Summary: Enrique Mendizabal discusses the role of the Research and Policy in Development (RAPID) Programme at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).

Region: International

Type: Abstracts
Sector: - N/A -
Theoretical Approach: - N/A -

Summary: The accountability of NGOs, particularly their “downward” accountability to their beneficiaries, affects NGO effectiveness in the process of empowerment for the poor and marginalized in developing countries. While debate about the accountability of NGOs and various pressures they face is well traveled, much less consideration is given to the broad values of the NGO and how they may affect their approach to downward accountability. This paper looks at evidence from a number of case studies of NGO programs with poor women in India, on the role of accountability in empowerment outcomes, and the role NGO values play in these outcomes.

Region: International

Type: Abstracts
Sector: Civil Society Organisations
Theoretical Approach: - N/A -

Region: Latin America

Type: Abstracts
Sector: - N/A -
Theoretical Approach: - N/A -

Summary: Master of Arts in Public Policy (one-year program) The curriculum connects critical thinking with problem solving dynamics and policy practice. It is based on the conviction that well-targeted research, reasoned debate, and informed public decision-making needs to be advanced in transition and developing countries, and that these needs can usefully draw on globally transformed policy experience. Students may opt for one or more of four streams of specialization: decentralized governance stream; International public policy stream; Media, information and communications policy stream, and Higher education policy and management stream.

Region: International

Type: Abstracts
Sector: - N/A -
Theoretical Approach: - N/A -

Summary: This article in Capacity.org shares CIPPEC's experience with building capacity to engage with policymakers in their own organisation and in others. It examines some of the necessary skills -- like communication -- that are required for effective policy entrepreneurship.

Region: International

Type: Abstracts
Sector: - N/A -
Theoretical Approach: - N/A -

Summary: The attention generated by the ‘global food price crisis’ is raising questions and concerns around food security and famine in the Greater Horn of Africa. A focus on this single issue however adds little to the understanding of what the multiple factors currently affecting complex livelihoods in this vast and diverse region. This paper was commissioned by the Oxfam Great Britain Horn, East and Central Africa (HECA) regional office in Nairobi to help programme and policy staff analyze, understand and communicate the complexity of factors driving the current livelihoods crisis in the Greater Horn of Africa. It is intended to help frame the issues and problems at the regional level, and outlines some general policy responses. It does not go into enough detail to map current interventions and resource gaps, as this analysis is better done at a country level. Originally drafted as an internal document, it can also be shared informally with food security and other colleagues in fellow NGO, UN and donor agencies.

Region: Africa

Type: Abstracts
Sector: Food / Food Security
Theoretical Approach: Knowledge Management

Summary: The central objective of the AFREPREN/FWD study was to assess the impact of research on energy policy and propose options that would ensure greater impact. To achieve this objective, the study identified researches that had significantly influenced policy – particularly the national energy policy documents – and consequently examined their characteristics so as to establish the critical features that made them potent in influencing policy.

Region: Africa

Type: Abstracts
Sector: Natural Resources
Theoretical Approach: Policy Engagement

Summary: Este texto, elaborado en el marco del proyecto Iniciativas desarrollado conjuntamente por el Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), la Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) y la Universidad de San Andrés (UDESA), reseña y discute el conocimiento disponible sobre la incidencia de las organizaciones de la sociedad civil (OSCs) en las políticas públicas.

Region: Latin America

Type: Abstracts
Sector: Civil Society Organisations
Theoretical Approach: Policy Engagement

Summary: The conception of this project is based on a research project –“ Find the Groups and You have found the poor”, undertaken in 2002/03 in collaborative manner by Communities in Kabale and Arua; CDRN and CARE International Uganda, Centre for Rural Development (CEFORD) and Kabale District Farmers’ Association (KADIFA). It is this research project that we intend to build on. We plan to expand on the scope and depth of the research and use it to influence policy and practice in the conceptualisation, design and delivery of poverty reduction policies and programmes. The initial design of the research wasn’t targeted at any particular poverty reduction programme. The intention here is to tailor the new initiatives towards NAADS with the intention of identifying the gaps that exist – the earlier research highlighted some of them in passing – and carry out interventions that make such policies more inclusive of the poorer people in the country.

Region: International

Type: Abstracts
Sector: - N/A -
Theoretical Approach: - N/A -

Summary: These are summaries of resources for communication practitioners, including publications and multimedia that support the use of communication as a tool for development. This list is complied by The Communication Initiative is a space to share, debate and advance effective communication for development progress.

Region: International

Type: Abstracts
Sector: Development Policy
Theoretical Approach: Knowledge Management

Summary: A presentation given at the May 2007 CIVICUS World Assembly in Glascow, Scotland. The key objectives of the presentation is to arrive at a definition of CONVINCING evidence by asking: What makes evidence stick in the mind of policymakers? and What types of evidence have a high level of stickiness?

Region: International

Type: Abstracts
Sector: - N/A -
Theoretical Approach: - N/A -

Summary: Este estudio sobre transparencia y rendición de cuentas de las organizaciones de la sociedad civil - realizado en Uruguay por el ICD - muestra que la mayoría de las organizaciones consultadas a pesar de ser conscientes de la importancia de la transparencia y la rendición de cuentas todavía no han logrado avanzar en establecer mecanismo o prácticas innovadoras al respecto.

Region: Latin America

Type: Abstracts
Sector: Civil Society Organisations
Theoretical Approach: - N/A -