[weitzenegger.de] October 2010
Karsten Weitzenegger
This Newsletter guides you to content relevant for international co-operation and
economic development. Reposted from sources linked below. Feel free to circulate it to
your network. Edited by Karsten Weitzenegger <edi...@weitzenegger.de>
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CONTENT
1. Global Hunger Index: World is nowhere near achieving MDG 1
2. EC launches public consultation to improve budget support
3. WTO: Trade likely to grow by 13.5 per cent in 2010
4. Poor transparency and accountability in government spending
5. New data shows an increase in tax revenues in Africa
6. Free Trade Area for East and Southern Africa making progress
7. Publications
8. Training and Events
9. Websites of the Month
More News: http://www.weitzenegger.de/en/newsroom.php
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1. Global Hunger Index: World is ''nowhere near'' achieving MDG 1
The latest Global Hunger Index (GHI) shows that the number of hungry people in the
world grew to one billion last year, as the global economic recession compounded the
effects of the 2007-8 food crisis. The first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) — to
halve the proportion of hungry people between 1990 and 2015 — is therefore worryingly
off-track. The latest GHI report notes that most policies tackling child hunger have
targeted children under five years old; however, research shows that the effects of
malnutrition after the age of two are largely irreversible. It therefore recommends
concentrating resources on eliminating malnutrition during the crucial first two years
of a child’s life. Source: The GHI is a multidimensional measure of global hunger
published jointly by the International Food Policy Research Institute, Concern
Worldwide, and Welthungerhilfe. Eurostep Weekly.
http://www.ifpri.org/publication/2010-global-hunger-index
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2. EC launches public consultation to improve budget support to developing countries
Over the past decade, the European Commission has increasingly used general and sector
budget support to ACP countries as preferred aid modalities. This choice was motivated
by the commitment of donors to make aid more effective. But despite the potential of
the new generation of budget support and the so-called ''sector wide approach'',
budget support has come under pressure within donors and partner countries for a
variety of reasons. Therefore, the European Commission has launched a public
consultation
(http://ec.europa.eu/development/how/consultation/?action=viewcons&id=5221) to solicit
the views of stakeholders. It seeks to find out and socialise what has and hasn’t
worked with a view to improving the EC’s approach to budget support. The basis of the
consultation is an EC green paper
(http://ec.europa.eu/development/how/consultation/?action=viewcons&id=5221) which
focuses on: i) political governance and the role of political dialogue; ii) the role
of policy dialogue and conditionality and links to performance and results; iii)
domestic and mutual accountability; iv) programming of budget support and its
coherence with other instruments; v) strengthening risk assessment and dealing with
fraud and corruption; vi) budget support in situations of fragility; and vii) growth,
fiscal policy and mobilisation of domestic revenues. ECDPM is working primarily on the
dimension of domestic accountability in relation to budget support and sector wide
approaches. Source: ECDPM. http://tinyurl.com/39va6ka
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3. WTO: Trade likely to grow by 13.5 per cent in 2010
Following faster than expected recovery in global trade flows so far in 2010, WTO
economists have revised their projection for world trade growth in 2010 upwards to
13.5 per cent. The WTO's March forecast was a 10 per cent expansion in trade volumes.
This would be the fastest year-on-year expansion of trade ever recorded in a data
series going back to 1950. But such a large growth rate should be understood in the
context of a severely depressed level of trade in 2009, when world exports plunged by
12.2 per cent. http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres10_e/pr616_e.htm
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4. Global report reveals poor transparency and accountability in government spending
The International Budget Partnership’s Open Budget Survey 2010 is the only
independent, comparative, regular measure of budget transparency and accountability
around the world. Produced every two years, the report reveals that 74 of the 94
countries assessed fail to meet basic standards of transparency and accountability
with national budgets. This opens the door to abuse and inappropriate and inefficient
use of public money according to the report.
http://internationalbudget.org/what-we-do/open-budget-survey/
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5. New data shows an increase in tax revenues in Africa
African countries, across all income levels, have gradually increased their level of
collected fiscal revenues over the past two decades. However, the crisis is expected
to impact negatively on the fiscal revenue performance of African countries in 2009. A
complete database of public revenue flows for 50 African governments from 1996 to 2008
is now publicly available on AEO.org, the online gateway to African economies provided
by the OECD Development Centre, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the UN Economic
Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the UN Development programme (UNDP). The database
was used in its original form for the African Economic Outlook (AEO) 2010 study on
Public Resource Mobilisation and Aid, which covered the 1996-2007 period.
