the region was demonstrated on the example of Donetsk region. Based on the apparatus of fuzzy logic, a hierarchical model of assessing the sustainable development of the region takes into account the investment activity of enterprises, which allows the use of expert information about the object of study in the form of logical rules; to synthesize quantitative indicators into a single integrated indicator of structural elements of the system. The advantage of the proposed method is its versatility. The study shows that during 2018-2020 the level of sustainable development of the Donetsk region based on enterprises' investment activity was satisfactory (0.57). Also, it should be noted that there is a worsening in the value of the indicator, which requires adjustment of strategic guidelines of the region. У статті досліджено суть сталого розвитку регіону. Визначено, що його досягнення можливе за умови здійснення трансформацій та змін на підприємствах, в установах, органі-заціях, які функціонують на території цього регіону. Доведено, що рівень сталого розвитку регіону залежно від інвестиційної активності підприємств ураховує такі простори: еконо- мічний, територіальний, адміністративний, демографічний, інституційний, організаційний. Кожен із них можна оцінити з використанням показників, які характеризують особливості розвитку регіону. Метою статті є розроблення науково-методичного підходу до моделювання впливу інвестиційної активності підприємств на рівень сталого розвитку регіону. Запропонований підхід до моделювання впливу інвестиційної активності підприємств на сталий розвиток регіону дає змогу: проаналізувати кількісні показники складових еле- ментів, визначити стан і рівень розвитку кожного окремого елемента, що значно підвищує ефективність формування необхідного організаційного забезпечення. На основі апарату нечіткої логіки розроблено ієрархічну модель оцінювання рівня сталого розвитку регіону з урахуванням інвестиційної активності підприємств, яка дозво- ляє використовувати експертну інформацію про об'єкт дослідження у вигляді логічних правил; синтезувати кількісні показники в єдиний інтегральний показник структурних еле- ментів системи. Перевагою запропонованого способу є його універсальність використання. Тестування запропонованої моделі оцінювання впливу інвестиційної активності під- приємств на рівень сталого розвитку регіону продемонстровано на прикладі Донецької об- ласті. Встановлено, що рівень сталого розвитку регіону на основі інвестиційної активності підприємств Донецької області впродовж 2018-2020 рр. є задовільним. Разом із тим спосте- рігається погіршення значення показника, що потребує коригування стратегічних орієнти- рів розвитку регіону. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty continuously lays a breeding ground for capitalist orientations and perceptions of the concept in itself and "justifies" the adoption of foreign-based solutions with little or no affiliation to local and socio-cultural contexts. Meanwhile, the contextualizations surrounding the poverty debate in development aid and intervention seemingly underpin the assertion that development aid is problematic in itself given binary tensions surrounding indigenous knowledge and western science as post-modern development discourse. This paper succinctly explores the orientations of poverty within the development aid conundrum and discusses dichotomies between indigenous knowledge and western science in defining development processes in developing countries and Sub Saharan Africa. It seeks to underscore the socio economic, cultural and politically constructed "representations" of poverty by discussing theoretical standpoints to question development aid agencies interventions in the Global South, and the impending changes in local and community relationships as a result. The paper concludes that while anthropologists role within this development and knowledge debate is pivotal, it is imperative for development aid to go beyond mere economic and measurement led framings of poverty, to affix a more salient perspective of culture and local knowledge systems that will shape the understanding of poverty and guide concurrent interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the South African handicraft sector, there is scarcely any significant research on the development of designs and product innovation. Extensive work has not been carried out by the producers to re-orient designs, colours and pattern of the product produced to suit the international standards. This study investigated the role of innovative design towards the sustainable development of handicraft industries through a case study of the Western Cape province of South Africa. The research focuses on the possibility of craft design for sustainable development of the handicraft products to aid in the economic development of the local community. The paper present results from a structured interview with producers, enablers, and buyers of handicraft products in the Western Cape province. The conclusion of the paper presents key findings from the structured interviews. These consist of the interventions for craft design for sustainable development and the handicraft product that has the highest potential for future development. Recommendations are provided for design approaches to the handicraft sector's sustainable development, i.e. reproduction, modification and innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no gainsaying the fact that one of the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals is to end poverty in all its form by 2030. However, the continuous increase in poverty level has generated a lot of debates among policymakers and scholars while government keeps formulating policies to avert the situation. Thus, with SDGs in view, the study took into cognizance the MDGs before it and what hindered it from the full actualisation of its goal, specifically MD Goal 1a "eradicate extreme poverty". Using quantitative data, the study examined the implementation of MDGs and pinpointed the factors that affected the implementation of the MDG poverty reduction strategy. These factors include corruption, lack of awareness, politics of poverty, non-poor targeted, etc. On this basis, the paper suggests that, if Ogun State will achieve SDG1 by 2030, factors such as good leadership, identification of the poor, awareness and infrastructural opportunities will need to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wang, W.J. and Shan, C.H., 2020. Sustainable development of basin economy and marine economy. In: Bai, X. and Zhou, H. