International Development


Sowing Innovation for Sustainable Food

iied

This 2-page brief highlights research into sustaining local food systems, biodiversity and livelihoods. It showcases how farming communities are taking the lead in action research to revive diverse, locally controlled food systems

Poverty & Hunger, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-02-01

Accelerating Work to Overcome the Global Impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases—A Roadmap for Implementation

WHO

To guide the effort against NTDs this 22-page document sets out a new strategy that sets targets for what can be achieved by the end of the decade

Health, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-01-31

Dissonance in Development: Foreign Aid and State Formation in Malawi

NUPI

The main focus of this 190-page Norwegian thesis is on how foreign aid and development affects the state

International Development, Governance & PoliticsPosted: 2012-01-12

Adapting for a Green Economy: Companies, Communities and Climate Change

Oxfam America

This 72-page US report makes the business case for private sector adaptation to climate change in ways that build the resilience of vulnerable communities in developing countries

Climate Change & Environment, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-01-10

Value for Money in Donor HIV Funding

Rand Corporation

This 92-page US report examines options for improving the impact of HIV funding

Health, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-01-10

Better than Expected U.S. Support for Global Development

Brookings

A commentary describing the amount of funding allocated for U.S. development spending in 2012 as a surprising achievement

International Development, Poverty & HungerPosted: 2012-01-09

Foresight Africa: Top Priorities for the Continent in 2012

Brookings

This 44-page US report outlines the top priorities for Africa in 2012 and beyond

International Development, RegionalPosted: 2012-01-09

Between Pockets of Efficiency and Elite Capture in Mozambique

DIIS

This 52-page Danish working paper synthesises the main findings from four case studies of productive sectors in Mozambique

International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-01-09

World Development Report 2012 for iPad

World Bank

A limited time free offer of the World Development Report 2012 App for iPad

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-12-16

Development Interventions, Export Sectors and the Poor: Mixed Results

DIIS

This 120-page Danish study examines a variety of interventions directed at increasing Low Income Country exports while benefiting the poor

International Development, Poverty & HungerPosted: 2011-12-12

Aiding Governance in Developing Countries: Progress Amid Uncertainties

CEIP

A 42-page US report on how aid practitioners have begun accumulating important insights about how to improve governance aid

International Development, Governance & PoliticsPosted: 2011-12-01

Direct Access to Climate Finance: Experiences and Lessons Learned

ODI

This 19-page UK discussion paper provides an overview of the concept of direct access to funding for climate change actions in developing countries

Climate Change & Environment, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-11-30

Brave New World: A Literature Review of Emerging Donors and the Changing Nature of Foreign Assistance

CGD

This 30-page US working paper investigates the scale and scope of emerging donors, many of which are developing economies themselves

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-11-26

Why Did Abolishing Fees Not Increase Public School Enrollment in Kenya?

CGD

This 28-page US working paper examines why demand for private schooling went up when the price of government schooling went down in Kenya

Education, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-11-15

Experiences of Plantation and Large-Scale Farming in 20th Century Africa

DIIS

A 56-page Danish working paper examining the lessons to be drawn from a re-assessment of large-scale agriculture in Africa during the twentieth century

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-11-15

Achieving an AIDS Transition: Preventing Infections to Sustain Treatment

CGD

This 4-page US brief summarizes the recommendations in "Achieving an AIDS Transition", for focused policies and well-designed incentives to finally bring the AIDS epidemic under control

Health, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-11-15

Engaging in Productive Sector Development: Comparisons between Mozambique and Ghana

DIIS

In this 35-page Danish paper, four factors are used to explain why state intervention in developing countries is sometimes a success and sometimes not

International Development, Economic PolicyPosted: 2011-11-15

Heritage, Democracy and Development in Libya

Brookings

A US article highlighting the potential of Libya's heritage and natural areas to contribute to development