http://tinyurl.com/2wtgheb
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6. COMESA, EAC and SADC: Free Trade Area for East and Southern Africa making progress
Significant progress has been made by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern
Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) to establish an enlarged Free Trade Area encompassing 26 countries in
East and Southern Africa by 2012. A report presented to recent summits of COMESA and
SADC said the three regional economic communities are committed towards deepening
integration through the harmonisation of their trading arrangements. Chairperson of
the Tripartite Taskforce, which is spearheading the implementation process, Ambassador
Juma Mwapachu, said a draft plan of action on the Free Trade Area has been approved by
the three secretariats for adoption at the forthcoming Tripartite Summit of the Heads
of State and Government expected in early 2011. Source: AllAfrica.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201009141128.html
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7. Publications
10 key issues for international development
http://tinyurl.com/2uukj4g
Alex Evans gave this presentation on global challenges to development for the new UK
International Development Select Committee.
ADB Assistance for Public-Private Partnerships in Infrastructure Development
http://www.adb.org/Documents/SES/REG/SES-OTH-2009-31/default.asp
This first evaluation study on ADB assistance to public-private partnerships (PPPs) in
infrastructure development covers two decades (1988-2008) of related ADB operations.
It intends to provide inputs to formulating strategies and business plans for
implementing further ADB support to PPP operations in developing member countries.
An Approach to Impact-Oriented Programming, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation
http://tinyurl.com/37vv8lk
The objectives of this CONCORD Discussion Paper are to generate a common understanding
among European humanitarian and development CSOs of the concept of impact; to provide
pointers for European CSOs to enhance their approaches and systems for impact-oriented
programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, including by providing
recommendations for CSOs and EU donors; to provide recommendations to the European
Commission (EC) and the member states of the European Union (EU); and to feed into the
international debate on how to improve aid for enhanced development impact.
Beyond Institutions
http://tinyurl.com/2wzyj4d
Institutions and organizations in the politics and economics of poverty reduction – a
thematic synthesis of research evidence. Published by the DFID-funded Research
Programme Consortium on Improving Institutions for Pro-Poor Growth (IPPG), September
2010.
China and India — The New Growth Engines of the Global Economy?
http://tinyurl.com/2c2abh3
While the leading industrial nations are still recovering from the consequences of the
global financial crisis, China and India are already boasting very high growth rates
again. In the third quarter of 2009 China’s economic growth was 10.7 percent; India’s
was 7.9 percent. Both countries are again being portrayed as the growth engines of the
global economy. GIGA Focus International Edition (4/2010).
Deeper Integration: What Effects On Trade?
http://wwwuser.gwdg.de/~fjohann/paper/DB204.pdf
Ibero-Amerika Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen,
Diskussionsbeitrag 204, Authors: Martin Clever and Inmaculada Martínez-Zarzoso.
Economic diversification in Africa - A review of selected countries.
http://tinyurl.com/2vb8bxq
New Partnership for Africa's Deveopment (NEPAD), OECD and UN Office of the Special
Adviser on Africa (OSAA) paper, October 2010.
Effective state-business relations, industrial policy and economic growth.
http://tinyurl.com/3x9xqns
Improving Institutions for Pro-Poor Growth (IPPG) briefing paper, by Dirk Willem te
Velde et al., September 2010.
Global Poverty and the new Bottom Billion: Three-Quarters of the World’s Poor Live in
Middle-Income Countries
http://tinyurl.com/33fjh7u
This paper argues that the global poverty problem has changed because most of the
world's poor no longer live in poor countries meaning low-income countries (LICs).
Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Working Paper, Author: Andy Sumner.
Governments, Non-State Actors and Trade Policy-Making: Negotiating Preferentially or
Multilaterally?
http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/publications_e/gov_2010_e.htm
This new book from the WTO analyses the approaches and impact of domestic non-state
actors (NSAs) in eight developing countries on national government’s decisions on
whether to conduct international trade cooperation via preferential trade agreements
or at the WTO. The book provides information on the role of NSAs in national policy
formulation and the ‘optimum’ modes of cooperation with governments. It also analyses
what these findings says about the drivers of multilateralism and
regionalism/preferentialism in terms of domestic political and economic interests.
GTZ Reference Guide for Local/Regional Economic Development (LRED) practitioners
http://www2.gtz.de/wbf/lred/news1.asp
With approx. 140 webpages, nearly 50 charts and pictures, 190 documents and quite a
number of hyperlinked tools, case studies and podcasts it is already a vivid knowledge
compilation on LRED. This LRED-Reference Guide is a living document, subject to
changes and supplements. Feedback, hints and materials to improve this website are
always welcome! The use of the LRED-Reference Guide is free of charge. However,
registration is necessary.
