(1) Purpose: Within the significance of eradicating poverty in the long term, the purpose of this paper is to assess the implications of the dimensions of sustainable development, across all European Union Member States, on poverty, through the lens of dimensions focused on economic and social factors, both directly and globally, in their mutual interconnectedness. (2) Methodology: The research methodology consists of applying two econometric models, namely, panel models (with fixed effects) and Gaussian graphical models, to assess the mutual, global interconnectedness of the main sustainable development benchmarks. Data used in the analysis was collected for the period 2009 and 2019. (3) Results: There are direct and overall implications of the dimensions of sustainable development (including economic and social factors), across all European Union Member States, on poverty. (4) Conclusions: All the European Union Member States are affected by poverty, but to varying degrees, which is why governments are urged to further develop actions to combat the harmful effects of poverty. (5) Implications: In the context of the current financial and geopolitical crisis driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, increasing the focus of all stakeholders on poverty and sustainable development is essential, especially by expanding sustainable development goals that address multi-dimensional poverty.

The purpose of this study is to find out whether micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) can boost economic growth and achieve their sustainability during the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing financial technology innovations and the Resource Base Strategy (SRB) through crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending (P2P lending). This study used a mixed approach, namely a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The population in this study were SMEs who used crowdfunding and P2P lending services, totaling 380 SMEs. Through calculation by the Slovin’s Formula, 192 SMEs were sampled. The results of this study are as follows: (1) the performance of MSMEs will be improved if MSMEs carry out internal improvements in the form of financial technology innovations using crowdfunding as an alternative to meet capital requirements; (2) the economic growth will be supported if MSMEs carry out internal improvements in the form of financial technology innovations using crowdfunding as an alternative to meet capital requirements; (3) the performance of MSMEs will be improved if MSMEs carry out internal improvements in the form of SRB using P2P lending as an alternative to meet capital requirements; (4) the economic growth will be supported if MSMEs carry out internal improvements in the form of SRB using P2P lending as an alternative to meet capital requirements; (4) the economic growth will be supported if MSMEs carry out internal improvements in the form of SRB using P2P lending as an alternative to meet capital requirements; (5) the performance of MSMEs will be improved if MSMEs carry out internal improvements in the form of financial technology innovations and SRB using crowdfunding as an alternative to meet capital requirements; (6) the economic growth will be supported if MSMEs carry out internal improvements in the form of financial technology innovations and SRB strategies using P2P lending as an alternative to meet capital requirements; (7) the performance of MSMEs will be improved if MSMEs carry out internal improvements in the form of financial technology innovations and SRB using crowdfunding and P2P lending as alternatives to meet capital requirements; (8) the economic growth will be supported if MSMEs carry out internal improvements in the form of financial technology innovations and SRB strategies using crowdfunding and P2P lending as alternatives to meet capital requirements; and (9) the improved performance and growth of MSMEs justifies the paradigm shift from the resource driven economic growth to the innovation driven one. This study helps MSMEs obtain the maximum investment so that they can create a great number of jobs to boost economic growth. The conclusions can be used by MSMEs in their business models to deal with the impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The United Nations 2030 Agenda designed the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were adopted in 2015 with the primary aim of achieving sustainable development by 2030. One of these goals is SDG 4, which aims to ‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’. Implementing SDG 4 calls for initiatives that instill knowledge, attitudes and skills as clearly indicated in Target 4.7. This requires a change in mindset, where transformative ideologies fused in both sustainability governance and education are required to encourage behavioural change. This research presents a case study regarding an exhibition, which toured Maltese schools and the community, in the form of a large Rubik’s cube possessing 17 cubicles in which an artifact about each SDG is presented. This case study aims to examine how this exhibition contributes to SDG 4, specifically Target 4.7. It also seeks to explore whether the case study contributes towards transformative approaches in tandem with education and governance for sustainable development. The methodological framework presents two innovative approaches – a visual qualitative analysis of each artifact and a matrix that attributes scores reflecting the effectiveness of each exhibit vis-à-vis the main components of Target 4.7. Qualitative and quantitative findings, supported by reflexivity, are garnered to examine the implications of this case study, which acts as a good springboard to emanate the SDGs within the community by creating a link between formal and non-formal learning spaces. Drawing upon such insights, a Transformative Education-Governance model is proposed where a number of action points are delineated. This provides a fertile terrain in reconceptualising education and governance, useful for researchers and practitioners in the fields of sustainability and education.

Micro units are a significant economic segment of our society and are a major source of employment after the agriculture sector. The purpose of this paper is to assess the performance of the government's scheme after five years (2015-20) in order to determine whether the MSME sector has grown and developed over that period. Micro units engaged in manufacturing, processing, trading, and service activities are included in this category. It is responsible for providing employment to approximately 10 million individuals. There are a lot of proprietary/single-ownership/own-account businesses in the non-corporate small business sector. In view of India's large population, it is difficult for them to access mainstream commercial banks. India sometimes introduces objective-oriented schemes to help the underprivileged start up, expand, and change their small businesses. Through an empirical investigation, this paper will evaluate the needs and performance of this program after five years (2015-20). The Mudra Banking Scheme is also an objective-oriented model for the financial inclusion of the poor who do not have mortgages to cover their financial needs. Honorable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi commenced this banking scheme in August 2015.