Diseño y Descripción de los Formularios de Pre inversión

It is imperative to look at the concept of social development as this research is approached from the social dimension of SD in the context of health. Health is classified as a social issue, therefore making it a part of social development. This section particularly draws on the work of James Midgley, who has written extensively on social development. As a starting point, it is essential to understand what is meant by social development. According to Midgley (2013), there is no unanimously agreed definition to social development. All descriptions

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give priority to different kinds of interventions; the different approaches of defining the concept echo the diverse normative beliefs of scholars and practitioners; they also expose a variety of ideas which find expression in social development theory and practice. Midgley and Pawar (2016) assert that social development emerged from the 1950s onwards, since then, there has been a relative improvement in social conditions in developing countries, although poverty has not been eradicated, these improvements of social conditions came about through projects sponsored by governments, non-profit organisations, international development agencies, and local communities. Clarke (2016) posit that there is a connection between poverty and development. According to Clarke, if development seeks to improve the lives of the poor which are characterised by premature death, preventable diseases, limited access to clean water and sanitation, poor economics and often, illiteracy- those who have an interest in improving the conditions of the poor should also make ‘good development’ outcomes their priority.

Oakley (1986) had argued that social development projects, which includes: education, housing, water supply, and health services, are acclaimed to be the initiatives of NGOs, or other local voluntary organisations. This is, however, not suggesting that government development programmes are not concerned about social development. Development literature has it that state-governments and other private sector institutions around the world have created/creating social development policies in a bid to elevate the standards of living of their citizens (Gumede 2018; Mkandawire 2004; Stubbs 2003). As Midgley and Pawar (2016) assert, social development interventions are being implemented across the nations of the world and have contributed positively to peoples’ welfare. Despite these achievements, it cannot be claimed that social development has adequately addressed the social problems facing some countries, especially

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developing countries. Many development experts argue that progress has been uneven, and welfare gains unequalled; there are significant disparities in the access to some social services, for example, healthcare, education and affordable housing within countries.

According to White and John Lee (2006), the social dimension of SD has received less attention in comparison to the economic and environmental aspects. However, it is as significant as the other two dimensions of SD. ‘Social development is an idea, and it is a practical idea’ as Midgley and Pawar (2016: 5) assert. Social development has evolved over the years- entrenched in practical responses to social problems, it consists of a variety of interventions designed to elevate peoples’ wellbeing in synchrony with development efforts; it is a process of planned social change designed to promote the living standards of a population within the context of a dynamic, multifaceted development process (Midgley 2013). Midgley further noted that social development emphasises progressive social change which elevates the social well-being of people, while recognising the importance of the institutions that bring about this change. According to Midgley (Ibid), social development is used in the discourse of social policy and welfare State- referring to social improvements brought about by western governments, particularly, following the Second World War; these improvements are connected to the role of welfare services in raising the standard of living rather than on economic development. Social development was perceived as being different from economic development, such perception has led to a broader emphasis on economic development- only if, and when the economy permitted or prospered would a thought be given to social development. More so, if there were any economic vulnerabilities or pressures, the priority would be to cut social development expenditure in order to uphold economic development targets and outcomes (Midgley. Ibid). Conversely, based

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on decades of development experiences, there is a realisation that although economic development is important, it remains essentially linked to social development (Van den Berg 2017; Midgley and Pawar 2016; Ranis 2000; Veenhoven 2011).

Incorporated within the UN Development Goals is some dimension of social development. It is argued that among the three aspects of SD-economic, environment and the social, it is the social dimension that is often vague and least explicit in practical efforts to shape SD (Vifell and Soneryd 2010). Midgley & Pawar (2016) assert that the UN Development Goals (UNDGs) have contributed to the popularity of social development. These goals are said to have created a specific agenda for social development which has shaped the programs and projects adopted by governments, non-profits, and international donors around the world; including facilitating a systematic outcome research to determine the extent to which action by these agencies has resulted in the improvement of standard of living of people. Midgley (2013) notes that the UN and other international development agencies use the term social development; however, the UNDP uses the term Human Development, more often, which is regarded as a synonym for social development. A misconception of social development is that it is relevant only to developing countries and not developed countries (Pawar 2004). However, the nature and magnitude of problems and needs in both developing and developed countries are similar (Midgley 1995). Hence, the increasing acknowledgement of social development as a concept and its relevance to both developed and developing countries- in this context, social development is viewed to be a universal concept (Midgley and Pawar 2016). Also, in terms of sustainability, social sustainability is described as an idea that suggests that future generations should have access to equal social resources as current generations; it involves the continuous improvement in citizens’ well-

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being or quality of life- focusing on the social and HD. Accordingly, indicators often examined under social sustainability include child mortality, maternal health, population growth, as well as HIV and malaria prevalence (Kanayo, Kizito and Udefuna 2013. See further discussion on social sustainability in chapter eight.