How post-conflict countries can attract and benefit from FDI
http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/diaepcb200915_en.pdf
Lessons from Croatia and Mozambique. It focuses on the successful experiences of
Croatia and Mozambique in attracting FDI and using it to enhance economic growth and
stability. The two nations' investment performances have helped entrench peace since
the countries emerged from their respective conflicts in the early 1990s.
Integrating poverty and social analysis into Aid for Trade programmes
http://tinyurl.com/39hbk7u
Trade facilitation and trade-related infrastructure. Overseas Development Institute
(ODI) Tips and Tools for Aid for Trade, inclusive growth and poverty reduction brief
3, by Kate Higgins and Liz Turner.
Making the most of agricultural investment
http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdfs/12566IIED.pdf
A survey of business models that provide opportunities for smallholders
Migration Industry and Markets for Managing Migration
http://tinyurl.com/38j6och
Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS); New Research Network.
OECD: Innovation and the Development Agenda
http://tinyurl.com/3748xxx
Innovation drives long-term economic growth. It has a crucial role to play as global
economies recover from the current financial crisis. This book examines the role of
innovation in developing countries, with a focus on Africa.
On the Economics of Regional Powers: Comparing China, India, Brazil, and South Africa
http://www.giga-hamburg.de/dl/download.php?d=/content/publikationen/pdf/wp145_kappel.pdf
German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA), GIGA Working Paper no. 145,
Author: Robert Kappel.
Rebalancing Local Economies: Widening economic opportunities for people in deprived
communities
http://www.ippr.org/publicationsandreports/publication.asp?id=779
A major new study by ippr north, working with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and The
Northern Way, shows 57 per cent of the poorest neighbourhoods in the North of England
had above-average improvement to employment prior to the recession.
Rethinking the (European) Foundations of Sub-Saharan African Regional Economic Integration
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/59/46013902.pdf
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Author: Peter Draper.
SME-Development, Business and Investment Climate, Entrepreneurship, Industrial Policy,
Innovation and Technology
http://browse.oecdbookshop.org/oecd/pdfs/browseit/8510021E.PDF
This OECD book explores how government policy can boost innovation by improving the
environment for entrepreneurship and small firm development and increasing the
innovative capacities of enterprises. Policy findings and recommendations are
presented in three key areas: embedding firms in knowledge flows; developing
entrepreneurship skills; and social entrepreneurship. In addition, country notes
present statistics and policy data on SMEs, entrepreneurship and innovation for 40
economies.
The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA): Towards a new era for Caribbean trade.
http://www.cigionline.org/sites/default/files/Caribbean_Paper%2010.pdf
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) caribbean paper no. 10, by
D. Thorburn, J. Rapley, D. King and C. Campbell, September 2010.
The Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on the Budgets of Low-Income Countries
http://tinyurl.com/39hbk7u
Oxfam research report, by Katerina Kyrili and Matthew Martin, July 2010.
The Millennium Declaration, The MDGs and the ILO Decent Work Agenda
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/pardev/download/mdg/2010/overview2010.pdf
International Labour Organization (ILO), Publication.
The New Bottom Billion and the MDGs – A Plan of Action
http://tinyurl.com/23qztxb
Popular understandings of global poverty are based on the false premise that poor
people all live in poor countries. In fact, new estimates by the Institute of
Development Studies place three-quarters of the world's 1.3bn or so poor people in
middle-income countries (MICs) such as India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and Indonesia,
and only a quarter live in low-income countries (LICs), largely in Africa. This is a
dramatic change from just two decades ago when 93 per cent of poor people lived in
low-income countries. This change has major implications for both the achievement of
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and global strategies for poverty reduction
beyond 2015. IDS In Focus Policy Briefing 16.
Too Many Resources or Too Few? What Drives International Conflicts?
http://tinyurl.com/2wwex36
GIGA Working Paper No 147 by Georg Strüver.
The findings, although preliminary, suggest that resource scarcity may play a less
prominent role in the aggression of belligerent countries than is often assumed and
that the existence of large oil deposits and high resource-rent incomes are better
predictors of conflict involvement.
Values, Ethics and Morality in Development
http://www.iss.nl/News/Values-ethics-and-morality-in-Development
Special Virtual Issue of Journal of International Development, Institute of Social
Studies, The Netherlands (ISS).
What is the role of donors in budgetary execution?
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/29/55/46184537.pdf?contentId=46184572
Budget execution is an important element of infrastructure development and in non-OECD
countries, external resources, including donor funding, remain critical. This
presentation by Laura Recuero Virto and Sara Fyson, economists at the OECD, gives us
some tips on the sustainability of the resources used to finance development.