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-11-14

Global Development Under Pressure

Brookings

This 48-page US meeting report discusses the state of global development cooperation, opportunities presented by international platforms for policy dialogue, the lessons of the Arab Spring, U.S. development policy reforms and the challenges of effective communications

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-11-14

The Forgotten Villages: Land Reform in Tanzania

DIIS

A 4-page Danish policy brief analyzing the causes for the slow progress of land reform in Tanzania

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-11-03

Safer, Faster, Cheaper: Improving Clinical Trials and Regulatory Pathways to Fight Neglected Diseases

CGD

This 4-page US brief offers recommendations for improving the quality and lowering the cost of clinical trials in the developing world

Health, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-11-02

Intrahousehold Distribution and Child Poverty: Theory and Evidence from Côte d’Ivoire

IZA

This paper extends the collective model of household consumption to recover mother's, father's and children's shares of consumption together with economies of scale

International Development, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2011-10-31

Building Civil Servant Capacity in South Sudan

DIIS

This 4-page Danish policy brief recaps on some main tenets of IGAD initiative and presents a number of policy recommendations

Disarmament & Peacekeeping, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-10-11

The Government Assistance Center: A Vehicle for Transitioning to the Host Government

PKSOI

This 74-page US monograph proposes a way for non-military organizations to render assistance and development to fragile states through an organizational approach

International Development, Governance & PoliticsPosted: 2011-10-10

Establishing Electoral Administration Systems in New Democracies

IDE

This 38-page Japanese discussion paper seeks to identify the conditions for establishing an autonomous and capable electoral administration system in newly-democratized countries

International Development, Governance & PoliticsPosted: 2011-10-07

Beyond Boundaries in Eastern Africa: Bridging the Security/Development Divide With International Security Assistance

Stimson Center, Stanley Foundation

This report identifies links between sustainable development issues, and human security and capacity-building needs in Eastern Africa, and connects these needs with international security assistance supported under UN Security Council Resolutions 1373 and 1540

International Development, Defence, Terrorism & SecurityPosted: 2011-10-07

No Easy Way Out: Traditional Authorities in Somaliland and the Limits of Hybrid Political Orders

DIIS

A 33-page Danish working paper exploring how moderately effective state-like institutions have been rebuilt in Somaliland and Puntland in northern Somalia over the past two decades

International Development, Governance & PoliticsPosted: 2011-10-06

What Happens When Donors Fail to Meet Their Commitments?

CGD

A US blog considering whether the aid industry introduced the reforms it agreed in 2005 to make aid more effective

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-10-05

Gender Equality and Development

World Bank

This 458-page report argues that gender equality is a core development objective in its own right. Further, that it is also smart economics

International Development, Social PolicyPosted: 2011-10-04

International Engagement in Fragile States: Can’t We Do Better?

OECD

This 66-page study is intended to guide complex interventions in fragile and conflict-affected countries

International Development, Governance & PoliticsPosted: 2011-09-29

Resource Rents, Democracy and Corruption: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

CESifo

This 18-page working paper examines the effect of the interaction between resource rents and democracy on corruption for a panel of 29 Sub-Saharan countries during the period from 1985 to 2007

Corruption, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-09-29

It’s Complicated: the Challenge of Implementing the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness

Brookings

A 3-page US analysis of this year’s monitoring survey on the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-09-27

Diversity of Communities and Economic Development

Economic Growth Center - Yale

This 20-page US discussion paper reviews the literature on the impact of ethnic diversity on economic development

International Development, Social PolicyPosted: 2011-09-23

Financing Africa Through the Crisis and Beyond

World Bank

This 308-page book takes stock of Africa's financial systems in light of recent changes in the global financial system. It addresses risk aversion of international investors, a shift in economic and financial powers towards emerging markets, the regulatory reform debate, and the increasing role of technology

International Development, RegionalPosted: 2011-09-22

Frontiers in Development Policy

World Bank

This 312-page book is a primer that examines interlinkages in various parts of the economy and the need for practical policy making to reach development goals in a globalized world of instabilities and complexities

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-09-22

Reframing Development Cooperation

Brookings

This 10-page US brief exposes some of the myths that surround development cooperation and endorses an effort to parse development activities according to a set of overarching objectives, which could then guide a more modern and useful aid taxonomy, as well as a better division of labour

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-09-17

What Drives States to Support the Development of Productive Sectors?

