Today we live in a world of sharp contrasts. There has been great progress in human and economic development as well as great opportunities for reducing poverty in the globalizing economy. Information flows more freely than ever before. Yet deep-seated imbalances threaten socio-political sustainability.
With more than a billion people living on less than a dollar a day, the gap between rich and poor is wide. Millions are affected by war and other forms of violence. Many men and women are powerless and excluded from opportunities because they lack the capabilities to make the system in which they must live work on their behalf.
In debates about general development, it is agreed that economic growth is necessary, but not sufficient, to improve human well-being. Instead, poverty-reduction efforts must also address the human, environmental and social dimensions of development. Just as economic development means positive economic change, social development means positive social change.