Sefla Fuhrman added that international development is a complex and challenging field that aims to address poverty, inequality, and other global issues. It involves efforts by governments, organizations, and individuals to promote economic, social, and political progress in developing countries. While international development work can be gratifying, it also comes with significant challenges. This article explores the various aspects that make international development a problematic undertaking.

One of the primary challenges in international development is navigating diverse cultural and contextual environments. Each country's unique history, traditions, and social norms must be understood and respected for effective development interventions. Developing an in-depth understanding of local cultures and customs requires time, patience, and sensitivity.

Political instability, corruption, and governance issues often hinder international development efforts. Implementing successful projects requires collaboration with governments and navigating complex bureaucratic processes. Political changes, conflicts, and shifting priorities can further complicate development initiatives, making achieving sustainable progress challenging.

Economic constraints pose significant challenges to international development. Many developing countries need more financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, and high debt levels. These factors restrict the scope and speed of development projects, making it harder to achieve tangible results in a short timeframe.

Building local capacity is a crucial aspect of sustainable development. However, it requires substantial education, training, and skill development investments. Developing skilled professionals and institutions that can lead and sustain development efforts takes time and resources, making the process challenging.

International development often involves multiple stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, international organizations, and local communities. Coordinating and aligning these diverse actors' interests, priorities, and resources can be complex and time-consuming. Effective collaboration requires overcoming language barriers, differing agendas, and building stakeholder trust.

Measuring the impact of development interventions and ensuring accountability is a challenging task. It requires robust monitoring and evaluation systems to accurately assess progress, identify gaps, and make necessary adjustments. Gathering reliable data and conducting rigorous evaluations, particularly in resource-constrained environments, can be difficult.

International development is undeniably complex, given the intricate web of challenges it entails. However, the difficulties should encourage efforts to pursue meaningful change. By acknowledging the complexities and investing in local capacity, collaboration, and sustainable approaches, international development practitioners can strive to overcome these challenges and contribute to positive and lasting change. Through perseverance, adaptability, and a commitment to understanding and respecting local contexts, progress can be made in this demanding field.