The World Bank Legal Review, Volume 5 : Fostering Development through Opportunity, Inclusion, and Equity

Abstract

This report speaks to the holistic nature of the development process, a process that should not only encourage all stakeholders to participate in the process but also directly engage them. This volume posits that such participation must be guided by the law and accord with the broader notion of justice for development as a concept to be meaningfully appreciated today. A process that takes place without giving stakeholders an opportunity to participate, or that excludes stakeholders, is not only an unfair and inequitable process but also one that is likely to fall foul of the notion of justice in a society that is governed by the rule of law. Thus, equitable participation necessitates a careful inquiry into the conceptual underpinnings of opportunity, inclusion, and equity as law and justice tools that can be used to secure elements of meaningful development. Opportunity, inclusion, and equity in global development are clearly the foundation stones of the millennium development goals (MDGs), and their importance is growing yet greater in the context of a new post-2015 sustainable development agenda that builds on the gains of implementing the eight MDGs while identifying new development challenges. This volume is made up of 32 chapters organized into five thematic parts. Part one is law and the economy; part two is justice and rule of law reform; part three is environmental and natural resources law; part four is governance and anticorruption; and part five is empowerment and equity for diverse communities. The volume ends with a concluding chapter and an afterword.