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources, Environmental Protection, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 115, pp. 602-605. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The coordinated development of basin economy and marine economy is not only necessary, but also has the objective basis of the coordinated development. This paper discusses the coordinated development of basin economy and ocean economy from the perspective of basin economy. Taking the basis and effect of basin ocean economic linkage development as well as the Yangtze River economic belt as an example, this paper analyzes and calculates the correlation degree. It is pointed out that the correlation between basin economy and marine economy with the correlation between marine tertiary industry and basin tertiary industry are very high. The correlation between marine main industry and basic basin secondary industry are relative high. Based on this, some suggestions are put forward to promote the coordinated development of basin ocean economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wang, W.J. and Shan, C.H., 2020. Sustainable development of basin economy and marine economy. In: Bai, X. and Zhou, H. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources, Environmental Protection, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 115, pp. 602-605. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The coordinated development of basin economy and marine economy is not only necessary, but also has the objective basis of the coordinated development. This paper discusses the coordinated development of basin economy and ocean economy from the perspective of basin economy. Taking the basis and effect of basin ocean economic linkage development as well as the Yangtze River economic belt as an example, this paper analyzes and calculates the correlation degree. It is pointed out that the correlation between basin economy and marine economy with the correlation between marine tertiary industry and basin tertiary industry are very high. The correlation between marine main industry and basic basin secondary industry are relative high. Based on this, some suggestions are put forward to promote the coordinated development of basin ocean economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the role of copper mining in Zambia and examines the country's over-reliance on this mineral, which is still its main export. Despite this industry being a colonial construct, it remains mostly unaltered in contemporary times, with foreign actors largely benefitting from it at the expense of Zambians, especially the working class and the vulnerable. Due to path dependence, Zambia's development prospects continue to be locked into an 'enclave economy' type of development. The article argues for an alternative development pathway that breaks away from the one that was initially carved out by the colonialists and calls for pre-eminent roles to be played by local actors in the copper mining sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyses and synthesises the sustainable development important lessons and capacities of Quezon City, a highly-dynamic urban city in the Philippines, from the narratives and discourses of the City Planning and Development Officials. Conducting an elite and expert interview with the city planning and development officials, the paper document and highlight the city's vital best practices and capacities as a result of its technical expertise and specialised knowledge as supported and reinforced by the Comprehensive Development Plan 2017–2020 it helped to craft as evidence-based public policy coming straight from a city planner and developer views and perspectives on sustainable development. Utilising an integrative review approach, the article also critically examines some current literature frameworks and methods on sustainable development associated with Asia as an added dimension and contribution to sustainable development literature. Consequently, the article revealed and highlighted important sustainable development governance lessons that can contribute in shaping the future sustainable development agenda and its potential impact and contribution to the Philippines and Asia in terms of research, theory, and praxis, such as land banking, identification of manufacturing growth centres, revitalisation of manufacturing industry, and the promotion of Gender-Fair programmes and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of university education to sustainable development of society has become one of the most important activities of higher education institutions. After 55 years of independence, it is time to take a critical look at the role of university education in nation building in Kenya. Since independence, access and difficulties of maintaining standards of quality and efficiency with marginal available resources-more recently highlighted by a commission on higher education report-have been some of the key challenges in university education and these have impacted on the sector's contribution to the country's development. Embracing secondary data sources, the purpose of this paper is to explore the contribution that university institutions have played in Kenyan development using a framework of human capital theory. The paper concludes that longterm economic growth can only be achieved through investment in a highly skilled workforce and university education is particularly critical in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically discusses of the relationship between innovation and development by presenting a case of a Technology and Innovation Hub. It draws upon the capability approach by Amartya Sen to understand the implications of tech hubs in development. We argue that tech hubs, as collaborative spaces, may contribute to human-centered development processes in ways not directly linked to employment or market-based products. This advances a human-centered view of development which focuses on aspects of well-being and agency that people have reason to value. Conceptually, the paper proposes an understanding of innovation