SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - A THIRD WORLD NGO PERSPECTIVE

The dominant development paradigm, based on growth and the market, has failed. It has compromised the ability of developing societies to pursue environmentally sustainable patterns of lifestyle. The export orientation which this system encourages has produced inequalities within and between third world societies and between them and developed societies. Experience suggests that the structural adjustment policies implemented under the advocacy of the Bretton Woods institutions in the Third world have failed to improve the quality of life of most in these countries. On the contrary, it has often led to a worsening of the situation, further widening the gap betwen the rich and the poor in these countries. Given the extremely unsatisfactory levels of consumption in these countries, barely adequate to ensure survival, it is imperative that third world countries increase consumption to ensure a sustainable quality of life to their citizens. Their concerns, however, are to tackle the formidable challenges of meeting the demands of increased counsumption in a manner which does not compromise sustainability.

We propose therefore, that the peoples of the world adopt alternative model(s) of development based on the principles of democracy, equity and sustainability. To that effect, we suggest the following practical steps:

• - a development model drawing on the time tested skills of women as producers;
• - states should create conditions that ensure greater participation and empowerment of people in all stages of development process; and
• - adoption of land reforms coupled with the provision of credit facilities as a basis of creating employment and sustainable development.

Yash Tandon C. R. Soman Mak Makalima Manfred Max-Neef Adebayo Adedeji