Multi-dimensional vulnerability: an overlooked barrier to sustainable development

One of the key issues that we need to overcome is the recognition of multi-dimensional vulnerability - or simply, people that are discriminated against for more than one reason, all at once. The majority of the world’s poor are women, living in poverty means you are more likely to develop a disability, minority groups are more likely to live in poverty, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+ are amongst the most vulnerable people in the world.

 Each of these identities is accompanied by their own unique barriers to inclusion in society, yet many people possess a number of these identities at the same time. For some people these types of barriers pile on top of each other, making it almost impossible for a person to achieve their goals. For example picture a teenage girl from a minority ethnic group, located in a remote area, living with a disability, who is sexually attracted to women and who wants to go to school. Each of these identities comes with its own set of challenges, but combined, they can hinder this girl from participating in education and many other vital activities in society that will contribute towards her future. 

Access to education is one of the most fundamental ways to overcome poverty and to empower people to take control of their lives - it is also one of the best examples of the barriers that people face due to lack of access or social stigma. 

Put yourself in her shoes 

Imagine you are the teenage girl mentioned above, and you live in a community where school past the age of 11 has traditionally only been for boys. You have your family’s support, but, every time you go to class you are faced with a classroom of teasing boys and a teacher that mostly ignores you, even when you get the answer right. To make matters worse, the school is 10km from your house. You are living with a disability, which means you are unable to ride a bike, and your family is still supportive but both parents work full-time and cannot take you. As a last resort, you are left to rely on the kindness of passing truck drivers. On top of this, you are from a minority group that speaks a different language at home than is spoken at the school. Even when you manage to get to the school you are given no additional support to understand the classes - everyone speaks too fast. 

Stories like this are the reality for an alarming number of people living in poverty. If you are a woman, have a disability or are a member of a minority group you are more likely to live in poverty. If you are all three, you face seemingly insurmountable barriers to access the opportunities you need to overcome it. 

Empowering women: the first step towards social inclusion

It’s important to understand that the need for social inclusion is complex, as people are often excluded in multiple ways.

The development sector is dedicated to ending poverty and all the elements associated with it - but this cannot be done without the inclusion of everyone. If 90% of people in the community overcome poverty, that still means 10% are left behind. Leaving no one behind is the central theme of the Sustainable Development Goals - it underlies every goal. 

Stories like the girl mentioned above are all too common in communities around the world, yet, each barrier has an answer that can be achieved through responsible development practices. 

The girl in our analogy would have far better chances at education and empowerment if she had access to non-gendered or women-focused education, accessible transport, adequate language support, and counseling services. It is possible to empower this teenage girl but to do so, her entire identity has to be taken into account and each barrier addressed.

While it might sound like a lot when we list all the steps that need to be taken for this girl to be included, it is completely achievable to overcome each individual barrier. Every project has the ability to be inclusive. The development sector needs to take an active stance on inclusion and take the time to understand who it is they are working with, and what is needed to make sure no one is left behind. 

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