A changing agenda for international development

Abstract

The international development agenda is currently undergoing a disruption that will reshape development practices into the foreseeable future. There are two major reasons behind the emerging new approach. First, the issues that traditionally have set the agenda, such as poverty and malnutrition, are increasingly concentrated in nations characterized by violent conflict and fragile state institutions. By 2030, the World Bank predicts that almost 90 percent of the people living below the international poverty line will reside in just 31 countries. Of these countries, 24 have been classified as fragile states, and 13 of them are either embroiled in civil war or have recently seen high levels of conflict and violence. Second, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, seek to create inclusive, peaceful, resilient and prosperous societies in a sustainable manner. Since no country-whether low or high income-has found a path to sustainable development, an important element of the SDGs is the idea that the goals are universal for all states, not just the developing nations. The chapter explores the impact of the emerging development agenda, and discusses some of the obstacles to development efforts created by the new approach.