Prof. Dr. Klaus M. Leisinger (statement no. 2), Executive Director, Novartis Foundation (headquartered in Switzerland):

"Whatever the natural endowment of a country may be, human development worthy of the name cannot take place where bloody civil wars and desperate brawls over the allocation of scarce resources are raging and where despots bleed their countries white to enrich themselves and arm their minions. It is impossible for an economy to flourish where the "might of the sword" rather than free and fair elections decides who shall rule....

Economic growth is a critical but not the sole requirement for success in the fight against poverty. It is equally important to have a social policy that places particular emphasis on meeting basic human needs. Education, training and extension services as well as availability of credit foster self-reliance and initiative in people of all segments of society.

A further component is a social climate in which the door to full personal development is open to everyone - regardless of gender, race, socio-cultural background or other differences.

Where a socio-economic ambiance of this quality has been put into effect it has led to impressive economic success from which the lowest income groups have also benefited, since government expenditures in the education and social welfare sectors could be financed from it. Such countries have also been more successful than others with respect to the ecological sustainability of their development policy.

Where good governance has been lacking progress - be it economic, social or ecological - has not taken place. On the contrary, in most cases stagnation at an already low level or even reversals have been the result....

"Good governance" puts people into the center of development. "Where people grow, profits grow": this well-tried business rule is applicable to development policy as well.

Where there is long-term investment in people's health and education, where both men and women, regardless of their social status, have access to the necessary means of production, extension and credits, they can take their fate in their own hands and make use of opportunities to improve their quality of life. A national development policy of this caliber can then be successfully supported through international cooperation."

[from Sustainable Development and Good Governance (Prof. Dr. Klaus M. Leisinger, Novartis Foundation, 1995)]

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