International Journal of

ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES

EISSN: 2313-3724, Print ISSN: 2313-626X

Frequency: 12

line decor
  
line decor

 Volume 13, Issue 6 (June 2026), Pages: 35-45

----------------------------------------------

 Original Research Paper

Self-reliant economic development for poverty eradication under the SDG agenda

 Author(s): 

Mohd Nor Adzhar Ibrahim 1, Norazmi Anas 2, *, Hairol Anuar Mak Din 3, Muhammad Adidinizar Zia Ahmad Kusairee 4, Zarul Azhar Nasir 4

 Affiliation(s):

1Faculty of Quranic and Sunnah Studies, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
2Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, UiTM Perak Branch, Tapah Campus, Tapah Road, Perak, Malaysia
3Faculty of Social Sciences, Universiti Islam Selangor, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
4Faculty of Business and Management, UiTM Perak Branch, Tapah Campus, Tapah Road, Perak, Malaysia

 Full text

    Full Text - PDF

 * Corresponding Author. 

   Corresponding author's ORCID profile:  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4176-7625

 Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

 
https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2026.06.004

 Abstract

Persistent poverty remains a major global challenge despite the efforts made under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recent global crises, including economic shocks, climate change, and health emergencies, have shown the weaknesses of development models that depend heavily on external aid and foreign investments. This study examines self-reliant economic development as a sustainable and resilient approach to poverty eradication, especially in relation to SDG 1 (No Poverty). The study used a qualitative literature review to analyze the concepts, strategies, and applications of self-reliant development models. The findings show that self-reliant economic development focuses on local resource mobilization, community empowerment, financial inclusion, small and medium enterprise development, and investment in human capital. These approaches can provide more sustainable poverty reduction outcomes than dependency-based models. The study also found that empowering women and youth, supporting entrepreneurship, and encouraging innovation can strengthen local economic resilience and reduce vulnerability to external shocks. However, several challenges remain, including global inequalities, weak institutions, governance problems, social exclusion, and technological limitations. The study highlights the importance of community participation, institutional support, and effective policies in achieving sustainable poverty eradication under the SDG agenda.

 © 2026 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords

Self-reliant development, Poverty eradication, Community empowerment, Sustainable development, Economic resilience

 Article history

Received 9 January 2026, Received in revised form 26 May 2026, Accepted 2 June 2026

 Acknowledgment

This research was funded by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme Early Career Researcher (FRGS-EC) 2024 with reference number FRGS-EC/1/2024/SSI03/USIM/02/9. 

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

 Citation:

Ibrahim MNA, Anas N, Din HAM, Kusairee MAZA, and Nasir ZA (2026). Self-reliant economic development for poverty eradication under the SDG agenda. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 13(6): 35-45

  Permanent Link to this page

---------------------------------------------- 

 References (62)

