Quality of Life - Use in International Development

Use in International Development

Quality of life is an important concept in the field of international development, since it allows development to be analyzed on a measure broader than standard of living. Within development theory, however, there are varying ideas concerning what constitutes desirable change for a particular society, and the different ways that quality of life is defined by institutions therefore shapes how these organizations work for its improvement as a whole.

Organizations such as the World Bank, for example, declare a goal of "working for a world free of poverty", with poverty defined as a lack of basic human needs, such as food, water, shelter, freedom, access to education, healthcare, or employment. In other words, poverty is defined as a low quality of life. Using this definition, the World Bank works towards improving quality of life through neoliberal means, with the stated goal of lowering poverty and helping people afford a better quality of life.

Other organizations, however, may also work towards improved global quality of life using a slightly different definition and substantially different methods. Many NGOs do not focus at all on reducing poverty on a national or international scale, but rather attempt to improve quality of life for individuals or communities. One example would be sponsorship programs that provide material aid for specific individuals. Although many organizations of this type may still talk about fighting poverty, the methods are significantly different.

Improving quality of life should be a topic that is engaged by governments, rather than looked upon as a project for NGOs. Global health has the potential to achieve greater political presence if governments were to implement aspects of human security into foreign policy agenda. Stressing individuals’ basic rights to health, food, shelter, and freedom emphasizes concern over prominent inter-sectoral problems that plague today’s society and may lead to greater action and resources. The challenge in integrating global health concerns into foreign policy is that the current model is shaped by the overarching roles of defense and diplomacy.