DIIS

This 34-page working paper examines why and how ruling political elites in developing countries support productive sector development and with what outcomes

International Development, Governance & PoliticsPosted: 2011-09-16

A Fragmented Europe in a Frail Congo

CSS

This 3-page Swiss analysis calls for a coherent and strategic (international) approach to provide valuable impetus to the most pressing Congolese needs

International Development, European UnionPosted: 2011-09-15

Assisting the Escape from Persistent Ultra-poverty in Rural Africa

FSI

A US lecture paper offering current thinking on the structural causes of the spatially concentrated, persistent ultra-poverty that has plagued Africa for a generation and some key entry points for facilitating Africans’ escape from persistent ultra-poverty

Poverty & Hunger, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-09-14

Incentive Proliferation? Making Sense of a New Wave of Development Programs

CGD

This 26-page US paper proposes a way of classifying and distinguishing the range of development incentive programmes being debated today, emphasizing two particular dimensions: the agent whose behavior the incentive seeks to change and the specificity of the output or outcome measure

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-09-08

Time for a Big Push on Infrastructure in Africa: What the G-20 Can Do

Brookings

This 10-page US policy paper argues that what the G-20 decides to do on infrastructure in Africa will be a critical test of whether it can amount to more than a talkshop

International Development, RegionalPosted: 2011-09-06

Taking Development Activities to Scale in Fragile and Low Capacity Environments

Brookings

A 93-page US working paper arguing that scaling up (i.e., the expansion, replication, adaption and sustaining of successful policies and programs in space and over time to reach a greater number of people) is highly relevant to fragile settings, both as an objective and as a strategic approach to development

International Development, Governance & PoliticsPosted: 2011-09-06

How Countries Become Rich and Reduce Poverty

DIIS

A 28-page Danish working paper reviewing the literature explaining why some countries are rich and others are poor

International Development, Poverty & HungerPosted: 2011-08-25

Measuring Results

GSDRC

This US guide introduces core debates and considerations for development practitioners involved in designing and managing monitoring and evaluating activities. It provides overviews of key tools and approaches, case studies of applying different methodological approaches, and lessons learned from international experience

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-08-24

Averting Further Crisis in Malawi

Brookings

A US article arguing that timely intervention by the international community, and particularly the African Union, is necessary to resolve the situation in Malawi

Governance & Politics, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-08-22

Will Rising Democracies Become International Democracy Supporters?

FRIDE, CEIP

This 42-page paper examines what potential exists for the US and EU to work with rising the democracies on international democracy support – and some of the risks that must be avoided.

Governance & Politics, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-08-18

Weak States and Successful Elites

SWP

A 27-page German research paper examining how the governments of externally dependent crisis states engage with Western policy prescriptions

Governance & Politics, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-08-18

Partnerships for Development and the Provision of Water and Sanitation

SWP

This 4-page German commentary argues that if the UN wants its partnerships to effectively contribute toward the realization of the Millennium Development Goals or other international goals, it needs to monitor and assess them in a more systematic manner

International Development, Poverty & HungerPosted: 2011-08-18

Measuring Aid Effectiveness Effectively: A Quality of Official Development Assistance Index

Brookings

This US article describes a tool and methodology that is designed to provide the information needed to assess whether a government is spending aid wisely and as effectively as possible

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-08-04

The Millennium Development Goals Report 2011

United Nations

A 72-page report on progress towards the MDGs

International Development, Poverty & HungerPosted: 2011-08-01

The Future State of the World: What it Means for Australia's Foreign Aid Program

Lowy Institute

This 30-page Australian paper looks at key influences on global development; it considers the critical 'swing factors' which could result in major changes; and finally, it identifies potential implications for Australia's aid program.