for development as (often unequal) social processes which might contribute to human development if and when the people involved perceive value in the processes, and these values include improving their own communities and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the economic determinants of female-owned proprietorships for 52 metro cities in India. The National Sample Survey (NSS) unit-level data are used for the analysis. The descriptive results show that women's proprietorship is much lower than its counterpart. The Probit regression results at the individual level show that women entrepreneurs do not have a bank account or computer but use the internet, are not registered under any act or authority, and do not expand considerably. They operate within household premises with a limited number of months and duration of a day, undertaking mainly contract basis. They also face several problems that hinder their activities. City-level factors such as work participation rate, consumption expenditure, higher levels of general and technical degrees, and vocational training are essential. The likelihood of becoming a female entrepreneur is negatively impacted by the two agglomeration variables of population size and participation in mixed activity. City-level poverty and inequality also adversely affect it. State-level Human Development Index, Gender Development Index, and Gender Inequality Index are also significant. Finally, we propose important policies to enable the city environment to improve women's entrepreneurship activities for higher and sustainable economic development. • Female-owned entrepreneurship (FOE) is essential for sustainable and inclusive economic growth in developing countries. • The agglomeration size, unequal economic distribution, and less female-friendly society discourage becoming FOE. • Knowledge spillovers, labour pooling, availability of public services, and infrastructure encourage FOE. • Cities need to increase investment, employment, level of education, and delivery of public services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health literacy has been linked to health outcomes across population groups around the world. Nepal, a low income country, experiences the double burden of highly prevalent communicable as well as non-communicable diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) has positioned health literacy as a key mechanism to meet the health-related Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3). However, there is little known about the status of health literacy in developing countries such as Nepal. This paper aims to review the potential of health literacy to address SDG3 in Nepal.Methods: A rapid review was conducted using the knowledge to action evidence summary approach. Articles included in the review were those reporting on barriers to health care engagements in Nepal published in English language between January 2000 and December 2015.Results: Barriers for healthcare engagement included knowledge and education as strong factors, followed by culture, gender roles, quality of service and cost of services. These barriers influence the Nepalese community to access and engage with services, and make and enact healthcare decisions, not only at the individual level but at the family level. These factors are directly linked to health literacy. Health literacy is a pivotal determinant of understanding, accessing and using health information and health services, it is important that the health literacy needs of the people be addressed.Conclusion: Locally identified and developed health literacy interventions may provide opportunities for systematic improvements in health to address impediments to healthcare in Nepal. Further research on health literacy and implementation of health literacy interventions may help reduce inequalities and increase the responsiveness of health systems which could potentially facilitate Nepal to meet the sustainable development goals. While there is currently little in place for health literacy to impact on the SDG3, this paper generates insights into health literacy's potential role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to show the importance of Danube Region for the European countries. The European Union Strategy for the Danube River provides a framework for cooperation for the problems of the region: floods, transport, environment, energy, sustainable development. The reunions organized in EU countries try to highlight the importance of the EU Strategy for the Danube River. The paper highlights the Strategy work as key to Cohesion Policy as engine of growth. The Strategy for the Danube Region is a new way to overcome 20th century division and conflicts in the Region, and as an important impulse for overall socio-economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looked into the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as sine qua-non for improved services in public library in Nigeria: challenges and prospects. Questionnaire was used for the data collection. Out of ninety (90) copies of questionnaire distributed to all the library staff at Imo State Public Library, seventy-two (72) were used for the study and eight (8) copies were discarded for various reasons. Frequency and percentages were used to analyse research question one while mean and standard deviation were used to analyze other research questions. Regression was also used to test the null hypothesis formulated at 0.05 levels significant. The result depicted a very strong relationship between strategies utilized and the challenges faced by the library as it shows 86.1% level of coefficient between the duo. Based on this, it therefore rejects the null hypothesis which states that challenges faced by the library does not significantly affect the strategies utilized in the library to achieve SDG. Again from the result it was discovered that 90% of the staff said that they have heard of SDG before but only 7 (10%) said that it has been achieved in their libraries. This study therefore revealed the following as the reasons for non attainment of SDGs: lack of government support, lack of capacity building for staff, inadequate internet connectivity, lack of awareness on the services of the public library etc. Whereas the creation of massive campaign at various places in the town, full government