Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Humanitarian and Sustainable Development Activities
Why is it necessary to develop a systems thinking approach to better deal with complex situations? In today’s rapidly changing world there are more perspectives, interconnections and interdependencies to consider than ever! Sustainable development requires a holistic analysis of existing systems (e.g., social, economic, environmental) in order to design solutions that work within those contexts, or to create better, more efficient systems. Development projects fail or cause unintended harmful consequences when they do not consider their work as part of a system. After taking this course, you will be able to:
- Adopt a systems thinking approach to problem-solving.
- Consider how to evaluate the success or impact of sustainable development projects using either a holistic or process-oriented approach.
- Understand the importance of laying out a Theory of Change for your project that will serve as a road map from idea to impact.
- Appreciate the benefits of an interdisciplinary team when working to resolve sustainable development issues such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A systems thinking approach can help us broaden our perspective to match the dynamic complexity of our surroundings, become aware of a project's potential for unintended consequences, and learn how to work with a team to take effective action collectively. This module also includes a link to a Theory of Change toolkit, useful to define the steps necessary to achieve any goal.
This is the second module of the Humanitarian Technology and Sustainable Development at IEEE curriculum. We recommend you first complete the Introduction to Sustainable Development module (link if possible) before beginning this course in order to build upon its foundation of information.
This is the second module of the Humanitarian Technology and Sustainable Development at IEEE curriculum.
Instructors

IEEE Humanitarian Technologies (HT) is a consortium of programs and initiatives—supported by a global network of volunteers and technical professionals—working together to apply technology to solve the world's most pressing problems.
In keeping with the IEEE mission of advancing technology for the benefit of humanity, IEEE HT provides the resources, partnerships, and tools for developing and deploying innovative solutions to advance sustainable development goals globally while achieving social and environmental impact locally.
For more information, visit htb.ieee.org.
Audience: Volunteers who are interested in learning about sustainable development and applying their technical skills by getting involved in humanitarian and sustainable development projects.
Publication Year: 2020