Critical Thinking on Disability and Development in the Global South

Research Policy ◽

Global South ◽

Critical Discussion ◽

Inclusive Development ◽

Emerging Issues ◽

Global North ◽

The need to focus on disability in the Global South as an academic and practice endeavor has garnered some support in recent years, often backed by frequent references to a disability and poverty relationship, and a consequent need to link disability and international development. Indeed, calls for disability mainstreaming, disability targeting, and emerging discourse on disability-inclusive development (DID) have stepped up, accompanied by policy developments and declarations such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the sustainable development goals (SDGS). Despite these shifts, disability remains marginalized in development research, policy, and programs. Overall, there is a lack of critical discussion on “disability and development,” and difficult questions, including those regarding the implications of development for disabled people, are often forsaken in favor of an approach that seeks to simplify and generalize. The result is that accounts on disability and development are not only partial and fragmented but also neocolonizing. Inspired by critical disability studies and decolonial theory, this chapter reflects critically on some of these concerns, addressing emerging issues that arise when Global North disability discourse and “development” confront complex and dynamic heterogeneous Southern spaces and disability.

Where Is Disability in Global Public Health?

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Global Public Health ◽

10.1093/acrefore/9780190632366.013.287 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gloria Krahn

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Sustainable Development ◽

Global South ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Models Of Disability ◽

Development Goals ◽

The Individual

Accounting for about 15% of the world’s population, persons with disabilities constitute a critical population. Despite a substantial knowledge base in disability and public health, persons with disabilities have been remarkably invisible within general global public health. Public health’s view of disability is shifting from regarding disability only as an outcome to prevent, to using disability as a demographic characteristic that identifies a population experiencing a range of inequities. Alternative models of disability reflect how disability has been viewed over time. These models vary in their underlying values and assumptions, whether the locus of disability is the individual or the environment or their interaction, who designates “disability,” and the focus of intervention outcomes. The United Nations flagship report on Disability and Sustainable Development Goals, 2018 documents that, as a group, the lives of persons with disabilities are marked by large disparities in Sustainable Development Goal indicators. These include increased likelihood of experiencing poverty, hunger, poor health, and unemployment, and greater likelihood of encountering barriers to education and literacy, clean water and sanitation, energy, and information technology. Overall, persons with disabilities experience greater inequalities, and this is particularly experienced by women and girls with disabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters have highlighted the gaps in equality and consequent vulnerability of this population. Global disability data have improved dramatically during the decade from 2010 to 2020 with the advent of standardized disability question sets (Washington Group) and model surveys (Model Disability Survey). New studies from the Global South and North identify areas and strategies for interventions that can effectively advance the Sustainable Development Goals. This call-to-action outlines strategies for increasing visibility and improving wellbeing of persons with disabilities, particularly in the Global South. Increased visibility of the disability population within the global public health community can be achieved through active engagement of persons with disabilities. Improved collection of disability data and routine analysis by disability status can provide information vital to planning and policies. A twin-track approach can provide direction for interventions—inclusion in mainstream programs where possible, use of disability-specific and rehabilitation approaches where necessary. The article ends by outlining ways that multiple roles can increase the inclusion of persons with disabilities in global public health.

Volunteering and the Sustainable Development Goals: an opportunity to move beyond boundaries

Voluntary Sector Review ◽

10.1332/204080520x15884252988018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 251-260

Author(s):

Angela Ellis Paine ◽

Cliff Allum ◽

Danielle Beswick ◽

Benjamin J. Lough

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Research Policy ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Interdisciplinary Learning ◽

Global North ◽

Development Goals ◽

The Uk

There is growing recognition of the role that volunteering can play in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Evidence of its contribution, however, remains relatively weak, including for countries in the Global North such as the UK. This is compounded by limited collaboration between those concerned with volunteering and those concerned with development. The SDGs provide an opportunity to bring together research, policy and practice on volunteering and development, and on international and ‘domestic’ volunteering, enabling valuable interdisciplinary learning.