support, provision of adequate funds and acquisition of all the necessary facilities with full internet connectivity have been identified as solutions for the actualization of the SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at the question of development by focusing on both Cuba and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. At the heart of the project is the notion of sustainability, and how to achieve well-being even in the most challenging conditions, isolated economies and sanction-laden realities. This is done by tracing both countries' engagement and development in the fields of health and education. We suggest that political engagement with these countries should be prioritised, without challenging an established political order but with its consent, and with the hope that future generations are socialised to a culture of openness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the critical role of personal agency in influencing health and development outcomes and presents a framework for implementing non-therapeutic cognitive-behavioral interventions that foster agency, especially for women, in resource-poor settings. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has placed "empowerment" at the center of global targets, particularly to improve individuals' health and development. Despite extensive research on individual and community empowerment, there is limited focus on the role of psychological and behavioral approaches directly fostering individual and collective agency in health programs. Fundamental to this process is the understanding that decision-making is an interaction between mental processes and one's current context. Approaches that allow individuals to understand how their beliefs, values, emotions, and thoughts impact their behaviors and can be modulated to increase their personal agency are needed. This model is illustrated through a pilot behavioral intervention with women engaged in sex work in Pune, India, demonstrating substantive benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explains why local leaders may adopt and promote forms of environmentalism that privilege aesthetic and class-based concerns, displacing environmentalisms of the poor, that promote more socially just and sustainable practices. Presenting a case study from Delhi, India, I ask why centralised and mechanised approaches to garbage services, which included incineration or "waste-to-energy," were promoted over manual recycling systems despite their unproven efficacy and significant expense. I argue that Indian leaders saw incineration as a mechanism for decontaminating garbage, and by association, de-stigmatising the city's reputation. Transforming a chaotic cluster of materials - garbage - into a singular object for incineration - fuel - allowed Indian bureaucrats and managers, who tend to be upper-caste men, claim and profit from materials that are recycled by lower-caste and Muslim informal workers. I analyze ethnographic and documentary evidence and find that these motivations became particularly legible during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, when postcolonial desires for international recognition were made explicit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study uses a qualitative empirical method to define Health Research for Development. This project explores the perspectives of stakeholders in an international health research partnership operating in Ghana and Tanzania.Methods: We conducted 52 key informant interviews with major stakeholders in an international multicenter partnership between GlaxoSmithKline (GSK, Vaccine Developer) and the global health nonprofit organisation PATH and its Malaria Vaccine Initiative program (PATH/MVI, Funder-Development Partner), (RTS, S) (NCT00866619). The respondents included teams from four clinical research centres (two centres in Ghana and two in Tanzania) and various collaborating partners. This paper analyses responses to the question: What is Health Research for Development?Results: Based on the stakeholders' experience the respondents offered many ways of defining Health Research for Development. The responses fell into four broad themes: i) Equitable Partnerships; ii) System Sustainability; iii) Addressing Local Health Targets, and iv) Regional Commitment to Benefit Sharing.Conclusion: Through defining Health Research for Development six key learning points were generated from the four result themes: 1) Ensure there is local research leadership working with the collaborative partnership, and local healthcare system, to align the project agenda and activities with local research and health priorities; 2) Know the country-specific context - map the social, health, legislative and political setting; 3) Define an explicit development component and plan of action in a research project; 4) Address the barriers and opportunities to sustain system capacity. 5) Support decentralised health system decision-making to facilitate the translation pathway; 6) Govern, monitor and evaluate the development components of health research partnerships. Overall, equity and unity between partners are required to deliver health research for development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sun is the primary energy source for all life on Earth. Solar energy is clean and is available all over the world. The total energy produced, in 2016, was 7236 MWh, while the total consumed was 6660 MWh. The average photovoltaic energy generated was 255 MWh, which accounts for 3.5% of the total production and 8.2% of the RES (3096 MWh). Investments in renewable energy in Romania began in late 2008, when Green Certificates were granted by Law no. 220. In this paper, we review the photovoltaic system development in Romania, from 2011, when the market began to develop, to the present day. The climate change and air pollution have to be slowed down and reduced by implementing renewable and sustainable solutions in order to generate electricity. The photovoltaic industry has an important role in Romania's development, both economically and environmentally and by having the “unlimited resource” advantage, it is a good alternative to fossil fuels. Now, the largest solar park in Romania, with 332,000 operational PV units, located in Ucea de Sus, Brasov County and commissioned in 2013, has an installed