Social development processes aim to empower people to bring about economic and social improvement in their lives. Often this involves institution-building and structural change. It was started in the 1990's by a group of Iranian social work educators to respond to pressing human concerns from an our community, interdisciplinary perspective. The organization seeks to develop conceptual frameworks and effective intervention strategies geared to influencing local, national and international systems. It is committed to creating peaceful solutions to the problems of survival at the local, national and nationallevels. ESSR members use a social development approach to: Promote world peace and social justice Fight economic and political oppression Improve access to adequate health care and education Overcome discrimination against women and minorities Create sustainable income and economic structures