Global Health and International Development

The Oxford Handbook of Global Health Politics ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190456818.013.14 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 216-235

Author(s):

Andrew Harmer ◽

Jonathan Kennedy

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Sustainable Development ◽

Global Health ◽

Economic System ◽

Development Goals ◽

The Relationship ◽

Global Population

This chapter explores the relationship between international development and global health. Contrary to the view that development implies ‘good change’, this chapter argues that the discourse of development masks the destructive and exploitative practices of wealthy countries at the expense of poorer ones. These practices, and the unregulated capitalist economic system that they are part of, have created massive inequalities between and within countries, and potentially catastrophic climate change. Both of these outcomes are detrimental to global health and the millennium development goals and sustainable development goals do not challenge these dynamics. While the Sustainable Development Goals acknowledge that inequality and climate change are serious threats to the future of humanity, they fail to address the economic system that created them. Notwithstanding, it is possible that the enormity and proximity of the threat posed by inequality and global warming will energise a counter movement to create what Kate Raworth terms ‘an ecologically safe and socially just space’ for the global population while there is still time.

Strengthening the Participation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in the Decision-Making of National Government and the United Nations: Further Analyses of the International Disability Alliance Global Survey

Disabilities ◽

10.3390/disabilities1030016 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 202-217

Author(s):

Joanne McVeigh ◽

Malcolm MacLachlan ◽

Delia Ferri ◽

Hasheem Mannan

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Secondary Data ◽

National Government ◽

Daily Lives ◽

Global Survey ◽

Development Policies ◽

The participation of organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) is crucial at each stage of policy processes at the local, regional, and international levels. However, decision-making mechanisms have traditionally excluded OPDs, failing to consult with them on decisions that impact on their daily lives. The overall aim of this study was to examine the participation of persons with disabilities and OPDs in development programmes and policies by exploring recommendations from a sample of OPDs on ways to strengthen their participation with government and the UN. Secondary data analysis was conducted using a global survey on the participation of OPDs, administered by the International Disability Alliance to OPD representatives. Two open-ended items were analysed, which explored participants’ recommendations on ways to strengthen their participation with government and the UN. Data were analysed using the descriptive and interpretive qualitative methods. Respondents provided recommendations on how to strengthen their participation with their national government and the UN, focusing on several issues including accessibility, human rights, and the need for inclusion of all OPDs and all groups of persons with disabilities. The synergy between the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals presents opportunities for OPDs to increase their participation in development policies and programmes. It is vital, however, to dismantle the barriers to participation in decision-making by OPDs and persons with disabilities.

Relevance of Self-Help Groups in Economic and Social Development of India

Global Business & Economics Anthology ◽

10.47341/gbea.21036 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Vyomesh Pant

Keyword(s):

Social Development ◽

Poverty Alleviation ◽

Inclusive Development ◽

Women Empowerment ◽

Self Help ◽

Development Goals ◽

Employment Generation ◽

Self Help Groups

In this paper, a model for development of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) has been presented in perspective of India to ensure the Economic and Social development of the country and addressing, simultaneously, some of the major challenges being faced by India. Adequate microfinancing to the SHGs and developing entrepreneurship among its members may help in achieving several targets like poverty alleviation, women empowerment, employment generation, homogeneous development etc. If planned properly, the SHGs can become an instrument for all round and all-inclusive development of India or any other similarly placed developing country. SHGs may also play an import role in the endeavour of India to become a five trillion economy, to achieve self-sustainability and to attain the Sustainable Development Goals.

Rural Tourism within the Sustainable Development Goals: the Case of Ukraine

SHS Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/shsconf/20219501004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 95 ◽

pp. 01004

Author(s):

