Social and Economic Development Resources

Social and economic development is sustainable growth measured by quality of life and standard of living of developing communities and countries. That growth is achieved through building an infrastructure of individual and community jobs and educational resources. Developing transportation systems such as roadways where there were none, water resources when rivers are dry, teaching self-sufficiency and self-worth in the face of poverty in order to eradicate underlying causes of poverty. These help sustain community growth, which in turn works together to sustain country growth.

By microfinancing small business loans, working to lower crime, infant mortality, integrating cultures instead of diversity being a barrier to social and economic development, these create sustainable growth. By teaching each individual to maintain shelter, to find basic health care, to create family units that are self-sufficient, this aids in community development.

Social and economic development are global issues that begins with the individual progressing through grassroots effort to build lasting communities and nations that will sustain future generations.

Development Assistance Agencies, Organizations, and Policies

Development Assistance Organizations - U.S. and European links to social and development assistance organizations.

Working with Official Development Agencies - Offers best practice case studies and explores the benefits of interfacing with high-level development agencies and governments in order to channel assistance to developing countries.

USAID - Provides global development, economic, and humanitarian assistance supporting U.S. foreign policy.

Global Development Reform - Changes addressed regarding the 2010 fiscal year budget which funds the federal foreign assistance accounts and other foreign assistance and development reform issues.

Development Information by Country - Aid issues for each country including statistics, evaluation of programs, development goals.

Levels of Social Development

Level I: Individual and Group Empowerment

Immigrant and Refugee Rights - The National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights assists individuals and groups, no matter their immigration standing, to defend and expand their basic human rights.

Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now – Nation's largest grassroots community organization dedicated to social and economic justice.

Level II: Conflict Resolution

Prejudice - Addresses issues of race, discrimination, and cultural diversity.

Level III: Institution-Building

Nonprofit Boards - Building better boardrooms to build better institutions.

NASCO – North American Students of Cooperation and their members promote a community based cooperative movement.

Level IV: Community-Building

Rural Communities - Developing and enhancing the lives of those who live in rural areas.

Institute for Sustainable Communities – Organization that believes in the ability of communities to help themselves grow prosperous, peaceful, healthier, and stable.

Level V: Nation-Building

Unstable Nations - Defines nation building and its evolution.

Women and Nation-Building – An in-depth look at the role of women in nation building.

Level VI: Region-Building

NATO - Provides consultation, defense, and crisis management regarding issues in security.

Organization of American States – OAS works to support human rights, development, democracy, and security through legal action, cooperation, and politcal dialogue.

Level VII: World-Building

World Transformation - A portal of world-changing ideas, resources and informational articles.

Institute for Global Ethics – A nonprofit organization that is dedicated to promoting ethic action globally.

Sectoral Resources for Social and Economic Development 

Arts & Culture

World Wide Arts Resources - News, art history, gallery portfolios, and contemporary artist information for over 170,000 works.

Agriculture

U.N. Food and Agriculture - Programs, global issues, country briefs, statistics, and sustainable food resource development.

Education

World Literacy - Research and development for worldwide literacy initiatives.

Employment

Job Development - International job bank and news source.

Environment

Sustainable Development - Multimedia resource on biodiversity, climate change, wildlife, news, analysis, and policymaking.

Food and Hunger

Micronutrient Initiative - Helping those most in need in developing countries get the vitamins and minerals to grow and survive.

Health & Mental/Behavioral Health

Center for Health Information and Technology - Organization that deals with the needs of health care providers.

Housing & Homelessness

UN Habitat - Promotes sustainable urban development to make certain everyone is sheltered.

Human Rights

Human Rights Watch - Current information on policymakers, action alerts, breaking news, and ways to take action to stop human rights abuse.

Peace and Peace Studies

Global Threats to Peace - Defining worldwide peace issues.

Population

Population Reference Bureau - Information about people, their health, and their environment to empower them to create better lives for today and for future generations.

Rural & Urban Development

HUD Agenda - Positive approaches to cities and suburbs of the 21st century.

Social Services

Global Impact - Fifty U.S.-based international charities represented for those in need. 

Technology

Sustainable Development - Centers on local solutions for energy, agriculture, and community development. 

Transportation

Geographical Transportation - Discusses the direct and indirect economic and social impacts of transportation.

Resources on Historically Disadvantaged Population Groups

Poverty Studies - The Institute for Research on Poverty defines poverty, its causes, its consequences.

Chicano Studies - UCLA continues over 40 years of ethnic and minority studies, with Chicano studies being just one of the groups.

ECRE - Protecting and learning about the world's refugees and exiles.

People with Disabilities - GLADNET works with organizations to promote training and employment opportunities for those with disabilities.

Age Concern - Minority ethnic elderly issues of work, age equality, human rights and aged refugees.

Country Resources

CIA World Factbook - Information on 266 countries regarding their people, history, governments, and transnational issues.

UNESCO - Promotes collaboration among countries toward international peace through education, scientific and cultural.

International Law – Searchable database of laws by country.

U.S. Department of State – Find information on location of U.S Embassy, press releases and other reports on any country.

World Development Goals - Searchable by country. The eight main goals of world development. Eradicating hunger and poverty is the number one goal.

Careers in Social and Economic Development

Social Work - A student's guide to international social work.

Job Bank - U.S. government community and economic development job listings.

The "Romantic" Career - Exotic locales make it a romantic job, but it is demanding work. Most start with the Peace Corps.