Framework for Sustainable Development: The Floor and Pillar Approach

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The proposed framework called Floor and Pillar Approach is likened to construction of a multi-storey building which must have floors and pillars as its basic framework.

The ground floor
Like a floor of a building, the ground floor of the sustainable development framework is crucial for sustaining the pillars of a building. The following are the ingredients of the ground floor of the proposed framework: evidence-based development policies, rule of law, accountability, zero tolerance for corruption, improved institutional capacity, performance-based funding, security and elimination of civil conflicts. It is envisioned that by combining the above ingredients there will be a strong platform for erecting pillars of economic development.
The components will collectively produce strong institutions, systems and environment that will promote efficiency and transparency needed as catalyst for growth of any sector. More efficient and transparent institutions including ministries, department, agencies and political institutions are likely to be more productive, competent and responsive. Therefore, they are likely to contribute more to the economic growth and regulate activities of the private sector effectively.
To institutionalize the aforementioned components of the ground floor the government needs to introduce series of reforms and development-oriented policies (including foreign policy) that are based on evidence and appropriate for the level of development of the nation. Moreover, the legislature which will be strengthened as part of the reform needs to introduce relevant legal framework that will pave way for institutionalization of the above mentioned reforms.
In fully decentralized settings, it is the responsibility of the central government to ensure buy-in of the provinces so that the whole country would be on the same page as per implementation and monitoring of the reforms.

The ground floor pillars
The pillars of the ground floors are sectors of the economy that are critical for sustainable and pro-poor economic growth. In this framework, agriculture, energy and education and technology are regarded as critical sectors of the economy. In terms of cost benefit analysis, sustained investment on these three sectors will result to much needed economic growth by increasing the GDP. Moreover, well planned investment in these areas will lead to increased job creation, food security, growth of local industries, increased direct foreign investment and social protection policies will become more feasible to finance due to sustainable economic growth. However, it should be emphasized that this is a strategic reductionist approach as there are other important sectors of the economy that deserve increased funding.
Moreover, the nation will experience growth in other sectors apart from these three sectors because improvement in the trio coupled with general atmosphere of efficiency and transparency will have positive multiplier effects on other sectors.

The first floor
The first floor is essentially an output of the ground floor and the ground floor pillars. Sustained improvement in agriculture, energy and education on one side and environment of increased productivity, efficiency, transparency and security on the other side will lead to sustainable and pro poor economic growth, industrialization, employment creation, food security and direct foreign investment. Moreover, as government become wealthier it becomes more feasible to implement social protection policies as obtained in developed countries.
At this level, government has more money at its disposal and more capable to fund other important sectors of the economy that have already enjoyed considerable growth due to general improvement in efficiency and transparency in the country

The first floor pillars
As the nation become wealthier and more sophisticated technologically, funding and expertise become more readily available to further develop other sectors of the economy including health, provision of advanced infrastructure, modern transportation and implementation of social protection policies.
Moreover, workers will be better paid for services and the nation is likely to attract expatriates and return of competent citizens in diaspora which will further strengthening local institutions.

The second floor
This is the stage of development where interventions and policies implemented in the previous floors and pillars will have impact on all development indices and local and international set development goals. Moreover, there is significant level of social security in the country as citizens will have access to various social protection benefits with equity.
At this stage, improved well being of the nation and the citizenry will have positive feedback on the components of the ground floor; for instance, it will be easier to fight corruption as a result improvement in financial condition, social security and improved capacity of the anti graft agencies. In the same vein, civil conflict would be a rare occurrence as most conflicts in developing countries are attributable to poor socio-economic condition and inequity.

I hereby earnestly ask for your contribution and constructive criticism of this proposed framework. Developing countries are dearly in need of evidence-based sustainable development framework. I look forward to hearing from you.