Hanna Shevchenko ◽

Mykola Petrushenko

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Value Added ◽

Graphical Analysis ◽

Rural Tourism ◽

Inclusive Development ◽

Green Tourism ◽

Research background: rural tourism is an economic and environmental activity that fits harmoniously into the concept of sustainable and inclusive development. In Ukraine, it is called rural green tourism, but in practice not all aspects of it can meet the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Purpose of the article: to analyze the relationship between the structures of the rural tourism goals and the SDGs, to demonstrate the evolution, possibilities of the development on the example of Ukraine’s rural tourism, especially in the framework of the European Green Deal. Methods: factor analysis – when studying the structure of the rural tourism goals and the factors that affect it, as well as when comparing it with the structure of other sustainable activities; elements of graph theory – in the graphical analysis of the Sustainable Development Goals decomposition in their projection into the plane of rural tourism. Findings & Value added: the structure of the rural green tourism goals in Ukraine have been harmonized with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Sustainability factors have been identified that allow the tourism and recreation sphere in the medium and long term perspective not only to form a competitive market for relevant services, but also to serve as an important component of the inclusive development. Factors of tourism sphere transformation due to the coronavirus pandemic are taken into consideration. The concept of the phased programming in sphere of rural tourism in Ukraine within the framework of the European Green Deal 2030 and 2050 has been improved.

Urban equality and the SDGs: three provocations for a relational agenda

International Development Planning Review ◽

10.3828/idpr.2021.6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (0) ◽

pp. 1-20

Author(s):

Stephanie Butcher

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Sustainable Development ◽

Urban Poor ◽

Global South ◽

Significant Potential ◽

Development Goals ◽

Equitable Outcomes ◽

The City

We live in an increasingly urban, increasingly unequal world. This is nowhere more evident than in cities of the global South, where many residents face deep injustices in their ability to access vital services, participate in decision-making or to have their rights recognised as citizens. In this regard, the rallying cry of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ‘leave no one behind’ offers significant potential to guide urbanisation processes towards more equitable outcomes, particularly for the urban poor. Yet the SDGs have also faced a series of criticisms which have highlighted the gaps and silences in moving towards a transformative agenda. This article explores the potentials of adopting a relational lens to read the SDGs, as a mechanism to navigate these internal contradictions and critiques and build pathways to urban equality. In particular, it offers three questions if we want to place urban equality at the heart of the agenda: who owns the city; who produces knowledge about the city; and who is visible in the city? Drawing from the practices of organised groups of the urban poor, this article outlines the key lessons for orienting this agenda towards the relational and transformative aims of urban equality.

Addressing the Drivers of Digital Technology for Disability-Inclusive Development

10.1093/oso/9780198846413.003.0003 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 32-57

Author(s):

Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo ◽

Deepti Samant Raja

Keyword(s):

Technical Change ◽

Social Inclusion ◽

Digital Technologies ◽

Inclusive Development ◽

Success Stories ◽

Self Sufficiency ◽

The Social ◽

Digital Development

Digital technologies represent the fastest, broadest, and deepest technical change experienced in international development, affecting every sector. Inclusive and accessible technology increases access by persons with disabilities to markets, spaces, and services. This has raised opportunities as well as the stakes, to ensure that technology-driven development is inclusive of the diverse needs of persons with disabilities. Digital ecosystems can evolve to advance toward the social inclusion, economic self-sufficiency, and resilience of persons with disabilities. There are success stories, but also continuing inequities and gaps in access, affordability, and usage of technology by persons with disabilities. Ultimately, investments in infrastructure, skills, regulation, and institutions are necessary to ensure accessible and inclusive digital development.

The Role of Business in International Development and the Attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals

10.1017/9781108907293.006 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 86-114

Author(s):

Katerina Akestoridi

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

International development assistance and health

Health Equity in a Globalizing Era ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198835356.003.0007 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 140-163

Author(s):

Ronald Labonté ◽

Arne Ruckert

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Global Health ◽

Development Assistance ◽

Macroeconomic Policies ◽

Health Gains ◽

Development Goals ◽

The 1960S ◽

Open Question

The pursuit of global health gains has been one the aims of international development policy for several decades. Along with migration, trade agreements and dominant macroeconomic policies (i.e., neoliberalism), development assistance (aid) is one of the defining elements of contemporary globalization, a noblesse oblige on the part of wealthier nations to support the improvement of lives in poorer, often former colonized, nations. Rarely achieving its stated commitments, and declining since its peak-generosity in the 1960s, aid has been subject to intense disagreements, vacillating between being seen as creating a neocolonial dependency, to arguments for its absolute necessity in saving lives. Since 2000 the aid discourse has been dominated by global development goals, the first set expiring in 2015 (the Millennium Development Goals) and the next and more exhaustive set running until 2030 (the Sustainable Development Goals). Whether these new goals will deliver on their commitments remains an open question.