International Development, RegionalPosted: 2011-07-22

Investing for Sustainable Development? A Review of Investment Principles – Trends and Impacts

IIED

A 74-page report considering how sets of investment principles work to incorporate social, environmental and governance criteria into investment decisions in order to enhance the benefits and reduce the damaging effects of investment for development

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-07-21

The Evaluation of the Paris Declaration - Phase 2

IOD PARC

This 88-page report evaluates the relevance and effectiveness of the Paris Declaration and its contribution to aid effectiveness and ultimately to development effectiveness

International Development, Poverty & HungerPosted: 2011-07-14

An Effective Aid Program for Australia: Making a Real Difference - Delivering Real Results

AusAID

The Australian Government's 6-page summary response to the Independent Review of Aid Effectiveness.

International Development, Poverty & HungerPosted: 2011-07-13

Elections in Africa: Mixed Blessings for Growth and Poverty Alleviation

DIIS

This 4-page Danish policy brief finds that although elections motivate political elites to be responsive to popular demands in Africa, the impacts on peoples’ livelihoods are ambiguous

International Development, Governance & PoliticsPosted: 2011-06-30

Mapping Progress: Evidence for a New Development Outlook

ODI

This 76-page UK report summarises evidence of development progress and how it was achieved in 24 developing countries

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-06-30

The Impact of Employment Guarantee Schemes and Cash Transfers on the Poor

ODI

This 104-page review applies a systematic protocol to the identification and retrieval of published and unpublished documents relating to the impacts of i) EGSs and ii) CTs on the poor (defined in relation to national poverty lines), and examines the relative effectiveness of both interventions

Poverty & Hunger, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-06-28

A Global Compact on Learning; Taking Action on Education in Developing Countries

Brookings

This 79-page US report highlights the importance of education in reducing poverty in developing countries

International Development, EducationPosted: 2011-06-13

Financial Globalization in Emerging Economies: Much Ado About Nothing?

Brookings

This 47-page US paper focuses on financial globalization (FG) from an empirical perspective, building on, updating, and specializing the existing literature to characterize the evolution and implications of FG in emerging economies

Globalisation & International Trade, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-06-09

The New Politics of Development and Development Policy’s Big Private Sector Push as response

The Indo-Pacific Governance Research Centre

This 7-page Australian policy brief examines how over the last decade or more a new mode of development practice has emerged that both complements and, in many ways, transforms the agendas of organisations tasked with facilitating development

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-06-08

The Coming Scramble for Africa’s Resources Needs a New Rulebook

Europe's World

The European Parliament has an important opportunity to influence global rules on resources extraction. This article explains why these are vital if Africa is to benefit fully from its minerals and energy bonanza

International Development, European UnionPosted: 2011-06-06

The Future of Development Finance

CGD

A 21-page US working paper arguing that the rules of the game and the tools of development assistance need to evolve to focus on transparency, results, accountability, a market-driven division of labor and flexible partnerships for the future development finance system to become an effective tool of global problem solving

International Development, Poverty & HungerPosted: 2011-05-26

Budget Support Lessons from Post-conflict Support to Mozambique

DIIS

This Danish policy brief revisits the main lessons from support to Mozambique during its post-conflict reconstruction phase

Disarmament & Peacekeeping, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-05-22

Ghana's Transformation

IPRI

A first-person account of John Kufuor's years as president, describing some of his administration’s most successful projects, especially those related to agriculture

International Development, Governance & PoliticsPosted: 2011-05-17

Serious Approach to Development

Brookings

This 12-page US policy paper poses the principal issues that will face The 2011 High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan

International Development, Economic PolicyPosted: 2011-05-16

Social Cash Transfers: a Useful Instrument in Development Cooperation?