  1. Barbier EB and Burgess JC (2021). Institutional quality, governance and progress towards the SDGs. Sustainability, 13(21): 11798. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111798   [Google Scholar]
  2. Boon EK and Anuga SW (2020). Circular economy and its relevance for improving food and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Ghana. Materials Circular Economy, 2: 5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42824-020-00005-z   [Google Scholar]
  3. Bykova V, Khasanova M, and Polonkoeva F (2024). The role of human capital in economic development: An analysis of factors contributing to economic growth. Reliability: Theory & Applications, 19(SI 6 (81)), 1676-1682.   [Google Scholar]
  4. Chigbu BI and Nekhwevha F (2023). Exploring the concepts of decent work through the lens of SDG 8: Addressing challenges and inadequacies. Frontiers in Sociology, 8: 1266141. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1266141   [Google Scholar] PMid:38053676 PMCid:PMC10694193
  5. Cole S, Sampson T, and Zia B (2011). Prices or knowledge? What drives demand for financial services in emerging markets? The Journal of Finance, 66(6): 1933-1967. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.2011.01696.x   [Google Scholar]
  6. Coveri A, Paglialunga E, and Zanfei A (2024). Global value chains and within-country inequality: The role of functional positioning. Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 70: 382-397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.strueco.2024.05.001   [Google Scholar]
  7. Dushkova D and Ivlieva O (2024). Empowering communities to act for a change: A review of the community empowerment programs towards sustainability and resilience. Sustainability, 16(19): 8700. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198700   [Google Scholar]
  8. Firdaus MJ, Suwaryo U, Alamsah N, and Rahmatunnisa M (2025). The urgency of community participation and empowerment in corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs: A case study in Riau Province, Indonesia. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(8): 11808–11819. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i8.5783   [Google Scholar]
  9. Garces P (2022). Modelling Amartya Sen’s capability approach: An interdisciplinary and contemporary account. Philosophical Readings, 14(2): 85-93.   [Google Scholar]
  10. Gherghina ȘC, Botezatu MA, Hosszu A, and Simionescu LN (2020). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): The engine of economic growth through investments and innovation. Sustainability, 12(1): 347. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010347   [Google Scholar]
  11. Giva MA, Luy JM, and Segui ME (2024). Hidden Markov representation of microcredit. Journal of the Indonesian Mathematical Society, 30(2): 218-235. https://doi.org/10.22342/jims.30.2.1782.218-235   [Google Scholar]
  12. Goel A (2023). Trends and reforms of financial inclusion in India. International Review of Applied Economics, 37(2): 275-285. https://doi.org/10.1080/02692171.2023.2167952   [Google Scholar]
  13. Gräbner-Radkowitsch C and Strunk B (2023). Degrowth and the Global South: The twin problem of global dependencies. Ecological Economics, 213: 107946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2023.107946   [Google Scholar]
  14. Günther J, Overbeck AK, Muster S, Tempel BJ, Schaal S, Schaal S, Kühner E, and Otto S (2022). Outcome indicator development: Defining education for sustainable development outcomes for the individual level and connecting them to the SDGs. Global Environmental Change, 74: 102526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2022.102526   [Google Scholar]
  15. Gwara J and Ogbonnaya LU (2024). Foreign aid in Africa: The case for an Ubuntu-inspired relational ethics. In: Chitando E, Okyere-Manu B, Chirongoma S, and Dube MW (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook of Ubuntu, inequality and sustainable development: 309–321. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69573-5_19   [Google Scholar]
  16. Hamid A and AlObaid ROH (2025). Achieving sustainable development goals: Do governance and foreign direct investment matter? Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12: 1727. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05992-5   [Google Scholar]
  17. Henfrey T, Feola G, Penha‐Lopes G, Sekulova F, and Esteves AM (2023). Rethinking the sustainable development goals: Learning with and from community‐led initiatives. Sustainable Development, 31(1): 211-222. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2384   [Google Scholar]
  18. Islam N (2006). Rural poverty and the nonfarm sector in rural Asia. In: Islam N (Ed.), Reducing rural poverty in Asia: Challenges and opportunities for microenterprises and public employment schemes: 3–15. 1st Edition, Routledge, New York, USA. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003578345-2   [Google Scholar]
  19. Jain R, Panghal A, and Chaudhary N (2024). Financial inclusion in rural areas and poverty reduction in India. In: Mansour N, Baral S, and Garg V (Eds.), E-financial strategies for advancing sustainable development: Fostering financial inclusion and alleviating poverty: 73–88. Springer, Cham, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-67523-2_6   [Google Scholar]