capacity of 82 MW, and covers a land surface of 200 ha. 178 years ago, French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photoelectric effect, in 1839. At the moment, the typical power of solar PV modules is less than 500 W, depending on efficiency and temperature sensitivity. Currently, long-term research on photovoltaic cells focus on increasing the power output, increasing the efficiency and reducing the temperature sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose With the retirement of the External Relations Director in early 2014, the Marriott Library’s new Dean used this opportunity to move library fundraising in a new direction. This paper aims to examine one approach to institutionalizing philanthropy to increase its effectiveness and creates a plan for implementation.Design/methodology/approach Changing the position expectations and hiring a new Development Director to lead the change has proven beneficial to the library staff and donors. The new Development Director and Dean are changing the culture of development at the Marriott Library by not only working closely with library faculty and staff but also through making them partners in all aspects of development work.Findings Although the new program has only been in place for a little more than a year, positive outcomes are already emerging. These include a more engaged staff, better served donors and an increase in donations to the library including, a multi-million dollar gift for a major renovation as well as a US$3.5 m gift of rare materials.Originality/value While there has been a lot of research on development, little of it focuses specifically on the assets and challenges libraries face within the context of large universities. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of library fundraising and offers a model of how libraries can leverage their staff and central role within the university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how tourism stakeholders conceptualise tourism in a green economy and how they foresee the transition to progress. With the meaning of a green economy remaining contested, the political agenda that the concept entails in a particular context can be far from clear. The paper provides a qualitative analysis of Towards a Green Economy and the publication Green Growth and Travelism to explore the implementation strategies and political agendas of tourism stakeholders. It outlines how stakeholders argue in line with international organisations that tourism can contribute to growth, development and poverty alleviation, while reducing environmental impacts. However, some researchers challenge the foundations of the green growth discourse. An exploration of these contradictions and of the political and economic implications of climate change leads the paper to argue that the particular framing of the green economy presents tourism in a way that sets the industry up for continued growth, while marginalising a much-needed radical transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rural tourism registers a growing evolution in the rural economy of Romania in the last 10 years, thanks to the progressive involvement of specialists, of entrepreneurs and also of the factors of local responsibility. However, there are many steps to go before making a superior recovery of the tourism potential which characterizes the Romanian villages. This requires the identification, the development and the implementation of some strategic options based on natural resource, but geared towards the sustainable use of it. Thus, this paper addresses the rural tourism development from the perspective of a strategic management in order to adopt and implement those strategic options aimed at the sustainable development of the rural tourism. Specifically, in the rural area of Sibiu Depression took place a field research study after the case methodology, which has contributed to the demonstration of the requirements for a sustainable development of the rural tourism in the specific examined area. The result consisted of the formulation, elaboration and adoption with a view to the implementation of some relevant strategic options for a sustainable development of the tourism in the rural area of Sibiu Depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methodological tools for developing a system for monitoring agricultural enterprises' activities based on forecasting their resilience to bankruptcy have been improved. In contrast to the existing methodological tools, the author's proposals are based on decomposing the priority of monitoring objects, clarifying the logic of relationships between indicators that characterize these objects, and applying probit-analysis to identify changes in the values of factors that cause a decrease in agricultural enterprise resilience to bankruptcy. The practical value of the improved methodological tools is in the possibility of its application by managers of agricultural enterprises to predict their resilience to bankruptcy. Considering the forecast is based on grading integrated monitoring objects because of their priority, the proposed tools allow identifying causal links in judgments about expectations of changing management rationality in an enterprise and an enterprise's compliance with sustainable development values under the influence of enterprise resilience to bankruptcy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigeria over time has intended to make its quest for development a reality. At various intervals, the country had developed and adopted policies and programs to foster development and sustain it. However, as evidenced by literature and empirical data, these policies have recorded little success. The well-documented goals, targets and measurable indicators of the Millennium Development Goals by the United Nations flickered a ray of hope regarding development in Nigeria. However, the progress concerning the attainment of the MDGs does not depict the initial stance of the goals in the country. Using secondary data, the study critically examined MDGs in Nigeria and futuristic ways of enhancing the sustainability of the SDGs in the country. The paper recommends a multi-sectoral approach to the implementation of developmental programmes will aid the accomplishment of the SDGs in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]