FES

A 6-page analysis of the potential and pitfalls of social cash transfers in development cooperation

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-05-15

Toward Results-Based Social Policy Design and Implementation

CGD

This 42-page US paper shows how Mexico has improved the evidence base for public policy in a number of ways

International Development, Social PolicyPosted: 2011-04-20

Budget Support Lessons from Post-conflict Support to Mozambique

DIIS

This Danish policy brief revisits the main lessons from support to Mozambique during its post-conflict reconstruction phase

Disarmament & Peacekeeping, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-04-14

The Power of Jurisdiction in Promoting Social Policies in Smaller States

UNRISD

This 40-page paper argues that a stronger appreciation of strategic issues, institutional practices, legal features, regulatory capacities and behavioural response mechanisms would help in understanding why some small states succeed while others do not

Social Policy, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-04-01

The New Bottom Billion: What If Most of the World’s Poor Live in Middle-Income Countries?

CGD

A 4-page US brief reporting that an estimated 960 million poor people — a - new bottom billion — live in middle-income countries, and considering how donors will have to change the way they think about poverty alleviation

Poverty & Hunger, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-03-30

Oil Prices, Poor Countries and Policy Responses

ODI

A UK blog on the impact of rising oil prices on deveoloping countries

International Development, EnergyPosted: 2011-03-25

Nation-building Interventions and National Security: An Australian Perspective

m, National Defence University

This 14-page essay urges Australia to give higher priority to preemptive strategies that help prevent conflict, and to holistic approaches that build sustainable stability

International Development, Defence, Terrorism & SecurityPosted: 2011-03-22

Failed States, Vicious Cycles, and a Proposal

CGD

This 14-page US working paper examines the problems of failed states, including the repeated return to power of former warlords, which he argues causes institutions to become weaker and people to get poorer

Governance & Politics, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-03-08

Making Sense of Food Price Volatility

Brookings

A US analysis of how food prices affect developing countries and what needs to be done at a policy level

Poverty & Hunger, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-03-07

Southern Sudan's Self-Determination Referendum: Two Narratives

Clingendael

A personal Dutch commentary on the recent vote on whether Southern Sudan will remain part of a united Sudan or found its own state

Governance & Politics, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-03-04

Managed Retreat of Coastal Communities: Understanding Responses to Projected Sea Level Rise

CSIRO

This 39-page study finds that managed retreat - the relocation of homes and infrastructure under threat from coastal flooding - is one of the few policy options available for coastal communities at risk from sea level rise

Climate Change & Environment, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-03-04

Climate Finance in Indonesia: Lessons for the Future of Public Finance for Climate Change Mitigation

EDC

This 55-page working paper studies how financing to address climate change be delivered to countries and within countries in the most effective way

Climate Change & Environment, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-02-28

Is Uganda Ready for Oil Revenues?

SAIIA

This 4-page South African policy briefing considers Uganda's ability to cope with expected oil revenues

International Development, Governance & PoliticsPosted: 2011-02-28

Security, Humanitarian Action and Development

ODI

This 4-page UK briefing paper outlines the key opportunities and challenges presented by a more integrated approach to international engagements to build stability in fragile states

International Development, Disarmament & PeacekeepingPosted: 2011-02-18

A Guide to Monitoring and Evaluating Policy Influence

ODI

This 12-page UK background paper provides an overview of approaches to monitoring and evaluating development policy influence and is intended as a guide, outlining challenges and approaches and suggested further reading

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-02-18

Emerging Powers and the International Development Agenda

Chatham House

The 12-page text of a speech setting out how the UK will work to strengthen its partnerships with emerging powers, adapting its approach to reflect the changing international development landscape.