  20. Kumar D and Suppiah SDK (2023). MSMEs and SDGs: Evidence from Bangladesh. In: Dasaraju H and Tambunan TT (Eds.), Role of micro, Small and medium enterprises in achieving SDGs: Perspectives from emerging economies: 89–130. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4829-1_5   [Google Scholar]
  21. Kuyvenhoven A (2004). Creating an enabling environment: Policy conditions for less-favored areas. Food Policy, 29(4): 407-429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2004.07.010   [Google Scholar]
  22. Leal Filho W, Lovren VO, Will M, Salvia AL, and Frankenberger F (2021). Poverty: A central barrier to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Environmental Science & Policy, 125: 96-104. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95714-2   [Google Scholar]
  23. Lertthanakulvat S and Sonsuphap R (2024). Self-sufficiency communities for economic development: Urban perspectives in an emerging country. Journal of Governance and Regulation, 13(2): 68-75. https://doi.org/10.22495/jgrv13i2art6   [Google Scholar]
  24. Maldet M, Schwabeneder D, Lettner G, Loschan C, Corinaldesi C, and Auer H (2024). Local sustainable communities: Sector coupling and community optimization in decentralized energy systems. Cleaner Energy Systems, 7: 100106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cles.2023.100106   [Google Scholar]
  25. Maldonado-Castro J, Gallego-Losada R, and Montero-Navarro A (2024). Mapping the intellectual structure of microfinance and women's empowerment: A bibliometric analysis. Heliyon, 10(20): e39563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39563   [Google Scholar] PMid:39498068 PMCid:PMC11532861
  26. Moallemi EA, Malekpour S, Hadjikakou M, Raven R, Szetey K, Ningrum D, Dhiaulhaq A, and Bryan BA (2020). Achieving the sustainable development goals requires transdisciplinary innovation at the local scale. One Earth, 3(3): 300-313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.08.006   [Google Scholar]
  27. Mohsin M, Iqbal N, Taghizadeh-Hesary F, and Iram R (2021). Measuring the performance of poverty reduction programs in rural Pakistan. In: Taghizadeh-Hesary F, Panthamit N, and Yoshino N (Eds.), Poverty reduction for inclusive sustainable growth in developing Asia: 165–182. Springer, Singapore, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1107-0_8   [Google Scholar]
  28. Monkam N and Mangwanya MG (2024). Digital tools for boosting the impact of fiscal decentralization in Africa's local economies. F1000Research, 13: 279. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.143922.1   [Google Scholar] PMid:38872736 PMCid:PMC11170072
  29. Mori N, Shauri L, and Richard E (2025). Determinants of loan repayment behavior of Tanzanian microfinance borrowers. Journal of African Business, 26(4): 749-773. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228916.2024.2423984   [Google Scholar]
  30. Morris MH, Santos SC, and Neumeyer X (2020). Entrepreneurship as a solution to poverty in developed economies. Business Horizons, 63(3): 377-390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2020.01.010   [Google Scholar]
  31. Motadi MS (2025). A strategy for poverty eradication towards sustainable development. OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, 18(9): 141-154.   [Google Scholar]
  32. Muturi D (2023). Impact of foreign direct investment on poverty reduction and economic development. Development, 8(2): 80-89. https://doi.org/10.47604/jpid.2073   [Google Scholar]
  33. Mwale B (2020). The impact of SMEs on socio-economic development in South Africa: A theoretical survey. European Journal of Business and Management, 12(20): 73-79.   [Google Scholar]
  34. Nchofoung TN, Kengdo AAN, Moumie EM, and Fonsoh TT (2022). Teach me to fish instead of giving me fish: Foreign development aid and employment in Africa. World Development Sustainability, 1: 100032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wds.2022.100032   [Google Scholar]
  35. OECD (2020). A territorial approach to the sustainable development goals. OECD Publishing, Paris, France. https://doi.org/10.1787/e86fa715-en   [Google Scholar]
  36. Ojong N and Simba A (2019). Fostering micro-entrepreneurs’ structural and relational social capital through microfinance. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 31(1): 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/08276331.2017.1423161   [Google Scholar]
  37. Omri A and Mabrouk NB (2020). Good governance for sustainable development goals: Getting ahead of the pack or falling behind? Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 83: 106388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2020.106388   [Google Scholar]
  38. Onatunji OG (2024). Achieving sustainable development in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Do human capital and foreign direct investment matter? Managerial and Decision Economics, 45(7): 4464-4482. https://doi.org/10.1002/mde.4258   [Google Scholar]
  39. Putri MHC and Putri NT (2022). Local economic development sebagai upaya terwujudnya pembangunan berkelanjutan. Convergence: The Journal of Economic Development, 4(1): 41-53. https://doi.org/10.33369/convergencejep.v4i1.23018   [Google Scholar]
  40. Raman R, Alka TA, Suresh M, and Nedungadi P (2025). Social entrepreneurship and sustainable technologies: Impact on communities, social innovation, and inclusive development. Sustainable Technology and Entrepreneurship, 4(3): 100110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stae.2025.100110   [Google Scholar]
