Information and communications technologies (ICTs) and data play an increasingly visible role in transparency and accountability initiatives (TAIs). This article investigates TAI tool selection processes in South Africa and Kenya. It argues that in many cases, tools are chosen with only limited testing of their appropriateness for the intended users in the intended contexts, ...» more
Library
This e-library contains more than 4500 external publications on governance, social development, conflict and humanitarian issues. It includes academic and grey literature selected for its basis in good quality research and coverage of a range of perspectives. Policy-oriented summaries of each document are provided, plus links to the full text.
Anti-corruption strategies in foreign aid: From controls to results
This paper argues that efforts to address corruption - targeting funder integrity, recipient integrity and global support - have proven to be largely ineffective against corruption and had a limited impact on development results. It highlights how current approaches rely primarily on transactional controls and, to a lesser extent, on investments in transparency and raising ...» more
Beneath the apparent state of affairs: Stability in Ghana and Benin: The potential for radicalization and political violence in West Africa
In this report of a research mission to West Africa, the authors describe (potential) tensions between religious denominations in the West African region, with a specific focus on Benin and Ghana. The report is based on extensive interviews during October 2015 that were conducted in Cotonou, Porto Novo, Accra and Tamale with labour unions, students, journalists, border ...» more
Shock-responsive social protection systems research: Literature review
What is the relationship between social protection, humanitarian and disaster risk management systems? This literature review consolidates current thinking and emerging evidence on this topic, including ways in which long-term social protection systems can be scaled up to provide support in humanitarian emergencies. The authors reviewed over 400 papers including peer-reviewed ...» more
Innovating for pro-poor services: Why politics matter
This paper argues that politics is a major factor that can interact with innovations, with positive or negative implications for services for poor people and achievement of related sustainable development goals targets. The key question it seeks to address is, ‘How do innovation and politics interrelate when it comes to providing services for poor people, and what are the ...» more