Somalia is one of the most dangerous environments in the world for aid workers and humanitarian organisations. One of the largest obstacles to reaching people in need of humanitarian assistance is the militant armed group Al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab’s sophisticated system for monitoring and controlling aid, the demands placed on aid agencies and the consequences of failed ...» 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.
The technical is political – Why understanding the political implications of technical characteristics can help improve service delivery
This brief explains why and how technical characteristics of particular sectors influence the incentives for politicians, service providers and service users, and the relationships between these groups. While sector experts often intuitively understand specific blockages in their sector, the approach presented here structures this understanding in a way that allows for ...» more
Political Settlements and State Formation: The Case of Somaliland
This paper asks why large scale violence was resolved in the internationally unrecognised ‘Republic of Somaliland’ but not in the rest of Somalia. The case of Somaliland offers insights into why some domestic power struggles – including violent ones – build the foundations for relative political order while others perpetuate cycles of economic malaise and political violence. ...» more
World Development Report 2014: Risk and Opportunity—Managing Risk for Development
The World Development Report (WDR) 2014 focuses on the process of risk management, addressing these questions: why is risk management important for development, how should it be conducted, what obstacles prevent people and societies from conducting it effectively, and how can these obstacles be overcome? It suggests five principles of public action for better risk management:Do ...» more
The rule of law and international development
This reports aims to answer the question of why, and to what extent, do different dimensions of the rule of law impact upon developmental processes. It reviews the evidence for the following five categories:International legal frameworks: The ability of international humanitarian law to provide protection for both refugees and internally displaced persons is at best, ...» more