Current situation in Santiago (Dominican Republic) and possible measures to improve it.

1. Sustainable Development in Santiago
October 30, 2016
Question G: Do you think the lifestyle of the inhabitants of your town or city reflects behavior
that is in line with the concept of sustainable development? In your opinion, what should be
improved?
Application to IE Business School
Master in Management
María Emilia Álvarez

2. Sustainable Development in Santiago
Sustainable Development (SD) meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs. - United Nations (1987)
Sustainable development and its goals
adopted
Pillars 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Social
Environmental Economical
• Social: ability of a social system to function at a defined
level of social well-being and harmony indefinitely.
• Environmental: ability of the environmentto supporta
natural resource extraction rate indefinitely.
• Economic: ability of an economy to supporta defined
level of economic production indefinitely.
Came into force on January 1st
, 2016.Over the next
fifteen years countries will,among other things,
mobilize efforts to:
• End all forms of poverty
• Fight inequalities
• Tackle climate change

3. Situation in Santiago, Dominican Republic
Newspaper articles related to
wrong sustainable development
behavior
Listin Diario (2016), Diario Libre (2015), El Caribe (2015)
The following topics are the most pressing concerns in the country. These are all reflected on my community.
Sustainable Development in Santiago

4. Sustainable Development in Santiago
Goals that should be prioritized in the city
DR is among 14 countries that
typify femicide
Social inequality in DR is one of
the highest in Latin America
DR has great challenges in the
environment
DR occupies 146/148 of countries
with low quality education

5. Sustainable Development in Santiago
Inequality in Santiago, Dominican Republic
Why is the city not in line with SD?
1. Poor distribution of richness: 20% of the poorest
population does notreach 5% richness;while 20% of the
richest population benefits of50% of the national capital.
2. GINI Index of 47.07: the DR has a very high deviation from
a perfectly equal distribution compared to other countries.
Suggesting there is a lack of middle class.
3. Inequality harms growth and poverty reduction:
according to evidence compiled by the UN.
Measures that should be taken:
1. Involve the 3 pillars: in order for economic growth to be
sufficientto reduce disparity,actions taken should give
equal importance to all three pillars:Social,Environmental
and Economical Sustainability.
2. Equal opportunities: it is essential for equal opportunities
for education,jobs, services to be available.
3. Social protection programs: to preventnegative impacts
coming from economic shocks.
4. Promote economic development of the lower class:
through stable and well-paid jobs.
GINI Index, World Bank

6. Sustainable Development in Santiago
Quality education in Santiago, Dominican Republic
Why is the city not in line with SD?
1. All children should be able to attend primary and
secondary education for free: 83% of the population enroll
in primary,and only 65% are enrolled in secondary
education (UNESCO).
2. Not achieving 100% literacy rate: currently 92%
(UNESCO).
3. Less than 50% of schools enroll children with special
needs: 20% of these resist to change because they must
update ways of teaching (Ministry of Education).
4. 10% of students are at an age above for their grade: this
is a crucial factor for school dropout(UNICEF).
Measures that should be taken:
1. Curricular reform: to ensure inclusive education in all
components of the teaching-learning process.
2. Adapt schools: both physical barriers and educational
resources obstructing the disabled to attend.
3. Spread awareness in the community: about rights of the
disabled and benefits of introducing them to schools.
4. Human resources: teachers should be trained to work with
all types of children,regardless ofdisabilities.

7. Sustainable Development in Santiago
Climate action in Santiago, Dominican Republic
Why is the city not in line with SD?
1. Land Use Planning: the DR lacks a law regulating land use
in an efficient and ethical way.
2. Solid waste management: 13,000 tons of garbage are
dumped daily in 350 open-air dumps (El Caribe) and 30% of
waste is not collected from the streets (SOECI). Not only
related to environmentbutalso public health as waste
pollution causes diseases.
3. Lack of environmental awareness: aggravates the
problem of the environment.DR is the 8th country in the
world at greater risk of being affected by the effects of global
warming (USAID).
Measures that should be taken:
1. Request environmental regulations
2. Educational campaigns: to spread awareness ofdangers
of not caring and measures that can be taken. Easy ones
like:
• Turn off the lights, air dry things
• Take short showers
• Do not throw trash on the street
3. Promote policies for environmental well being:
organizations should be committed to address air and water
pollution,solid waste management,etc.
4. Claim local governments to regularly pick up trash
Two people talking in
front of an improvised
landfill on the banks of
the Ozama River.

8. Sustainable Development in Santiago
Gender equality in Santiago, Dominican Republic
Why is it not in line with SD?
1. Feminicides: there was a femicide every 68 hours in the
first quarter of 2016 in RD, according to statistics from the
National Police.
2. Gender proportion in government positons: Only 20% of
seats held by women in national parliaments (World Bank).
3. Participation in household decisions: 78% of women
participate deciding own health care,major household
purchases,and visiting family.
Measures that should be taken:
1. Continue campaigns against femicides: but also include
educational campaigns to reduce gender violence.
2. Stand up to street harassments:because catcalling
objectifies and strengthens a sexual view towards the
opposite sex.
3. Employment: increase women employmentand motivate
them towards their desired professional path.
wide pink stripes painted on
lamp posts in Santo Domingo,
campaigning against femicides

9. Sustainable Development in Santiago
Implementation of measures in Santiago, Dominican Republic
1 2
43
v
Santiago Community
v
With the suggested improvements and the collaboration of the Santiago community we will be closer to reaching a
more sustainable community.