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This article discusses the key factors that influence poverty and food insecurity. The study involved 645 households in 4 villages of 2 districts (one developed and one undeveloped) in Odisha, an eastern Indian state. Odisha's per capita income was taken as the dividing line for the segregation of districts into developed (more than average) and undeveloped (less than average). Poverty and food insecurity composite indices and probit and logit analyses revealed that: (a) in the developed district, education and caste are significant factors in determining the household poverty level, whereas education plays a vital role in the undeveloped district in deciding poverty level; (b) food insecurity is significantly affected by education, caste and assets in the developed district and by education and agriculture as the primary occupation in the undeveloped district; (c) education is derived as the common determinant of poverty as well as food insecurity; and (d) the inference drawn from the results is that, whatever the economy (developed or undeveloped), education was the most significant and common factor in determining both poverty and/or food insecurity at household level of the areas studied. However, it should not be misinterpreted that education is the only indicator that can resolve the complex issues of poverty and food insecurity. Based on area needs, a comprehensive approach with special focus on these significant indicators revealed from this research would be helpful in addressing poverty and food insecurity.

The main thrust of this article concerns the potential for the social work profession to contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which overlap with developmental social work, specifically with respect to poverty and inequalities in South Africa. Although developmental social work practice may attempt to tackle the structural causes of poverty and inequality, relatively few studies appear to have been conducted to evaluate the contribution of this approach to attaining SDGs. The article draws from contemporary available literature and documents and the author's observations pertaining to developmental social work and the role which it can play in attaining SDGs in the context of present-day South Africa. The review revealed the potential for developmental social work to make a meaningful contribution to attaining SDGs and the factors which could continue to hinder developmental social work practice, thereby making it difficult for SDGs.

This article discusses the relevance and usefulness of a community development approach and community resilience in coping with natural disasters such as floods and their impact. In March 2017, a major flood in Lismore, Australia, resulted in extensive damage to homes and businesses and caused severe disruption and distress to some residents. A small qualitative study of 20 residents was conducted to understand how they were affected in flooded areas in terms of their housing and other impacts. The narrative and thematic analysis of respondents' stories 'from the ground' highlighted both the problems with some institutional responses to the flood and the strength of the community response. One of the key findings was the resilience shown by some parts of the community during and after the flood, particularly in terms of communal self-organisation. This article interrogates that finding in-depth and argues that it provides valuable insights into community resilience and a community development approach, which need to be consciously cultivated to combat the impact of disasters.

The aim of this study was to examine the impacts of climate change on the wellbeing of farmers in Konya, Turkey. An ecosystems approach was adopted to take a holistic view of the range of inter-related ecological factors. A focus was on psychological and social impacts with a comparison of impacts on farmers engaged in traditional agriculture and those who had adopted conservation agriculture farming practices. Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with farmers and agricultural workers to gain an increased understanding of the impact of climate change on their wellbeing. The study found that all farmers were under considerable psychological stress and that the introduction of new farming practices such as conservation agriculture led to increased stress in the early stages of adoption. Implications for the psychological and social support of farmers, particularly in the early stages of adoption of new farming practices are highlighted.

The article critically reviews and discusses the findings and recommendations of the Australian Senate Inquiry into the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and suggests strategies to achieving the SDGs within and beyond Australia. By employing the focus group discussion method, it critically discusses the report as per the Inquiry's terms of reference and looks at Australia's responses to the SDGs both domestically and internationally. It underscores the engagement of government, including the Official Development Assistance, and non-government organisations, and the private sector. To accelerate the implementation of the SDGs, it argues that greater awareness of the SDGs, attitudinal change and systematic implementation and action are needed locally, nationally and globally. The SDGs require an approach that is beyond national interest, focusing on world development that leaves no one behind.

This descriptive study introduces community-managed rice loans, as implemented by people's organisations in the rural Philippines. Projects addressing low income and food shortages are by no means new to the development sector. Development agencies, nonprofit organisations, and local governments have implemented such projects to address immediate food shortages and threats of hunger. Less explored, however, is the potential of rice loans as intermediate solution, not only in terms of food provisioning but also in strengthening communities' organisational structures and capabilities. This study explores such possibilities by focusing specifically on community-managed rice loans as implemented in the Philippines' regions of Nueva Ecija and Isabela and supported by a local nonprofit, Outreach Philippines Incorporated (OPI). It discusses how rice loans provide communities with an alternative option for accessing affordable food and how these rice loans operate in the context of community development. The analysis of programme proposals identified three components integral to rice loans' implementation and ongoing operations. These include specific organisational structures, clear operational processes, and well-defined policies and systems. We argue that these components are the building blocks of not only successful project implementation but also the strengthening of participating organisations' project implementation and management capacity.