International Development


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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

The Millennium Development Goals Report 2011

United Nations

A 72-page report on progress towards the MDGs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Multilateral Development Banks: General Capital Increases

CRS

A 17-page US perspective on how the major Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are simultaneously seeking increases in their capital bases to fund the continued expansionof their development lending programmes

International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-02-16

Combating Dangerous Medicines: Differences in Quality of Medicines sold by Small Pharmacies and Large Chain Pharmacies

AEI

A 5-page US paper investigating the possibility that smaller, often privately-owned, pharmacies in developing countries take greater risks with drug procurement than larger organizations

Health, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-02-24

Rethinking Health Sector -wide Approaches Through the Lens of Aid Effectiveness

Development Policy Centre, Crawford School of Economics and Government

This 52-page Australian paper argues that the theory of change underlying SWAps is highly consistent with effective aid, while the practice is not

International Development, HealthPosted: 2012-02-24

Commercial Security and Development

BICC

This 80-page brief presents findings from Timor-Leste, Liberia and Peru on the relationship between commercial security and development

International Development, Defence, Terrorism & SecurityPosted: 2012-02-24

Scaling Up Development Interventions: A Review of UNDP's Country Program in Tajikistan

Brookings

This 48-page US working paper aims to assess whether and how well UNDP is supporting scaling up in its development programs in Tajikistan. It also contributes to the overall growing body of evidence on the scaling up of development interventions worldwide

International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-02-27

Cash On Delivery Aid for Health: What Indicators Would Work Best?

CGD

This 45-page US working paper assesses the challenges of applying COD Aid in the health sector

International Development, HealthPosted: 2012-02-29

Comparing the Palm Oil Industry in Malaysia and Ghana

DIIS

This 43-page Danish paper explores what can be learned about the development of a productive sector and the factors that affect the process of upgrading and innovation, through a comparative assessment of the experiences of Malaysia and Ghana in the palm oil sector

International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-03-01

Will Emerging Economies Repeat the Environmental Mistakes of their Rich Cousins?

CEIP

A US article illustrating how emerging markets will face ever-increasing environmental consequences that will eventually constrain growth

Climate Change & Environment, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-03-13

Escaping the Vicious Cycle of Poverty: Towards Universal Access to Energy

CEPS

A 33-page working paper showing that renewable energy sources – and especially small decentralised solutions – have huge potential for providing reliable, sustainable and affordable energy services for the poor, particularly in rural areas of developing countries

Energy, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-03-13

Sri Lanka’s North I: The Denial of Minority Rights

Crisis Group

This 46-page report calls for governments and aid agencies supporting the reconstruction of Sri Lanka's Northern Province to structure their assistance so as to encourage the demilitarisation and democratisation of the former war zone and full respect for minority rights

Disarmament & Peacekeeping, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-03-19

Sri Lanka’s North II: Rebuilding under the Military

Crisis Group

This report argues that international engagement with Sri Lanka should prioritise the reestablishment of civilian and democratic governance in the north, and the end of the military control over development activities

Governance & Politics, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-03-19

The High Return to Private Schooling in a Low-Income Country

CGDEV

This 12-page working paper finds a large effect of private schooling in Kenya on test scores, equivalent to one full standard deviation. The effect dwarfs the impact of any rigorously tested intervention to raise performance within public schools

Education, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-03-21

Cooperating with China in Africa

DIIS

This 4-page Danish policy brief explores Western donor efforts to engage China on development in Africa

International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-03-23

Security Sector Reform Needs Inclusive Politics and Jobs for the Poor

Open Democracy

This article argues that security sector reform needs to be grounded in inclusive government and growth strategies that deliver jobs to the poor

Defence, Terrorism & Security, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-03-26

Green China: Chinese insights on Environment and Development

International Institute for Environment and Development

This 286-page book explores the magnitude of China’s environmental challenges, and introduces the perspectives of leading Chinese thinkers working on cutting edge environment and development issues

Climate Change & Environment, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-04-13

Approaches to Food Security in Brazil, China, India, Mexico and Nigeria: Lessons for Developing Countries

ICRIER

This 35-page Indian paper underscores the diversity in country experiences in terms of the timing, pace, and forms of agricultural reforms as well as the major public policies and programmes adopted for improving social and economic access to food and nutrition and draws lessons for other countries

Poverty & Hunger, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-04-16

Achieving Export Diversification: Lessons from Brazil

IDS

A 2-page UK briefing that uses evidence from research on Brazilian manufacturing firms to draw lessons for other developing countries on how firms achieve export diversification

International Development, Globalisation & International TradePosted: 2012-04-17

Incentives for Life: Cash-on-Delivery Aid for Tobacco Control in Developing Countries

CGD

This 19-page report proposes applying Cash-on-Delivery (COD) Aid as a new incentive mechanism for tobacco control in low- and middle-income countries

Drug Abuse, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-04-18

Global Monitoring Report 2012: Food Prices, Nutrition, and the Millennium Development Goals

World Bank

This 188-page report examines summarizes the impacts of food prices on several MDGs; reviews policy responses; and outlines future prospects

Poverty & Hunger, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-04-24

Constitutional Reform Processes and Political Parties: Principles for Practice

NIMD

This 60-page Dutch publication provides a set of guiding principles for constitutional reform based on practical experiences of constitutional reform processes in a number of countries

Governance & Politics, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-04-30

The Global Financial Crisis: The Beginning of the End of the “Development” Agenda?

CGD

This 25-page US policy paper discusses the pre-crisis subtle shift in the prevailing model of capitalism in developing countries and whether the financial crisis will be a trigger for a new twenty-first-century approach to collective action on global problems

International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-05-02

The Negative Consequences of Overambitious Curricula in Developing Countries

CGD

This 57-page US working paper argues that many education systems in developing countries are attempting to push children through curricular material faster than their teachers can teach it and their students can learn it

International Development, EducationPosted: 2012-05-02

Ecuador’s Economy Since 2007

CEPR

This 25-page US paper describes how Ecuador has experienced strong progress in key economic, social and health indicators since 2007, with a dramatic rebound from the global recession since 2009

Economic Policy, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-05-03

Sustainable Development through Policy Integration in Latin America: A Comparative Approach

UNRISD

This 24-page paper examines how social and political actors in Brazil and in Ecuador propose to govern natural resource use sustainably, and how they work at building an alternative political economy based on ecosystem protection, biodiversity, renewable energy use and poverty reduction

Climate Change & Environment, International DevelopmentPosted: 2012-05-07