I Introduction

The Baha’i International Community is a world community comprising a cross section of humanity, uniting men and women of the most varied religious and ethnic origins, representing almost all nationalities, classes, professions, rich and poor, literate and illiterate.

About 200 ethnic groups and tribes are represented in the Baha’i world community, and Baha’is live in over 100,000 localities in virtually every country and territory of the world.

The Baha’i International Community is also a non-governmental organization cooperating closely with the United Nations to achieve the goals expressed in the UN Charter – world peace, universal human rights and the full economic and social development of all peoples.

II. Principles of Development

A basic definition of development is that a process of unfolding as a flower from a bud. In harmony with this definition, human social economic development fundamentally means a growth process which enables people and societies to realize their full potential.

In the Baha’i. view of the potential of human beings, and therefore also of human society, is limitless. Each and every person, regardless of sex, race, creed or nation is considered to be inherently endowed with rich qualities, virtues and powers. To fulfill the possibilities of this divine endowment is seen as the purpose of human existence. Development and self-realization is therefore both a right and a duty springing from the very essence of human life. This is the fundamental source of motivation for Baha’i involvement in development, including social being, and it is a basic Baha’i belief that his self-realization can only be accomplished through serving this fellow human beings. The honor and distinction of the individual, in the Baha’i view, consist in his becoming a source of social good.

The strong Baha’i emphasis on self-realization and its expression through service to others makes cooperation a necessary channel. This is fully reflected in the now commonly held view that popular participation in the development process, through the instrumentality of cooperation, is an essential ingredient of the successful development activities. In the Baha’i view of such popular participation should be a process whereby local people take initiatives – and make organizational efforts – to increase their capacity to implement and control resources and activities.

It has been clearly established that the principle of popular participation cannot be fully implemented unless and until it also includes the creation or development of organizations by the local people themselves, through which they are able to identify, plan, implement and sustain development activities of their own choice. This underlines the fundamental importance of freedom of association, and is also an effective way of promoting a just and equitable distribution of income and wealth. It is furthermore an approach which enhances the local capacity to integrate and utilize the input of external expert assistance, which otherwise tends to exert an influence that transcends the technical domain of competences, and interferes with attempts to promote a genuine participatory and self-reliant structure by and for the local people themselves.

III. Baha’i Development Competence and Orientation

Development activities in the social and economic area have taken place in various parts of the Baha’i world community during the whole of this century. It is only very recently, however, that it was felt that a stage of organizational maturity had been reached to enable the Baha’i communities generally to embark on social and economic development efforts as a regular part of their activities.

The Baha’i approach to development is based on the understanding, already referred to, that the human being and human society have a limitless potential for development and an inner need to realize that latent capacity. The promotion of an ever-advancing material, social and spiritual civilization is central to the Baha’i view of society. The Baha’i principles have shown their capacity to generate the necessary motivation and volition among participants/beneficiaries, as well as experts, to consistently strive for the realization of that vision through genuine development efforts, even under adverse external conditions.

On the basis of such attitudes and motivations, and as a result of practicing Baha’i principles of service, participation and cooperation among all those involved in a project or other development action, a high degree of social cohesion based on common values has resulted. Development experience shows that such social cohesiveness – creating a sufficient level of unity in diversity – is often a necessary component of sustainable and equitable development action. Otherwise the development process tends to become jeopardized as a result of an increased divisiveness and inequitable distribution of the benefits generated.

The Baha’i communities are organized in a fully participatory and democratic structure with elected assemblies at local, national and international levels. Social and economic development activities normally originate from within the local communities, where, in a process of participation and consultation, the priorities are identified and specific action to be undertaken is determined.

Worldwide, there are currently over 30,000 local Baha’i communities organized in this way, most of them located in developing countries. The Baha’i organizational pattern, therefore, constitutes a genuine grassroots structure which has been gradually established and consolidated over a period of time.

In line with the universal orientation of the Baha’i Faith, all social and economic development efforts are designed and directed towards serving the totality of the population through action, using the Baha’i organizational structure as an instrument to that effect. All activities are therefore inclusive rather than exclusive, initiated from with the Baha’i community, and gradually spreading to the community as a whole as the experience and capacity grow. As a result a large proportion – probably a majority of the participants in, e.g., the Baha’i literacy and educational activities – are not members of the Baha’i community.

Some areas of Baha’i social and economic development are considered to be of special importance: education, health care, and agriculture – particularly in the context of general village or community development. These areas are all essential for full realization of human potential and for the achievement of sustained progress and proper human living conditions. This means a focus on basic needs, which is viewed as particularly important at this time when a large proportion of humanity is deprived of the necessary requirements for an acceptable standard of living. Such an orientation is wholly in line with the fundamental Baha’i principles emphasizing the importance of equity and abolition of poverty.

IV. Baha’i Development Experience

Most social and economic developing activities sponsored by the Baha’i communities until now have been in the area of education. Literacy programs and primary schools are now functioning, or in an advanced planning stage, in some 50 developing countries, primarily in rural areas where no schooling was previously available. Secondary schools with strong vocational orientation have also been established in several countries, and more schools are planned. Other activities are in the areas of health care, social services, community development, agriculture and communications. The latter type of projects are at present primarily radio stations in some countries, broadcasting cultural programs with practical advice and training related to literacy, primary health care, nutrition, agriculture and other components of rural development.

Although most of the projects are financed entirely from Baha’i sources, for some larger projects co-financing from bilaterial government development agencies has been obtained. A large number of projects have recently been identified and planned by local and national Baha’i communities on the basis of financial and other commitments from the communities themselves, which support, in some cases, from Baha’i communities in industrialized countries. It is also expected that financial and other collaboration with external donor and technical agencies will increases.

V. Cooperation with the United Nations System

Conceptual statements, reflecting Baha’i views on the major areas of social and economic development dealt with by the United Nations, have been presented at world conferences and meetings of UN bodies and agencies for a number of years. These include contributions on such diverse subjects as food, population, narcotics and alcohol, the aging, women, youth, international trade, education, health, and the peaceful utilization of outer space.

Cooperation of the Baha’i International Community with UN agencies in social and economic development projects is already taking place in some countries. The ways and means of a substantially increased collaboration is now being explored against the background of a growing Baha’i involvement in this area. It is expected that this will include, i.a., information exchange, co-financing and the sharing of technical expertise.

Baha’i sponsored projects, using the approach to development indicated above, and drawing fully on the practical experiences and technical knowledge generated over the last few decades within the UN system, should increasingly be able to show interesting examples of participatory, sustainable and replicable development. The methodologies generated will, the Baha’i International Community expects, contribute to the ongoing efforts in the United Nations and other development agencies to evolve effective development approaches with lasting beneficial and equitable impact.