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 Activities Committee (HAC)
The IEEE Humanitarian Activities Committee (HAC) provides a suite of resources that inspire and enable IEEE volunteers around the world to carry out and/or support impactful humanitarian technology and sustainable development activities at the local level.
HAC focuses on raising awareness of how technically trained people can contribute, providing training for engagement in humanitarian technology and sustainable development activities, supporting and evaluating projects, and cultivating relationships and leveraging opportunities, so that IEEE can become a leader in the global sustainable development community. The committee reports to the IEEE Board of Directors. HAC.ieee.org
IEEE Special Interest Group on Humanitarian Technology (SIGHT)
IEEE SIGHT is a global network of IEEE volunteers partnering with under-served communities & local organizations to leverage technology for sustainable development. SIGHT.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