Law, Justice, and Development

The newly adopted post-2015 development agenda is centered on 17 sustainable development goals to be reached by 2030. This volume of the World Bank Legal Review looks at how law and justice systems can support the financing and implementation of these goals, including the role of the rule of law and economic and social rights. The contributors, including legal scholars, development practitioners, and financial experts, analyze the goals, explore ways in which they can be achieved, and examine ways that recent relevant law and justice programs have worked. A wide array of topics are covered, from the legal aspects of collecting and monitoring vital data, to improving legal identity programs, to creating innovative health care regulation, to legal and judicial reform, to providing private sector–financing of public education projects to the provision of global public goods. The opportunities and challenges of the 2030 agenda are many. This volume looks at both from multiple perspectives, demonstrating how sustainable development can go forward in a way in which everyone benefits.

In recent years, better delivery in development has been at the center of development discourse. There is now wide agreement that today's development challenges demand effective solutions that fully integrate the aspirations, voices, needs, and support of citizens. But how can the international community translate that realization into practical accomplishment? Volume 6 of The World Bank Legal Review examines delivery challenges through the lens of three concepts that are critical to better development outcomes: voice, social contract, and accountability. The volume turns a spotlight on the nature of this interlocking trio, revealing that their consistent integration into both the design and the implementation of development efforts is indispensable if successful outcomes are to result. Written by seasoned practitioners and eminent scholars from across the globe, the volume's 24 chapters illuminate the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to development. Development practitioners devoted to rule of law and justice must work with experts from various disciplines to create a synergistic dynamic that can optimize the integration of voice, social contract, and accountability into development efforts.

Today, no one doubts the importance of justice and the rule of law to development. Indeed, it is a topic that excites considerable discussion. But what exactly is the nature of the relationship between justice, the rule of law, and development? And how can such a relationship be harnessed to improve the lives of people around the world, sustainably? Volume 5 of The World Bank Legal Review tackles these crucial questions head on. The 32 chapters by distinguished scholars and practitioners off er myriad ideas on the interrelation between development and the rule of law. They also present a plethora of practical lessons about translating insights into real-life outcomes. Foremost among those lessons is that sustainable development both demands and delivers opportunity, inclusion, and equity. Regulatory innovation can help people secure durable economic opportunities. Access to justice can be a pathway for social inclusion and greater citizen engagement. Legal empowerment can promote greater equity in the distribution and enjoyment of public goods. As the international community reshapes its development agenda, this volume of The World Bank Legal Review reminds us that justice, when woven into sustainable development objectives and processes, can unlock endless opportunities.