  41. Rincón CAR, Santos J, Volker L, and Rouwenhorst R (2021). Identifying institutional barriers and enablers for sustainable urban planning from a municipal perspective. Sustainability, 13(20): 11231. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132011231   [Google Scholar]
  42. Roberts JT, Hite AB, and Chorev N (2015). The globalization and development reader: Perspectives on development and global change. 2nd Edition, Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, UK.  [Google Scholar]
  43. Ruane MCM (2014). The buy local initiative and its effectiveness in a small island economy: Evidence from the Pacific Island of Guam. Journal of Economic and Economic Education Research, 15(3): 169-183.   [Google Scholar]
  44. Sachs J, Schmidt-Traub G, Kroll C, Lafortune G, Fuller G, and Woelm F (2020). The sustainable development goals and COVID-19: Sustainable development report 2020. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108992411   [Google Scholar]
  45. Sachs JD (2015). The age of sustainable development. Columbia University Press, New York, USA. https://doi.org/10.7312/sach17314   [Google Scholar]
  46. Sen A (1999). Development as freedom. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, USA.   [Google Scholar]
  47. Shafik W (2026). Community knowledge initiatives and their economic and social impact. In: Yahaya JU (Ed.), Barriers and opportunities in education for immigrants and refugees: 87–120. IGI Global Scientific Publishing, Hershey, USA. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-3586-5.ch004   [Google Scholar]
  48. Surya B, Syafri S, Hadijah H, Baharuddin B, Fitriyah AT, and Sakti HH (2020). Management of slum-based urban farming and economic empowerment of the community of Makassar City, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Sustainability, 12(18): 7324. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187324   [Google Scholar]
  49. Tackie EA, Chen H, Ahakwa I, Atingabili S, and Ansah KA (2022). Investigating the relationship between local business and employment creation for poverty reduction in Northern Ghana: The moderating role of local economic development (LED) policy. SAGE Open, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221108173   [Google Scholar]
  50. Todaro MP and Smith SC (2020). Economic development. 13th Edition, Pearson Education, Harlow, UK.  [Google Scholar]
  51. UN (2021). Economic and social survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021: Towards post-COVID-19 resilient economies. United Nations, Bangkok, Thailand. https://doi.org/10.18356/9789216040574   [Google Scholar]
  52. UN (2022). The sustainable development goals report 2022. United Nations, New York, USA.   [Google Scholar]
  53. UNDP (2022). Human development report 2021/2022: Uncertain times, unsettled lives – shaping our future in a transforming world. United Nations Development Programme, New York, USA.  [Google Scholar]
  54. Ussher L, Ebert L, Gómez GM, and Ruddick WO (2021). Complementary currencies for humanitarian aid. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 14(11): 557. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm14110557   [Google Scholar]
  55. Vincent G and Sivakumar S (2019). Financial inclusion in India — A progress and challenges. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology, 28(19): 521-530.   [Google Scholar]
  56. Voulvoulis N (2022). Transitioning to a sustainable circular economy: The transformation required to decouple growth from environmental degradation. Frontiers in Sustainability, 3: 859896. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2022.859896   [Google Scholar]
  57. Vuksanović N, Demirović Bajrami D, Petrović MD, Radovanović MM, Malinović-Milićević S, Radosavac A, Obradović V, and Ergović Ravančić M (2024). The role of culinary tourism in local marketplace business—New outlook in the selected developing area. Agriculture, 14(1): 130. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010130   [Google Scholar]
  58. Wang J, Wang K, Hubacek K, Feng K, Shan Y, and Wei YM (2025). Changes in global trade patterns increase global inequality towards sustainable development goals. Ecological Economics, 227: 108421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108421   [Google Scholar]
  59. Yadav J, Kaur R, and Mishra S (2024). Way for social sustainability by making rural people self-reliant: An evaluation of NABARD's initiatives in India. World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 20(6): 664-682. https://doi.org/10.1504/WREMSD.2024.141884   [Google Scholar]
  60. Yesudian CAK (2007). Poverty alleviation programmes in India: A social audit. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 126(4): 364-373.   [Google Scholar]
  61. Yu X, Sisco S, and Verret D (2026). Examining the sustainability of a community-led job creation initiative: Building capacity and raising black-consciousness through partnerships. Community Development, 57(1): 133-150. https://doi.org/10.1080/15575330.2025.2525819   [Google Scholar]
  62. Zeng Y, Yang Y, Wang C, and Zou J (2025). Exploring the digital divide–poverty link: Roles of education and family dependency. Finance Research Letters, 85(Part C): 108023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2025.108023   [Google Scholar]