Evaluating environment in international development: An introduction

Abstract

Environment and development are intrinsically interlinked. There is an environment-poverty nexus that is often neglected in development endeavours that aim for economic growth and/or poverty reduction. Too often activities that aim for economic development end up destroying the very environmental and natural resource base on which the people and, ultimately, the economy depend. We also know that gender considerations are at the centre of sustainable development. Indigenous peoples in many parts of the world often live close to the nature. Their worldviews also often reflect a holistic perspective that sees humankind as part of the natural world. Natural capital is routinely ignored in economic calculations. There is a need to be better able to demonstrate the economic value of the environment and natural resources, while not losing sight of the intrinsic value of nature that cannot be measured in monetary terms. Evaluation must contribute to a better understanding of how environment and development interact and to identifying win-win solutions and approaches to the problems. Evaluation must also consider the big picture, the larger impacts that all of our projects, programmes, strategies and policies aim to contribute to. To remain relevant in the increasingly complex and interconnected world, it is essential for evaluation as a profession and as a practice to engage in the discourse at the nexus of human and natural systems. This chapter places evaluation in the context of sustainable development, highlighting how ecosystem health and human health are closely interlinked as demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provides an overall introduction to the 2nd edition of the book Evaluating Environment in International Development.