http://www.gsdrc.org Academic and policy-relevant publications on governance and international development. en-uk Copyright © 2010 Governance and Social Development Resource Centre Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:00:06 GMT Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:00:06 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 Rosalind Eyben, Rosario Leon This book chapter explores the ambiguities of aid and its influence in national politics through a case study from Bolivia. The authors reflect on their involvement in a donor-funded civil society project to increase the participation of socially excluded groups in Bolivia’s 2002 national elections. This project highlighted the dilemmas of ‘national ownership’ amidst government objections to a programme arguably seen as a threat to the power of elites. The authors suggest that aid may be understood as a gift, problematic and ambiguous in meaning, in which relations of power are imbued with moral purpose. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3651&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3651&source=rss Aid instruments Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT Marcia E. Greenberg and Elaine Zuckerman What role do gender dimensions play in post-conflict reconstruction (PCR)? Policymakers have largely been slow to employ gender analysis and focus. This paper proposes a framework of three interrelated gender dimensions to help develop more effective approaches to PCR: (i) women-focused activities, (ii) gender-aware programming, and (iii) strategic attention to transforming gender relations in order to heal trauma, build social capital and avoid further violence. Policies aimed at achieving gender equality may be instrumental for achieving sustainable peace. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3584&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3584&source=rss Aid instruments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT CECORE, REDROC, Saferworld, and YODEO How can conflict-sensitive approaches (CSA) enhance development? This report from Saferworld documents how two water development projects in Uganda became more conflict-sensitive and, as a result, benefited recipient communities. CSA can deepen beneficiary participation and community ownership of development projects. More practical work is needed on implementing CSA within different sectors, and on understanding how best to adapt conflict-sensitive development to different levels and types of conflict. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3575&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3575&source=rss Aid instruments Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Ashraf Ghani, Clare Lockhart This chapter from the book 'Fixing Failed States' argues that a stable world requires functioning states in order to overcome challenges to the political and economic system. Domestic and global leadership must find a new approach to transform states so that they provide security and prosperity for their citizens and also act as responsible members of the international community. The study terms this a sovereignty strategy. A long-term state-building strategy tailored to specific contexts should be an organising principle for the international community. Collective energies and capital need to be harnessed. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3546&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3546&source=rss Aid instruments Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Marios Obwona and Madina Guloba What is the role, relevance and effectiveness of PRSPs in supporting post-conflict recovery in Africa? This paper from the Economic Policy Research Centre in Uganda discusses challenges in developing PRSPs using case studies from Zambia, Malawi, Ghana, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Mozambique, Angola and Uganda. It concludes that not all post-conflict African countries have successfully developed PRSPs. Emphasis on consumption/social service sectors has led to neglect of productive sectors. The trend for donors to move towards the PRSP as the sole and overarching means of engagement with partner governments may need to be revisited for conflict-affected countries. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3485&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3485&source=rss Aid instruments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Masatomo Nao Yamaguchi What contribution has the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) process made to post-conflict recovery and peacebuilding in Sierra Leone? This paper reviews the evidence from Sierra Leone to conclude that although conflict-related issues are rarely taken into account in the PRS framework, the process has and can make a positive impact on post-conflict recovery and peacebuilding in fragile states. It recommends that donors adapt the PRS process to be more conflict-sensitive while pursuing further study into its impact in post-conflict settings. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3482&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3482&source=rss Aid instruments Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT James Boyce Do the international financial institutions (IFIs) have the capacity to respond effectively in the planning and implementation of the civilian components of post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding? This study from the University of Massachusetts suggests that the World Bank has gone further than other IFIs in addressing the distinctive challenges posed by engagement in post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding. However, there are areas where capacity building could enhance the effectiveness of their contributions. To respond effectively, the IFIs cannot stick to the same policies they would follow if a country has never had a civil war. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3469&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3469&source=rss Aid instruments Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT Astri Suhrke and Julia Buckmaster What factors shape the sequencing of post-war aid? What effect do aid patterns have on the long- and short-term stability of peace? This article from Conflict, Security and Development maps patterns of post-war aid in order to identify patterns of sequencing and magnitude. It finds that contrary to other studies and conventional wisdom, post-war aid is not always front-loaded immediately after peace and then rapidly phased out. Instead, post-war aid has followed a variety of patterns, influenced by the political contexts of donation and implementation. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3435&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3435&source=rss Aid instruments Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT T Paffenholz and L Reychler What is the best way to introduce peace and conflict sensitivity to development and humanitarian programmes? This study from the Center for Peace Research and Strategic Studies provides a guide to planning development and humanitarian interventions in conflict zones. It suggests that while peace and conflict sensitivity has been successfully mainstreamed as a topic of discussion, the international community has not yet arrived at an automatic, systematic peace and conflict sensitive aid policy and operational implementation. There needs to be a systematic link between the analysis of the conflict and peacebuilding environment and the implementation of interventions. The theory of conflict transformation should combine with professional operational requirements for programme planning. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3432&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3432&source=rss Aid instruments Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT CARE International Violent conflict and ‘situations of fragility’ represent significant challenges for aid effectiveness. This CARE International briefing paper argues that applying traditional development approaches in an unchanged fashion in such contexts simply does not work. Aid can have unintended interactions with conflict – both to exacerbate or mitigate violence or the potential for violence. Aid reforms need to place a much greater emphasis on conflict sensitivity and human rights-centred approaches. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3370&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3370&source=rss Aid instruments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT M McGillivray, S Feeny This paper from the World Institute for Development Economics Research (United Nations University) examines possible links between aid and economic growth in fragile states. It addresses a gap in the literature, examining the hypothesis that interaction between aid and policies in fragile states yields less growth than in non-fragile states. Donors should be particularly concerned with highly fragile states. Many highly fragile states are substantially over-aided in that they receive more aid than they can efficiently absorb. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3285&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3285&source=rss Aid instruments Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Mick Foster Which aid instruments are most effective in promoting a sustainable exit from conflict? Which sectors should be prioritised for support in post-conflict environments? This report from Mick Foster Economics reviews the literature on aid instruments in fragile and post conflict states. A range of aid instruments can enable donors to manage the fiduciary risks of working in post-conflict situations. Both national programmes and the aid instruments that support them should be flexible and adaptable. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3262&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3262&source=rss Aid instruments Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT World Bank How can donors improve the effectiveness of policy reform processes? This study from the World Bank addresses the political economy of sector reform in agricultural marketing, and water supply and sanitation. It uses a social analysis perspective to analyse stakeholder interests, incentives, institutions, risks and opportunities. Development agencies should undertake timely political economy analysis and establish a sustainable process for building broad coalitions. They should also promote transformative institutional change that includes empowering forms of bottom-up accountability. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3192&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3192&source=rss Aid instruments Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Oxford Policy Management and The IDL Group What are the challenges of applying the Paris Declaration in fragile and conflict-affected situations? This report from Oxford Policy Management examines aid effectiveness and state building in fragile states and includes case studies of Afghanistan, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nepal. A harmonised approach by development partners is particularly relevant in fragile situations, and shared approaches to context, conflict and risk analysis are required. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3186&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3186&source=rss Aid instruments Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) What is the role of parliaments in peacebuilding and crisis management? How can the international community best support them? These guidelines from the United Nations Development Programme suggest that assistance by external actors underestimates the productive role that parliamentary institutions can play. The formulation of peacebuilding strategies and power-sharing arrangements should consider impacts on democratic governance development. Electoral assistance must be backed by investments in long-term parliamentary strengthening in order to achieve human development and to avoid public disillusionment with the democratic process. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3103&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3103&source=rss Aid instruments Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT A Ellis, P Guerin, A Ayoub How can donors increase the effectiveness and sustainability of electoral assistance and implement principles of long-term institutional support? This report of the Ottawa Conference on Effective Electoral Assistance from the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance argues that getting elections right means strengthening institutions as cornerstones in democratic governance. Both donors and development partners need to link electoral assistance to development and democratisation. Electoral assistance needs to be redirected from the electoral event to the electoral process. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3102&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3102&source=rss Aid instruments Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT Joachim Wehner How can the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) improve its work in strengthening legislative financial oversight? This study from the London School of Economics and Political Science suggests that robust oversight at the country level is crucial for effective direct budget support. DFID's projects involving legislative financial scrutiny are vulnerable to political risks and achievements are fragile. Nonetheless, where the approach is comprehensive, long-term and builds on local, broad-based support, this work can deliver substantial and cost-effective governance improvements. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3082&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3082&source=rss Aid instruments Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Hayes and Javier Pereira Have donors lived up to their pledges under the Paris Declaration? Is aid becoming more effective and accountable for impoverished people? This report for the European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad) focuses on progress against two principles of the Paris Declaration, ownership and accountability, in Cambodia, Honduras, Mali, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, and Sierra Leone. The country case studies show patchy and partial progress, with donors and executive arms of recipient government bypassing parliament and civil society. Aid commitments should become part of long-term contracts spelling out roles and responsibilities of donors and recipients. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3018&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3018&source=rss Aid instruments Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT David Booth What are the challenges for donor agencies in delivering aid through recipient-owned modalities such as General Budget Support (GBS) and programme-based approaches? This report synthesises a two-year research programme undertaken for the Advisory Board for Irish Aid by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana, the Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) Norway, the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) Tanzania and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) UK. The study focuses on sub-Saharan Africa, and finds that the adoption of 'new' aid modalities has been too cautious and qualified. Donors could increase aid effectiveness by addressing their own incentives and rethinking their approach to recipient governance improvement. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3013&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3013&source=rss Aid instruments Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Anwar Shah How should public expenditure management be approached in post-conflict countries? What are the differences between budgeting in post-conflict and in stable developing countries? This book chapter from the World Bank recommends making post-conflict reforms simple and adapted to critical capacity lack in transitional governments. Immediate reconstruction needs should be balanced with medium term peace-building goals. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3012&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3012&source=rss Aid instruments Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT