http://www.gsdrc.org Academic and policy-relevant publications on governance and international development. en-uk Copyright © 2012 Governance and Social Development Resource Centre Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:09 GMT Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:09 GMT http://www.gsdrc.org/rss/open george@gsdrc.org george@gsdrc.org http://www.gsdrc.org/images/logos/logo_gsdrc.gif http://www.gsdrc.org 205 90 GSDRC logo World Bank Some 1.5 billion people live in countries affected by repeated cycles of political and criminal violence. This report argues that breaking these cycles involves a) strengthening legitimate national institutions and governance to meet citizens' key needs; and b) alleviating international stresses that increase the risks of conflict (such as food price volatility and infiltration by trafficking networks). It is important to: refocus assistance on confidence building, citizen security, justice and jobs; reform the procedures of international agencies to accommodate swift, flexible, and longer-term action; respond at the regional level (such as by developing markets that integrate insecure areas and pooling resources for building capacity); and to renew cooperative efforts between lower, middle, and higher income countries. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4160&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4160&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Silvio Waisbord Why does the use of participatory communication in development remain limited? Why are informational approaches still favoured in practice? This article takes an institutional perspective, examining prevalent notions about communication in international aid organisations. The selection of communication approaches is based on institutional factors and expectations, rather than on their analytical value. Institutional dynamics therefore undermine the potential of participatory communication. Researchers and practitioners need to broaden their understanding of communication in international development. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4133&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4133&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT World Bank How can international actors more effectively support transitions out of violence and fragility? This chapter outlines trends in the international architecture that affect the ability to respond effectively in fragile and violence-prone settings. It argues that international agencies are geared to minimising domestic reputational and fiduciary risk – increasingly so – rather than supporting 'best-fit' institutional solutions that match political realities on the ground. The principle barrier to effectiveness is international agencies' dual accountability to domestic constituencies and citizens in recipient states. Development agencies also need to address critical gaps by focusing more on citizen security, criminal justice and job creation. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4109&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4109&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT OECD How can donors manage the risks of engagement in fragile and transitional contexts without constraining aid's potentially high impact in such environments? Donors acknowledge that the risks of failing to engage in fragile contexts outweigh most of the risks of engagement. However, they and their implementing partners struggle with competing demands for quick results and evidence of accountability, and with low country capacity that restricts national ownership. The current risk-averse approach to aid generates slow and inflexible procedures and, at times, perverse results: appropriate risk taking is essential to effective engagement in fragile contexts. Donors need political backing and more flexible processes. Collective approaches to managing risk show promise. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4091&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4091&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Stephen Devereux and Katharine Vincent What are the opportunities and risks of using information and communications technology (ICT) to deliver social protection? This article considers experiences from southern Africa, focusing on pilot projects in Malawi. It finds that using ICT to deliver social protection increases project efficiency and cost-effectiveness (particularly at large scale), increases flexibility and broader access to banking facilities for beneficiaries, and can especially empower women. It can also bring wider benefits to the national economy. With effective strategies in place to address risks such as information regulations and data security, the opportunities of ICT use can significantly outweigh the risks. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4027&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4027&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Alex de Waal How can international actors respond to the powerful trend towards intractable low-level conflicts that are part-criminal and part-political? This paper argues that it is important to understand the actual functioning of politics in complex countries (like Afghanistan, Congo and Sudan) that do not have a strong and autonomous state. Such countries must be studied as they really are, rather than as deficient examples of what they 'ought' to be. This involves examining the 'political marketplace' – political bargaining within patronage systems. Patronage systems can be inefficient and corrupt; they can also be inclusive, and a repository of trust and security. While promoting ways of avoiding unchecked corruption and criminalisation, international actors need to recognise the power of patronage to generate stability. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4025&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4025&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Alan Gelb Donors using Performance Based Allocation (PBA) systems face two difficult issues: how to strengthen incentives to produce and document development results, and how to increase flexibility for fragile states. This paper suggests: 1) implementing short feedback loops to incentivise more attention to results and to monitoring and evaluation; and 2) establishing an additional performance-based fund to allow successful projects to be scaled-up. It proposes a venture-capital model of aid in fragile states – which aims to scale-up successes while accepting that not all projects will be successful. Donors supporting fragile states need to ask not "How much should be allocated?" but "Where can we really add value?" http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4000&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4000&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Douglass C. North et al. Why do existing development approaches based on transfer of western social and political dynamics to non-western countries often fail? This paper proposes a conceptual model of developed countries, or open access orders (OAOs) and developing countries, or limited access orders (LAOs). OAOs organise themselves around competition and a government monopoly over violence. Since they do not have a secure state monopoly on violence, LAOs organise themselves to control violence among elite factions which divide the country’s economy among themselves. Development reforms will fail if they attempt to create OAOs in societies ill-prepared for such fundamental change in their social and political dynamics. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3989&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3989&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT Alan Doig and Martin Tisne As aid donors consider revising their broad governance reform focus and move toward 'good enough governance', what attention might be paid to corruption in the revised approach? Using a series of country studies, this paper discusses the place of anti-corruption in recent post-war donor agendas, finding that it has often been diluted or downplayed. Addressing corruption should be promoted rather than relegated to lower status in any future reform agendas. Failure to address corruption in favour of what are considered more pressing reform issues will further institutionalise corruption and erode public confidence in governments. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3987&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3987&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Laure-Hélène Piron The aid industry is characterised by a serious deficit of accountability mechanisms, a lack of transparency in aid allocation, priority setting and performance assessment, and little information about action taken with staff concerning failed projects or wider negative impacts. To what extent may human rights be used to hold aid agencies to account in a meaningful way? This paper finds that integrating human rights into political or managerial mechanisms within donor countries can establish powerful incentive structures for improved accountability. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3976&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3976&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT Athena Ballesteros and Vivek Ramkumar How will climate change funds be collected, distributed, and accounted for at the international level? What mechanisms are needed to ensure that recipient countries manage these funds in ways that are transparent and responsive to the needs and input of the public? This Brief argues that gathering resources and managing resources need to be considered simultaneously. The next generation of climate finance needs to strengthen the national institutions that will implement mitigation and adaptation activities and ensure their transparency and accountability to citizens within countries, as well as to the international community. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3969&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3969&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Jessica Brown, Neil Bird and Liane Schalatek What are the emerging definitions of 'climate finance additionality'? What are the technical and political implications of these different definitions? This policy brief explores these questions and looks at their requirements in terms of tracking, measuring, reporting and verifying finance. Additionality is an important issue; sufficient finance must be channelled towards climate change needs while simultaneously avoiding diversion from development needs. The way additionality is defined by donor governments needs focused attention and debate. Innovative approaches to raising the funds required outside development funding are needed. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3962&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3962&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Wouter van Ginneken Globalisation triggers the need for frequent adjustment to national production processes, jobs and life strategies, and there are vast gaps in income and security between countries. The International Labour Organisation suggests that establishing a global socio-economic floor would improve international development and security. This article investigates the impact of taking a rights-based approach to a core element of that floor, social security, concluding that it could make a significant impact on achieving the Millennium Development Goals of poverty eradication and development, and provide a framework for the future. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3956&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3956&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Gareth Porter et al. What are the implications of the recent proliferation of funding initiatives aimed at addressing global environmental issues? This paper examines eight new bilateral funds and six multilateral funds established to address the challenges related to climate change. It recommends early harmonisation of the financial architecture and greater involvement of developing countries in design processes. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3952&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3952&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Liane Schalatek, Neil Bird and Jessica Brown What progress was made regarding climate finance at the 2009 talks in Copenhagen? The 'Copenhagen Accord' gives some clear promises and numbers for both short- and long-term financial support to help developing countries, especially the most vulnerable, to address climate change. It pledges US$10 billion per year from 2010-2012, then US$100 billion per year from 2020. However, as the Accord is a non-binding political agreement, if and how those commitments can be fulfilled remains uncertain. The Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing will submit its final recommendations before the Cancun meeting in December 2010. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3949&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3949&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Martin Stadelmann, J. Timmons Roberts and Axel Michaelowa All major climate policy agreements have stated that climate finance for developing countries will be 'new and additional'. But new and additional to what? This article explores options for agreeing a baseline, and related methodological challenges. It identifies two viable baselines: 'new funding sources only' and 'above pre-defined business as usual level of development assistance'. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3944&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3944&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Manish Bapna and Heather McGray How should funding for climate change adaptation be generated, channelled and spent? This paper explores the opportunities and challenges involved in financing adaptation efforts in developing countries. Helping developing countries adapt to climate change will involve enormous resources, above those already assigned for development. Finance mechanisms that can deliver this additional level of resource need to be designed. Separating the different processes around generating, channelling and spending adaption finance offers a way forward. Donor country policymakers need to understand that effective approaches to adaptation finance will require attention to all three phases of decision-making, and to the interplay among them in any political context. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3942&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3942&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Yannick Glemarec, Oliver Waissbein and Hande Bayraktar How can climate finance be raised from a variety of sources at scale? How can this finance be delivered to where it is most needed with sufficient speed and in way that is nationally owned? A country-driven, multi-stakeholder climate finance framework is proposed to meet these objectives, built on four country-level mechanisms. It involves: 1) formulation of low-emissions, climate-resilient development strategies (to bring about bottom-up national ownership, incorporate human development goals, and take a long-term outlook); 2) financial and technical support platforms (to catalyse the required scale of finance and associated capacity; 3) National Adaptation Plan-type instruments (for balanced and fair access to international public finance); and 4) coordinated implementation and Monitoring, Reporting and Verification systems (to facilitate long-term, efficient results). http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3937&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3937&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT CIDSE and Caritas Finance for climate action in developing countries is widely agreed to be an essential element of a post-2012 climate agreement, and a key factor in negotiating such finance will be 'Direct Access' (DA). This paper explores the DA concept, examining its challenges and merits, by discussing existing funds that have adopted this modality. Whilst DA is an efficient and effective means of delivering financial support to developing countries, it cannot of itself guarantee inclusivity or engagement with the most vulnerable. Civil society participation and empowerment, multi-stakeholder engagement, and a bottom-up approach are crucial elements in developing a comprehensive DA climate financing model. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3924&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3924&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Tom Mitchell, Simon Anderson and Sameel Huq This briefing proposes a set of principles for delivering adaptation finance and uses these to assess the efficacy of different country-level adaptation delivery mechanisms. Currently, accessing adaptation funding is difficult, governance processes lack transparency and decision making favours projects rather than programmatic approaches. Instead, effective delivery of integrated adaptation could be guided by principles of country ownership, prioritising the most vulnerable, mutual accountability and harmonisation. Countries should be allowed to set their own adaptation priorities and should be supported by flexible, tailored delivery mechanisms that promote programmatic approaches. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3910&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3910&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Aid instruments Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT