scholarly journals Contracting in land and natural resources: a tale of exclusion

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-153
Author(s):  
Federica Violi

By browsing the website of Land Matrix, one can measure the extent of land-related large-scale investments in natural resources (LRINRs) and place it on the world map. At the time of writing, the extent of these investments covers an area equal to the surfaces of Spain and Portugal together – or, for football fans, around 60 million football pitches. These investment operations have often been saluted as instrumental to achieve the developmental needs of host countries and as the necessary private counterpart to state (and interstate) efforts aimed at (sustainable) development goals. Yet, the realities on the ground offer a scenario characterised by severe instances of displacement of indigenous or local communities and environmental disruptions. The starting point of this short essay is that these ‘externalities’ are generated through the legal construct enabling the implementation of these investment operations. As such, this contribution lies neatly in the line of research set forth in the excellent books of Kinnari Bhatt and Jennifer Lander, from the perspective of both the development culture shaping these investment operations and the private–public environment in which these are situated. The essay tries and dialogues with both components, while focusing at a metalevel on the theoretical shifts potentially geared to turn a ‘tale of exclusion’ into a ‘tale of inclusion’.

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 063
Author(s):  
Lily Rahmawati Harahap

As known, Indonesia is a nation with the largerst Moslem society in the world. According to data issued by Bappenas, in 2020 the population of Indonesia is predicted about 271,066,400 people (Bappenas: 2018). 85 percent of this population (ca. 230.406.440 people) are Moslems. It shows the huge potential in the acceptance of zakat fund, as an obligation for a Moslem who has qualified in accordance with the provisions of Islam.            Since MDGs declared in 2000 (UNRC: 2008) which contains a commitment to accelerate human development and poverty alleviation (8 goals),  Indonesia has a strong commitment to achieve the MDGs targets became one of Indonesia’s main priorities. As a continuation of the MDGs program, in 2015, more than 190 world leaders committed to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Indonesia, 17 SDGs are grouped into 4 part, one of them is poverty alleviation (UNDP Indonesia: 2018). One of the goals for poverty alleviation is explained with the goal number 8, that is decent work and economic growth. And one of the drivers the existence of decent work and economic growth is the growth of entrepreneurship activities.The growth of entrepreneurship can be implemented with the support of funds. One of them come from the distribution of zakat fund acceptance.            By terminology, zakat means a certain amount of property that is required by Allah SWT to be given to the mustahik mentioned in the Qur’an. Or it could also mean a certain amount of certain property given to a particular person (Solihin: 2010). There is a fund transfer from muzaki (zakat payer) to mustahik (zakat recipient).With the transfer of funds, there is an expectation that there will be a better life change for mustahik, so that in time they will be becomes muzaki.This activity is expected to occur continously, forming a circle of increasing goodness. And ultimately will improve society wellbeing.            To support this paper, the author use a qualitative methods with secondary datas and supported by Tawhidi String Relation (TSR) theory which includes the method of circular causation and IIE (interaction, integration and evolution) method. Keywords : zakat, entrepreneurship, poverty alleviation, SDGs, TSR 


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 916-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl P. Sauvant ◽  
Howard Mann

Abstract Reaching the Sustainable Development Goals has become the lodestar of development policymaking. Increased sustainable Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows to developing countries can contribute to reaching the Goals. This article analyzes 150 instruments (treaties, standards, codes) prepared by key stakeholder groups in the FDI space bearing on the relationship between host countries and foreign investors, to identify FDI sustainability characteristics along the following four dimensions: economic, social and environmental development and governance. These instruments indicate especially the contributions government expect multinational enterprises (MNEs) to make to host countries and those MNEs expect to make to host countries. The analysis yields a set of indicative ‘common FDI sustainability characteristics’, and ‘emerging common FDI sustainability characteristics’. These characteristics can guide various stakeholder groups that seek to increase the contribution of FDI to development; the World Trade Organization’s Structured Discussions concerning an investment facilitation framework for development; and to arbitrators seeking to take the development dimension into account when deliberating investor-state disputes.