Why is it important to consider governance issues in sector operations and how should
aid practitioners go about this?
http://tinyurl.com/262abec
Dominique Dellicour of EuropeAid’s Governance, Security, Justice, Human Rights and
Gender unit introduces the EC policy document ‘Analysing and Addressing Governance in
Sector Operations’ in a video interview http://tinyurl.com/233csgp. ‘‘Democratic
governance is more and more at the centre stage of sector operations” she says adding
that ‘‘There was more and more realisation that although technical and economic
aspects are important in defining a sector operation, the sector governance set up and
the related politics do matter substantially.” In a related video, ECDPM’s Jean
Bossuyt provides an inform ative and instructive presentation on the practicalities of
putting the EC’s sector governance approach into practice and considers that cultural
understanding is imperative to making sensible, informed decisions. Source: ECDPM.
More Publications: http://www.weitzenegger.de/en/publications.html
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8. Training and Events
Will the ‘BRICs Decade’ continue? – Prospects for trade and growth
Halle (Saale), Germany, 23-24 June 2011, IAMO Forum 2011
http://forum2011.iamo.de
The IAMO Forum 2011 will focus on growth and trade in the world’s leading emerging
economies Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRICs) and the repercussions on the world
economy.
EADI Masterclasses open for registration
http://www.eadi.org/events/forthcoming-events/eadi-masterclass.html
Practical Skills for Conducting Impact Evaluations, 4 - 5 November, Bonn,
E-Learning in Education and Training, 11 - 12 November 2010, Bonn,
Introduction to European Framework Programme with Focus on Social Sciences and
Humanities, 25 - 26 November, Bonn
Getting Research in to Practice - How to Write a Communication Strategy, 2 - 3
December, Bonn.
European Development Days 2010
http://www.eudevdays.eu
Brussels, 6 and 7 December, SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre
his year, the 5th edition of the European Development Days (EDD) will take place in
Brussels on 6 and 7 December. Organised by the European Commission and the Belgian
Presidency of the Council of the European Union, EDD is the leading European forum
where the questions and issues about international development cooperation are
debated. Deadline for registration: 15 November 2010.
International Conference on Social Cohesion and Development,
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/20/58/45964694.pdf
Paris, France 20-21 January 2011, OECD Development Centre
13th EADI General Conference 2011
http://www.eadi.org/gc2011
York, UK, 19 - 22 September 2011
Rethinking Development in an Age of Scarcity and Uncertainty: New Values, Voices and
Alliances for Increased Resilience.
MSc in African Studies
http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/gradschool/taught_masters/a_g/msc_african_studies
Taught Masters Programmes at the Centre of African Studies (CAS), UK
The Global Master's in Development Practice Programs Network
http://mdp.ei.columbia.edu/?id=home
The Global Master's in Development Practice (MDP) is a two-year degree providing
graduate-level students with the skills and knowledge required to better identify and
address the global challenges of sustainability development, such as poverty,
population, health, conservation, climate change, and agricultural productivity. The
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has committed over $15 million to create
MDP programs at 20 universities worldwide over the next three years. Following are 22
universities that will offer the MDP degree program this Fall 2010 or 2011.
More Training and Events: http://www.weitzenegger.de/en/training.html
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9. Websites of the Month
AidData portal
http://www.aiddata.org
AidData is an initiative with researchers, practitioners in a number of different
disciplines including economics, political science, sociology, development operations,
government, and foreign aid. AidData attempts to capture the universe of development
finance and foreign aid, increase the value of data by providing more descriptive
information about development activities, provide data in an accessible format, and
strengthen efforts to improve donor and recipient strategic planning and coordination.
capacity4dev.eu - Connecting the Development Community
http://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu
Capacity4dev.eu is a growing online community for development practitioners. This
interactive platform was set up by EuropeAid to enhance knowledge through the exchange
of practices on effective international cooperation. Capacity4dev.eu provides an open
forum for all commission staff, partner countries, other donors, researchers and civil
society representatives to share ideas and expertise. The platform offers a magazine
that keeps subscribers up to date on relevant developments pertaining to the work of
EuropeAid and its partners. There is also a knowledge sharing section where topical
issues and documents are presented and where public or closed groups can be set up to
discuss issues, exchange experiences, or prepare for new initiatives.
Chronic Poverty Research Centre
http://www.chronicpoverty.org
CPRC is an international partnership of universities, research institutes and NGOs
established in 2000 with initial funding from the UK's Department for International
Development. Many organisations work to address poverty issues, but what distinguishes
CPRC is its focus on persistent or chronic poverty. The program is currently on its
Phase 3 stage, where important work on thematic research, policy analysis and policy
engagement are carried out.
