Human Development – who is the input/ who is the output
?
What about the very process of development
itself? How has its evolution become a challenge for the NGO today?
The UN’s Human Development Index goes a step further in
defining the role of the person in his or her development. It
defines human development as the process of enlarging choices
available to the people. According to it, ‘The human development
concept, by concentrating on choices, implies that people must
influence the processes that shape their lives. They must participate
in various decision- making processes, the implementation of those
decisions, and their monitoring and adjustment to improve outcomes
where necessary. In the ultimate analysis, human development is
development of the people, development for the people, and development
by the people. Development of people according to the index, involves
building human capabilities through the development of human resources.
Development for the people implies that the benefits of growth
must be translated into the lives of people, and development by
the people emphasizes that people must be able to participate
actively in influencing the processes that shape their lives.
The human development concept is broader than other people-oriented
approaches to development. Human Resource Development emphasizes
only human capital and treats human beings as an input in the
development process, but not as its beneficiaries. The basic-needs
approach focuses on minimum requirements of human beings, but
not on their choices. The human-welfare approach looks at people
as recipients, but not as active participants in the processes
that shape their lives. Human development, by encompassing all
these aspects, represents a more holistic approach to development.’
The United Nations Development Program
seeks to clearly define development and the unique role of individuals
in development. It says ‘Human development can be simply
defined as a process of enlarging choices. Every day human beings
make a series of choices – some economic, some social, some
political, some cultural….enlarging human choices is critically
linked to two issues: capabilities and functionings on the one
hand, and opportunities on the other. The functionings of a person
refer to the valuable things the person can do or be (such as
being well-nourished, living a long time and taking part in the
community). The capability of a person stands for the different
combinations of functionings the person can achieve; it reflects
the freedom to achieve functionings.
Enlarging choices for a person implies
formation or enhancement of capabilities. Human capabilities can
be enhanced through the development of human resources: good health
and nutrition, education and skill training, etc. However, capabilities
cannot be used unless opportunities exist to use them--for leisure,
productive purposes or participation in social, political or cultural
affairs. Economic opportunities can be created through better
access to productive resources, including credit, employment,
etc. Political opportunities need polity and other conditions.
However, capabilities cannot be used unless opportunities exist
to use them--for leisure, productive purposes or participation
in commercial, social, political or cultural affairs.
Human development thus represents an equation, the left-hand side
of which reflects human capabilities, and the right-hand side,
economic, political and social opportunities to use those capabilities.
Economic opportunities can be created through better access to
productive resources, including credit, employment, etc. Political
opportunities need polity and other conditions. Human development
thus represents an equation, the left-hand side of which reflects
human capabilities, and the right-hand side, economic, political
and social opportunities to use those capabilities.
Human development thus defined represents
a simple notion, but one with far-reaching implications. First,
human choices are enlarged when people acquire more capabilities
and enjoy more opportunities to use those capabilities. Human
development seeks not only to increase both capabilities and opportunities
but also to ensure an appropriate balance between them in order
to avoid the frustration that a mismatch between the two
can create.
Second, as already implied, economic growth needs to be seen as
a means, albeit an important one, and not the ultimate goal, of
development. Income makes an important contribution to human well-being,
broadly conceived, if its benefits are translated into more fulfilled
human lives, but the growth of income is not an end in itself.
Third, the human development concept, by concentrating on choices,
implies that people must influence the processes that shape their
lives. They must participate in various decision-making processes,
the implementation of those decisions, and their monitoring and
adjustment to improve outcomes where necessary.
In the ultimate analysis, human development is development of
the people, development for the people, and development by the
people. Development of the people involves building human capabilities
through the development of human resources. Development for the
people implies that the benefits of growth must be translated
into the lives of people, and development by the people emphasizes
that people must be able to participate actively in
influencing the processes that shape their lives.”
These ideas about human development
are a long way off from the typical charity based model of development
that strikes us. They are structured, managed and scientific unlike
previous random processes. However such a paradigm shift requires
simultaneous shifts in the cognitive and motivational aspects
of the stakeholders. This has proved to be a challenge for NGOs
to accomplish their objectives.
Often corporates and HR/Personnel managers have the outlook that
they are doing others a favour by helping in their development.
The full truth is that they are helping themselves as well. What
are some of the key basics needed to be in place in workers for
this to happen ?....next page
What
are the business themes faced in the NGO work?
Development vs Charity –
the evolving place for beneficiaries in the development process
Motivation for Development
in an NGO
Funding Fundas and
Ideological Agendas
Human Development –
an input/output perspective
Contribution of NGO work to
Human Resources Development
What should be the focus of Human Resources
Development ?
Shifting
the paradigm of Human Resources Development
Company vs. Community