2021 ◽  
pp. 109821402098207
Author(s):  
John Atkinson ◽  
Florence Lasbennes ◽  
David Nabarro

We present this brief reflection on key aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the implications of the worldwide focus on achieving the sustainable development goals as external observers of the evaluation endeavor around the world. We have conducted and participated in evaluations, but it is not our primary field of work and we are not engaged in the global community of evaluation specialists. However, we believe that the urgency of the challenges confronting the world today should inspire those influencing and shaping evaluation internationally to focus much more fiercely on the value of evaluation and its implications for leadership at all levels and in all fields of work. We propose that evaluation as practice should support and help inspire, value, and evaluate the type of leadership that the world needs now—dynamic and purposeful “living systems” leaders working toward large-scale, drastic change.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9813
Author(s):  
Ju Young Lee ◽  
Sandra Waddock

The challenges that are associated with the 17 United Nations sustainable development goals are wickedly complex and interconnected in nature. Because they require transformational changes at the systems level, the pace of change has, so far, been nowhere near fast enough to meet the goals by 2030. In this paper, we analyze the catalytic actions of a novel form of organizing that could potentially facilitate the timely achievement of transformational aspirations such as the SDGs: the transformation catalyst (TC). By identifying 27 TCs and analyzing their vision, mission, values, and their practices represented on their websites, we elaborate the following four key ways that TCs are distinctive from other entities, and therefore potentially more capable of facilitating transformational changes at the systems level: (1) TCs have transformation agendas that target systems-level solutions to bring about large-scale and fundamental changes in the relevant system(s), as opposed to more incremental or fragmented approaches; (2) TCs engage in catalytic actions, such as connecting, cohering, and amplifying the work of partners and collaborators; (3) TCs clearly acknowledge the current status quo, attributions, and urgency (i.e., sensemaking) of the issues on which they focus; and finally, (4) TCs embody systems orientation. In exploring how TCs work, we hope to build a solid conceptual framework for understanding the nature of transformative catalytic action on societal issues, and consolidate our understanding of what elements are needed if TCs are to work, providing a starting point for future research.


Khazanah ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurul Aidatul Fitriah ◽  
◽  
Brilianza Azharul Mujahidin ◽  
Adi Nugraha ◽  
◽  
...  

The Covid-19 pandemic around the world has caused many problems in various sectors. The implementation of lockdown and large-scale social restrictions made it difficult to distribute foodstuffs from producers to consumers and also to deliver humanitarian aid. This made the inequalities even wider. The pandemic also resulted in an economic crisis which resulted in increased unemployment so that many people were starving because they could not afford food. This certainly hinders the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially No Hunger and Reduced Inequalities points. In West Java, reviving the Beas Perelek tradition is a solution. However, a question arises whether this tradition can be applied in a time of the Covid-19 pandemic like today. The objective of this research is to describe the implementation and analyze the potential for sustainability of Beas Perelek in the society of West Java also to provide strategic elaboration recommendations to achieve sustainable development goals during the Covid-19 pandemic.To achieve the objective, this research using qualitative methods by collecting data from literature studies. The sustainability analysis technique uses the rapfish-MDS and the SWOT method to formulate an elaboration strategy of Beas Perelek. The result of the research showed that the tradition of Beas Perelek had benefits in reducing hunger and inequalities in society. The result of the research shows the continuity of the tradition of Beas Perelek in the good category with continuing status. To increase the implementation of Beas Perelek during the pandemic, it is necessary to carry out several elaboration strategies such as being revitalized into an economic institution, using technological innovations, and making special policies that regulate the implementation of the Beas Perelek.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Dickens ◽  
Vladimir Smakhtin ◽  
Matthew McCartney ◽  
Gordon O’Brien ◽  
Lula Dahir

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are high on the agenda for most countries of the world. In its publication of the SDGs, the UN has provided the goals and target descriptions that, if implemented at a country level, would lead towards a sustainable future. The IAEG (InterAgency Expert Group of the SDGs) was tasked with disseminating indicators and methods to countries that can be used to gather data describing the global progress towards sustainability. However, 2030 Agenda leaves it to countries to adopt the targets with each government setting its own national targets guided by the global level of ambition but taking into account national circumstances. At present, guidance on how to go about this is scant but it is clear that the responsibility is with countries to implement and that it is actions at a country level that will determine the success of the SDGs. Reporting on SDGs by country takes on two forms: i) global reporting using prescribed indicator methods and data; ii) National Voluntary Reviews where a country reports on its own progress in more detail but is also able to present data that are more appropriate for the country. For the latter, countries need to be able to adapt the global indicators to fit national priorities and context, thus the global description of an indicator could be reduced to describe only what is relevant to the country. Countries may also, for the National Voluntary Review, use indicators that are unique to the country but nevertheless contribute to measurement of progress towards the global SDG target. Importantly, for those indicators that relate to the security of natural resources security (e.g., water) indicators, there are no prescribed numerical targets/standards or benchmarks. Rather countries will need to set their own benchmarks or standards against which performance can be evaluated. This paper presents a procedure that would enable a country to describe national targets with associated benchmarks that are appropriate for the country. The procedure builds on precedent set in other countries but in particular on a procedure developed for the setting of Resource Quality Objectives in South Africa. The procedure focusses on those SDG targets that are natural resource-security focused, for example, extent of water-related ecosystems (6.6), desertification (15.3) and so forth, because the selection of indicator methods and benchmarks is based on the location of natural resources, their use and present state and how they fit into national strategies.


