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 18:00:09 GMT Mon, 08 Feb 2010 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 UNDG/ECHA Working Group on Transition United Nations (UN) post-conflict responses should be based on standardised inter-agency analyses to help overcome structures that lead to violent conflict and to promote integrated peace. This report, published by the UNDG/ECHA Working Group on Transition (United Nations Development Group/Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs), outlines analytical components necessary to understand conflict causes and dynamics that support peace efforts in a transition situation. Application of such an analytical framework would help construct subsequent UN programming that incorporates context-specific factors and supports the achievement of lasting peace. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3415&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3415&source=rss Pacific Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT Dennis Arroyo, Karen Sirker What can be learned from social accountability initiatives in the Asia and Pacific region? This World Bank report summarises a review of such initiatives. It finds that social accountability tools are not confined to the public expenditure management cycle, and that initiatives that use advocacy and information strategies are more successful than those that do not. While governments sometimes take the lead in promoting accountability, different groups involved in social accountability mechanisms can link together in advocacy chains to hold the state accountable for pro-poor service delivery. Ultimately, government and civil society must collaborate. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3363&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3363&source=rss Pacific Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT Mark Turner How can the design of decentralisation programmes be improved? This study published by the Australian National University argues that good decentralisation design processes that address fundamental questions and are fully aware of political realities can lead to developmental gains. Although the initial design is very important, it is only the first step in the process of decentralisation and the promotion of good governance at the local level. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3324&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3324&source=rss Pacific Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT B Jones International actors face recurrent challenges coordinating their efforts to implement peace agreements to end civil wars. This InternationalPeaceAcademy paper identifies strategic coordination amongst third-party actors as a critical element of successful peace implementation. Incoherence and inconsistency in strategy can undermine the viability or the effectiveness of implementation efforts. Strategic coordination is a growing policy challenge due to the increasing proliferation of actors with overlapping mandates, competitive relations and minimal accountability. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=2963&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=2963&source=rss Pacific Mon, 01 Jan 2001 00:00:00 GMT A Moser How can the use of gender analysis help improve post-conflict peace processes? This paper published in Gender and Development discusses the research methodology and results of the 2005 Peace and Conflict Gender Analysis (PCGA) conducted by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in the Solomon Islands. The use of gender analysis to shape peace processes could help solidify women's gains in status and contribute to economic and civil society development. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=2888&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=2888&source=rss Pacific Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT K Mackay What lessons can be learnt from the successes and failures of government Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems? This paper from the World Bank Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) advises that there is no 'best' model. Rather it is helpful to start by assessing existing systems. M&E does not have inherent value. The bottom-line measure of success is whether information is used to improve government performance. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=2830&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=2830&source=rss Pacific Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT G Lodge and S Kalitowski What are the challenges confronting civil services around the world? This paper from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) surveys several case studies from developed countries to identify a variety of international approaches to civil service reform. Some common challenges include: enhancing accountability; improving policymaking; developing institutional memory; building staff expertise; and promoting joined-up government. Meeting these challenges requires clarifying the roles of ministers and officials, opening up policymaking, capturing innovation and narrowing the gap between the centre and frontline delivery services. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=2776&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=2776&source=rss Pacific Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT OECD-DAC How have aid agencies tackled the challenges of promoting gender equality since the beginning of the twenty-first century? How can the gap between policy and implementation be bridged? This report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) examines changes in the gender equality approaches of OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members. It argues that mainstreaming is a necessary but insufficient strategy to promote gender equality. Specific measures for women's empowerment must be reintroduced and financed. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=2741&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=2741&source=rss Pacific Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT S Shavell This PREM Note, produced by the World Bank, argues that economic analysis provides a rigorous framework for evaluating the tradeoffs policymakers face when reforming legal institutions. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=724&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=724&source=rss Pacific Fri, 01 Jan 1999 00:00:00 GMT R Messick This PREM note, produced for the World Bank, argues that factors affecting legislative performance in industrial countries offer a framework for examining the issues facing reformers of legislatures in developing and transition economies. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=668&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=668&source=rss Pacific Tue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT A. Ingles and C. Hess (eds). This document from the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), gives practical examples of the use of participatory methodologies in local government bodies and how participatory approaches are helping. It takes examples such as an urban development plan in Peru; and the re-training of government officials to move from authoritarian, top-down management to participatory methodologies in India. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=639&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=639&source=rss Pacific Tue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT H Blair As democratisation has assumed a central role in the developing world over the past decade, democratic decentralisation has also taken on increased importance and donors have been attentive to supporting such initiatives. Democratic local governance (DLG) promises that government at the local level can become more responsive to citizen desires and more effective in service delivery. Based on a six-country study this paper in World Development analyses the two topics of participation and accountability. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=637&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=637&source=rss Pacific Sat, 01 Jan 2000 00:00:00 GMT D G McGee What role do Public Accounts Committees (PACs) play in parliamentary scrutiny and good governance? What do they need in order to function? In 1999 the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association recognised the role played by committees in parliamentary oversight and commissioned a study group to consider how PACs function in parliaments of the Commonwealth. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=586&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=586&source=rss Pacific Tue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Secretariat Why is legislative oversight of the law-making process important and how can legislative oversight be ensured? These and other issues were tackled by a three-day workshop on 'Parliamentary Oversight of Finance and the Budgetary Process'. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=584&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=584&source=rss Pacific Mon, 01 Jan 2001 00:00:00 GMT C Van Rijckeghem and B Weder While it is generally agreed that wage policy has an effect on corruption, there is still controversy on the magnitude of this effect. An IMF Working Paper explores this issue in developing countries, using a new methodology. Wages had in fact never been studied empirically. What this study aims to present is an estimate of the effect of civil service wages on corruption. A new set of data on civil service and manufacturing wages in developing countries is used, together with an existing index of corruption. The results are then checked against the implications of the two main theories on the subject: the shirking and the fair wage models. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=551&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=551&source=rss Pacific Tue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT M Edwards and G Sen Can we achieve sustainable development without tackling the question of personal power? This paper offers a passionate view of the role of personal values in achieving social change. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=547&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=547&source=rss Pacific Tue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT G L Slack How should the vulnerabilities of financial systems be analysed? What indicators can be used to measure financial soundness? And how willing or eager are national authorities to disseminate information on financial soundness? This working paper from the Statistics Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) analyses a survey of 100 countries on the collection, compilation and dissemination of 54 different Financial Soundness Indicators (FSIs). http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=538&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=538&source=rss Pacific Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT K Emmons This harrowing account from UNICEF documents the reality of 69 children interviewed in six countries in the region, with an average recruitment age of 13. While individual experiences are varied, the conflicts have some common features. They are often geographically localised, of low intensity, rooted in ethnic or religious identities and directly affect only a small proportion of the population. A common strategy of deliberate terror against civilians is employed and the use of child soldiers is widespread. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=527&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=527&source=rss Pacific Tue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT C Jordan and G Majnoni What mechanisms have emerged to regulate the global financial system? Who are the key players? How well do international standards and codes of conduct meet the needs of poor and emerging economies? These issues are addressed in a working paper from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), produced by the Financial Sector Operations and Policy Department and the Cofinancing and Project Finance Group, Legal Vice Presidency. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=519&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=519&source=rss Pacific Tue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT N Kabeer This Institute of Development Studies (IDS) paper looks at two different forms of citizenship: the ‘imagined community’ of the nation-state with its rights and duties, and other communities within the nation-state with their own claims and obligations. It considers how these forms of citizenship shape the patterns of access to and exclusion from resources. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=517&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=517&source=rss Pacific Tue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT