Environmental Sustainability and Poverty Reduction in Malawi

Introduction

What entails to the globalization is probably the potential for the country to develop. But the people should also understand that with the potential for success comes along with the potential of paying for the risks. In most of the developed countries, the economic problems that might create a big influence are the post-effects of the financial crises. Meanwhile, the other developing countries must carry the burden and threats based on the level of the environmental sustainability and poverty.

Background and Problem Statement

Poverty and security are two of the most recognizable problems that continuously developing in the corner of each country. Because of the presence of the various factors and elements involved in the aim of the developing countries, most of the attention of the country is on the center in developing the business industry that can foster the overall development. However, despite the positive result that the business strategies made, still there are many people who suffered in the issue of environmental sustainability and poverty.

Research Aim and Objectives

The main aim of the study is to deliver the current situation being faced by Malawi in terms of the environmental sustainability and poverty reduction. To support the said goal, there are three objectives that can guide the investigation regarding the actions of the people of Malawi in reducing the poverty and sustaining the environment. First is to determine the extent of the environmental policies and reforms, and the policies for poverty reduction of Malawi. Second is to discover the underlying factors that might limit the effects of their actions. And third, is to create a suggestion to foster the continuous growth of the country while paying attention on the environmental sustainability and poverty reduction.

Literature Review

It is already given that the idea of “greener pasture” seems impossible for those who still struggle in the midst of tempest called poverty. The increase in political, social, and cultural linkages among the people and the nations in the world also increase the emergence of the global effects from the behavior of individual and societies such as the poverty, spread of diseases hunger, and financial crises (Diaz-Bonilla, 2001). According to the government of Malawi, the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) are prepared with the consultation on the stakeholders and development partners, including the staffs of the World Bank and the IMF. Most factors involved in this type of partnership is the aim of the country to have progress and create specific polices to support the country's macroeconomic, structural, poverty reduction, financing needs and the total growth. Malawi still lingers in the line of poverty and the population is now categorized from poor to “poorest of the poor” which is a great threat in the socio-economic and security of the people. In addition, the economic vulnerability of Malawi affects the overall performance of the country to pursue its aim to progress. It appears that the lack of fiscal discipline contributed to unsustainable increase in the domestic debt and there is an increasing deficit in the side of the government (IMF, 2007). By acknowledging the issue of continuous growth, it is suggested that capital could be converted into different forms to promote progress and the environmental sustainability can be also promoted. With the help of the capital used by the poor it can definitely increase the level of their livelihood and promote the better living. On the other hand, promoting the environmental sustainability should be placed into practice (WBG, 2010).

Methodology

The applied method in the study is the use of the secondary data that is mostly based on the main country presented in the study which is the Malawi. The use of the secondary data allows the study to use the past results or collected ideas form the surveys, organizations, or national economic records that can be place under the series of review and comparison to generate the quality analysis. Through the secondary data, the economic activity as well as government programs of Malawi can be examined. It definitely saves time but the researcher/s should be aware about the important information that should be included in the study and the data that are essential before jumping into the analysis and ending in a conclusion.

Research Questions

To help the researcher/s create a link between the current study and the collected data, it is important that they should pay special attention unto the materials and pieces of information, being their main ingredient in fashioning the study. There are five core questions that should determine first and include in the investigation:

1. What were the agency's or researcher's goals when collecting the said data on the policies of poverty reduction and environmental support?

2. What was the intended to measure and area of application?

3. When was the data collected?

4. What methods were used and if the methods are valid to create their analysis?

5. How is the data organized and consistent among the other materials or sources?

References:

Diaz-Bonilla, E., 2001. Globalization, Poverty, and Food Security [Online] Available at: http://conferences.ifpri.org/2020conference/PDF/summary_diaz-bonilla.pdf [Accessed 08 June 2010].

IMF, 2007. Malawi: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper—Growth and Development Strategy, International Monetary Fund-IMF Country Report No. 07/55 [Online] Available at: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2007/cr0755.pdf [Accessed 08 June 2010].

WBG, 2010. Stakeholder Group(s): Multi-stakeholder, Environment Strategy Consultations – World Bank Group [Online] Available at: http://www.povertyenvironment.net/files/PEP15-WorldBankEnvStrat.pdf [Accessed 08 June 2010].