Author(s):  
Chris G. Pope ◽  
Meng Ji ◽  
Xuemei Bai

The chapter argues that whether or not the world is successful in attaining sustainability, political systems are in a process of epoch-defining change as a result of the unsustainable demands of our social systems. This chapter theorizes a framework for analyzing the political “translation” of sustainability norms within national polities. Translation, in this sense, denotes the political reinterpretation of sustainable development as well as the national capacities and contexts which impact how sustainability agendas can be instrumentalized. This requires an examination into the political architecture of a national polity, the norms that inform a political process, socioecological contexts, the main communicative channels involved in the dissemination of political discourse and other key structures and agencies, and the kinds of approaches toward sustainability that inform the political process. This framework aims to draw attention to the ways in which global economic, political, and social systems are adapting and transforming as a result of unsustainability and to further understanding of the effectiveness of globally diffused sustainability norms in directing that change.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Van Den Hazel

Abstract The Global Burden of Disease is the most comprehensive effort to date to measure epidemiological levels and trends worldwide. It is the product of a global research collaborative and quantifies the impact of hundreds of diseases, injuries, and risk factors in countries around the world. The publication published in The Lancet on September 12, 2017, namely the study, “Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016,” is the starting point to discuss the health-related SDG indicators as develop by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and Global Burden of Disease collaborators. The projected increases in mortality are steep for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other chronic diseases. Non-communicable diseases are increasingly recognized as major causes of death and disability worldwide. The question is whether the targets in the SDGs are sufficiently addressing these increases. Or are demographic changes underlying the projected increases? Health related SDGs have been addressed in a tool made by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Results on air pollution, smoking, unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene are presented by current and projected data in an interactive tool.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1268
Author(s):  
Angel Valentin Mercedes Garcia ◽  
Petra Amparo López-Jiménez ◽  
Francisco-Javier Sánchez-Romero ◽  
Modesto Pérez-Sánchez

The world is continuously searching for ways to improve how water is used for energy. As the population increases, so do the needs for natural resources and, in turn, the needs for energy. This research sought to show how the world has tried to achieve more sustainable forms of pressurized water distribution and to show the results that have been obtained. In this sense, technologies have been used for the production of clean energy, energy recovery instead of dissipation, reprogramming of pumping stations and hybrid systems. In many cases, much lower water and energy requirements are achieved and, in turn, greenhouse gas emissions related to water use are reduced. Sixty-one different water systems were analyzed considering different energy, economic and environmental indicators. The different operation range of these indicators were defined according to sustainable indicators.


2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 793-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sibylle L Herzig Van Wees ◽  
Mats Målqvist ◽  
Rachel Irwin

The Swedish Global Health Research Conference held in Stockholm, 18–19 April 2018, convened researchers from across Sweden’s universities to foster collaboration and new research. In response to the theme of the conference, How can Sweden contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals? From research to action, many of the plenary and keynote speakers highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary research and teaching. This commentary draws upon a workshop discussing interdisciplinarity, which took place at the conference. Participants included senior professors, lecturers, students and collaborators from the private sector and civil society and we discussed the conceptual and structural challenges that prevent engagement in interdisciplinary research. Although the workshop focused on the Swedish context, issues will be familiar to researchers working outside of Sweden. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals highlight the grand challenges for global society and are intertwined, with progress in one affecting progress in all others. With this starting point, we argue that interdisciplinary research is the way to achieve them. Accordingly, we need to overcome the conceptual and structural challenges that can hinder it. We therefore argue for a paradigm shift of how we value knowledge. We also call for fundamental changes in external and internal (university-level) funding structures, and for the strengthening of interdisciplinary global health teaching.


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