Topic Guides

Civil service reform

Civil Service Reform (CSR) refers to interventions that affect the organisation, performance and working conditions of employees paid from central, provincial or state government budgets. This topic guide outlines the issues currently facing reform efforts and introduces the key technical aspects of CSR.

Conflict

Conflict is inherent to all societies and arises when two or more societal groups pursue incompatible objectives. It is a dynamic process that can lead to positive or negative change. Certain forms of conflict are essential for developmental change, such as democratic debate in parliament. Violent conflicts occur when the institutions that manage conflict in society (such as political systems, informal institutions, or the justice sector) are no longer able to accommodate different interest groups through negotiation, compromise and grievance resolution.

Fragile states

DFID defines 'fragile states' as "those countries where the government cannot or will not deliver core functions to the majority of its people, including the poor." Many types of state can be classed as 'fragile', for example, weak states, conflict areas, post-conflict environments and states that have strong capacity but are unresponsive to the international community and the needs of their citizens. The central questions explored in the guide are 'what do we know about fragile states?' and 'how can this knowledge be used so that the international community can best engage in fragile states?'

Human rights

Human rights are increasingly visible in international development language, policies and programmes. Human rights, and the principles they are based on, are argued to improve the effectiveness of development programmes. But beyond that, a human rights framework is seen as essential for poverty reduction because it seeks to address the multiple rights denials that cause and shape poverty. This topic guide provides an introduction to the interactions and linkages between human rights and international development.

Institutional development

Institutional development is as yet not a precisely defined or thoroughly researched area. This page is intended to serve as an introduction to why institutional development matters for poverty reduction in developing countries. In addition to introducing the institutional framework and approach, it also outlines tools for diagnosis, design and evaluation of institutional development programmes.

Justice

As well as being an important aim in itself, an accessible and effective justice sector is essential for development in a number of ways. Security of property and protection of assets are vital to support the livelihoods of the poor. Access to legal protection can help the poor resolve disputes, and secure their rights to engage in political processes and access services. In addition, effective justice institutions can form part of the enabling environment for economic growth.

Measuring governance

Over recent years the international development community has increasingly acknowledged the importance of 'good governance' for development. This topic guide looks at how the quality of governance can be assessed. What constitutes a reliable and objective indicator of ‘good governance’? What operational and methodological challenges are involved in measuring governance?

Political economy analysis

Political economy analysis aims to situate development interventions within an understanding of the prevailing political and economic processes in society - specifically, the incentives, relationships, distribution and contestation of power between different groups and individuals - all of which greatly impact on development outcomes. Such an analysis can support more effective and politically feasible donor strategies, as well as more realistic expectations of what can be achieved, over what timescales, and the risks involved.

Political systems

Political systems are the formal and informal political processes by which decisions are made concerning the use, production and distribution of resources in any given society. This guide considers some of the key questions about how political systems evolve, how they can best foster democratic and inclusive politics, and - crucially for development practitioners - under what conditions they most effectively promote poverty reduction. It focuses on strengthening the accountability, responsiveness and effectiveness of political systems and political governance, and includes guidance and case study materials.

Service delivery

How can we ensure that basic services reach the poorest? What is the best way of involving service users and ensuring that providers are accountable to them? Are non-state service providers pro-poor, and how should the state engage with them? What are the particular challenges for delivering services in conflict or fragile environments? This guide provides an introduction to a few of the key recent debates for development practitioners involved in the provision of basic services, particularly health, education, water and sanitation.

Social exclusion

Social exclusion describes a situation where certain groups within a society are systematically disadvantaged because they are discriminated against. Social exclusion can be official or unofficial and can take place in a number of arenas, from the legal, health and education systems to the household and community.

Social protection

Recent research emphasises that social protection schemes are an investment in the future as they have the potential to promote growth and improve long-term poverty-reduction. Social protection includes longer-term mechanisms designed to combat chronic poverty as well as short-term interventions to reduce the impact of shocks.

Voice and accountability

Poor people are often excluded from participating in policy design and programmes that have direct impact on their lives, and central and local government institutions are often neither responsive nor accountable to the poor.