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-02-18

How to Stop the Rise in Food Price Volatility

CEIP

This US bulletin examines the developing world’s vulnerability to food price shocks

International Development, Poverty & HungerPosted: 2011-02-17

The New Sudan: Challenges and Opportunities

CEIP

This US Q&A analyzes the latest developments on the ground in Sudan, the realities that face the north and south, the impact of the secession on Darfur, and what lessons the international community can take from the peace process

Governance & Politics, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-02-17

Learning about Schools in Development

CGD

This 28-page US working paper investigates the broken link between schools and learning and suggests some proven methods for improving outcomes in education

Education, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-02-15

Aiding Development: Assistance Reform for the 21st Century

Brookings

This 44-page US paper considers the reform of global assistance efforts

International Development, Poverty & HungerPosted: 2011-02-15

Oil to Cash: Fighting the Resource Curse through Cash Transfers

CGD

A 22-page US working paper proposing that countries seeking to manage new resource wealth should consider distributing income directly to citizens as cash transfers

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-02-14

South Sudan: Time to Focus on Challenges

Brookings

This US article describes the many challenges that lie ahead for South Sudan

International Development, Governance & PoliticsPosted: 2011-02-14

Beyond Forestry: Why Agriculture is Key to the Success of REDD+

iied

This 4-page brief explains how, in regard to deforestation, the task of reconciling climate anddevelopment goals poses a daunting challenge

Climate Change & Environment, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-02-02

Look Both Ways: Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Poverty Reduction

iied

This 4-page brief argues that biodiversity and poverty reduction are intrinsically linked and demands an integrated approach

Climate Change & Environment, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-02-02

European Development Cooperation in a Changing World: Rising Powers and Global Challenges after the Financial Crisis

EADI

This 4-page policy brief examines how the challenges facing European development cooperation have changed substantially in recent years

International Development, European UnionPosted: 2011-01-28

Participation of Diasporas in Peacebuilding and Development

PRIO

This 68-page Norwegian handbook focuses on diaspora engagements in both peacebuilding and development

International Development, Disarmament & PeacekeepingPosted: 2011-01-28

Sustainable Security and the Global South

ORG

This 9-page UK paper examines how the views of security analysts from the global South might be better incorporated into the concept of ‘sustainable security'.

Defence, Terrorism & Security, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-01-27

The Toppling of the Tunisian Regime: Ramifications for the Arab World

INSS

This Israeli commentary examines possible reactions in the Arab world to recent Tunisian events

Governance & Politics, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-01-20

Advanced Economies Pose Three Financial Risks to Developing Countries in 2011

CGDev

This 8-page US paper identifies the major risks posed to emerging market economies by developments in advanced economies

International Development, Globalisation & International TradePosted: 2011-01-19

Ten Zero-Cost Development Ideas for 2011

CGD

A US list of ten zero-cost actions that the rich and powerful global actors can take to improve lives among the poor and vulnerable around the world in the coming year

International Development, Poverty & HungerPosted: 2011-01-18

Aid, Institutions and Governance: What Have We Learned?

"Development Policy Review"

A 22-page UK article summarizing fresh thinking on the place of governance systems and the role of aid in development

International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-01-10

Justice and Security – When the State Isn’t the Main Provider

DIIS

This 4-page Danish policy brief reports on a conference held to discuss current development assistance to justice and security-related programming that supports actors that are not part of a state entity

International Development, Defence, Terrorism & SecurityPosted: 2011-01-07

Recurrent Cost Boom Threathens Millennium Development Goals

DIIS

A 4-page Danish policy brief arguing that it is urgent to address the long-term financing of the costs of the MDGs. Otherwise, present achievements can be undermined by a potential recurrent cost boom in many poor donor-dependent countries

International Development, Poverty & HungerPosted: 2011-01-07

Tanzania’s Land Law Reform

DIIS

A 20-page Danish working paper providing an overview of the major land reform implementation projects carried out in Tanzania so far

International Development, Governance & PoliticsPosted: 2011-01-07

Food Security in an Era of Economic Volatility

"Population and Development Review"

A 32-page US article considering the state of food insecurity, the nature of price variability, and the appropriate strategies for international agricultural development

Poverty & Hunger, International DevelopmentPosted: 2011-01-06