Digital Development Debates is published by Inwent - Capacity Building International
http://www.digital-development-debates.org
InWEnt has launched a new online magazine. Each issue focuses on a prevailing topic
from the development policy sector. Our authors – all experts from their respective
fields – explore different facets of this central topic in their contributions.
Digital Development Debates takes a two-tiered approach: We offer short journalistic
articles aimed at interested laypeople, and more in-depth technical articles that
provide well-founded and detailed information.
EADI Research – featuring research findings by EADI members
http://www.eadi.org/research
This website and information service aims to give researchers an easy access to
working papers, policy briefs and publications by EADI members. It also features
results from research projects led by EADI and members. Several dossiers and a monthly
research monitor provide the visitor with recent research findings on selected
development issues. Publications are provided in English, French, Spanish and German.
EUFORIC
http://www.euforic.org
Euforic.org is a non-profit service dedicated to spreading and sharing voices, ideas
and information on Europe’s International Cooperation. Euforic.org helps audiences
communicate and share their voices.
Evaluative Reports Database of ALNAP
http://www.alnap.org/resources/erd/erd.htm
The Evaluative Reports Database (ERD) is a key tool to facilitate information-sharing
and lesson-learning among humanitarian organisations. The ERD is a bibliographic
collection of evaluative reports of humanitarian action. Apart from evaluation
reports, the database also contains other evaluative reports, such as lessons studies,
reviews, synthesis reports and good practice studies. Hosted by the Active Learning
Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Aid.
IOCE - International Organisation for cooperation in evaluation
http://www.ioce.net/
IOCE offers linkages to other evaluation organisations, material on how to develop
evaluation associations, forums that network evaluators internationally, news of
events and important initiatives, and opportunities to exchange ideas, practices, and
insights with evaluation associations, societies and networks throughout the world.
Knowledge Brokers’ Forum (KBF)
http://www.knowledgebrokersforum.org
The Knowledge Brokers’ Forum (KBF) is a collaborative space to promote knowledge
sharing and dissemination on knowledge brokering (KB) and the role of intermediaries
in international development. Our aim is to foster a global community of peers
interested in KB from a diversity of sectors and practices, consolidate information
and resources on intermediaries and help promote experiences and refine practices in
knowledge brokering and knowledge translation (KT).
New Gateway on Social Protection
http://south-south.ipc-undp.org/
The new South-South Learning Gateway on Social Protection is an online collaborative
tool aiming to create open, independent and critical networks to exchange experiences
across regions and countries. The website has been set up as a ‘‘virtual bookcase”
with a searchable database of social protection materials from across the world. The
collection includes tools, case studies, policy papers and research. Besides the
library, there is a section featuring a social protection mapping of developing countries.
ODI's Trade Website
http://www.odi.org.uk/work/themes/details.asp?id=28&title=trade
The work of ODI on trade encompasses a number of key concerns for developing
countries. ODI research on trade is led by the Trade Programme, with support and input
from other programmes across the Institute.
Online Handbook: Corporate diversity management
http://www.business-and-biodiversity.de/en/handbuch/welcome.html
With this online handbook users can directly access pertinent checklists to analyse a
company. It also provides detailed best practice examples and indepth information and
links on specific topics. Using an interlinked structure, the online handbook
illustrates how business and biodiversity are closely networked and explains the
fields of action involved in comprehensive biodiversity management.
Partnership for Making Finance Work for Africa (MFW4A)
http://www.mfw4a.org
This is an initiative to support the efforts of African countries to boost economic
growth and fight poverty by encouraging and facilitating financial sector development.
The Partnership brings together African governments, development partners and the
private sector to unleash the full potential of the financial sector to drive economic
development and reduce poverty across the continent. The website is now also available
in French.
Quality of Official Development Assistance
http://www.cgdev.org/section/topics/aid_effectiveness/quoda
Brookings Senior Fellow Homi Kharas and Center for Global Development President Nancy
Birdsall unveil the Quality of Official Development Assistance (QuODA) assessment,
comparing each donor country or aid agency to its peers. By using a comprehensive set
of 30 indicators, donors should be able to evaluate their effectiveness and find areas
for improvement.
UNCTADstat
http://unctadstat.unctad.org
UNCTAD compiles, validates and processes a wide range of data collected from national
and international sources. Through its data dissemination system, UNCTADstat, it
provides free access to comprehensive statistical time series and indicators essential
for the analysis of world trade, development, and interrelated issues in the areas of
finance, technology, investment and durable development.
More Websites: http://www.weitzenegger.de/en/links.html
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