This guide offers practical guidance, primarily aimed at Oxfam staff and partners, for those working on project/programmes that aim to increase the resilience of those living in poverty. It highlights the importance of resilience in addressing vulnerability to climate change, natural disasters, political instability, and escalating inequality. It follows all stages of the ...» 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.
Balancing inclusiveness, rigour and feasibility: Insights from participatory impact evaluations in Ghana and Vietnam
How can we ensure that impact evaluation of complex programmes is rigorous and inclusive, and triggers reflection and learning about contributions, while also remaining feasible? This paper reflects on piloting a Participatory Impact Assessment and Learning Approach (PIALA) to assess the impacts of two pilot government livelihood programmes. It explores trade-offs in rigour, ...» more
The other side of gender inequality: Men and masculinities in Afghanistan
The purpose of the research is to achieve an in-depth understanding of different notions of being a man in Afghanistan and how they contribute to gender inequality. This report is the result of a collaborative research project by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) and the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) that is designed to inform both policy and ...» more
When does ICT-enabled citizen voice lead to government responsiveness?
This article reviews evidence on the use of 23 information and communications technology (ICT) platforms to project citizen voice to improve public service delivery. This study begins with a conceptual framework intended to clarify the different links in the causal chain in between ICT-enabled opportunities to express voice (platforms) and institutional responses. In other ...» more
World Development Report 2016: Digital Dividends
The digital revolution has brought easier communication and information, greater convenience, free digital products, and new forms of leisure. However, digital dividends have had much less impact on global productivity, expansion of opportunity and the spread of accountable governance than once expected. This report argues that improving digital dividends requires digital ...» more
Thinking and Working Politically: From theory building to building an evidence base
This paper discusses the steps required to build a robust evidence base for ‘thinking and working politically’ (TWP) in development. The ideas behind TWP are increasingly common in development discussions, and understanding which parts are necessary and sufficient conditions for success is crucial for moving it into mainstream development programming. After reviewing existing ...» more
Too important to fail: Addressing the humanitarian financing gap
This is the report of an expert panel on ways to reduce the estimated US$ 15 billion funding gap for humanitarian action. The panel makes recommendations under three themes. Shrink the needs: The most effective way to bring down the cost of humanitarian aid is to reduce the necessity to resort to it. The panel recommends: Reorienting official development assistance ...» more
From rhetoric to action: Towards an enabling environment for child and youth development in the SDGs
What is the enabling environment that ensures children and young people have access to their rights, can influence decisions, and have improved livelihoods? This report aims to stimulate discussion and action by decision-makers and serve to inform the strategic thinking, programming and practice. It confirms well-known hindrances, identifies opportunities, and highlights how ...» more
A manifesto for the fragile city
The city is at the centre of global geopolitical, economic and demographic transformation. However, fragility is no longer confined to nation states, with insecure, disorganised and violent urban areas potentially giving rise to national unrest, civil conflict and urban insurgency. This article considers the form and character of the fragile city, and four key risks influencing ...» more
Looking forward: broader messages, policy lessons and directions for future research
Taxation, responsiveness and accountability provides the most complete treatment of the connections between taxation and accountability in developing countries. Drawing on cross-country econometric evidence and detailed case studies from Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia, the book shows that reliance on taxation has, in fact, increased responsiveness and accountability by expanding the ...» more
The state of food and agriculture: social protection and agriculture – breaking the cycle of rural poverty
Agriculture and social protection are fundamentally linked in the context of rural livelihoods. Social protection programmes contribute to higher household incomes and increased consumption, enhancing households’ ability to produce food. This report shows that even relatively small transfers help the poor overcome liquidity and credit constraints, and provide insurance against ...» more
Social protection and sustainable natural resource management: initial findings and good practices from small-scale fisheries
How does social protection and other measures reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience among households and communities dependent on renewable natural resources? The paper identifies and reviews the potential of social protection policies, schemes and instruments. It shows that small-scale fishers and fishworkers are typically inadequately or totally unprotected. While ...» more
Social protection and safety nets in the Middle East and North Africa
What role can social protection play in addressing the significant and interdependent social, political, economic and environmental challenges facing the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA)? This report gives an overview of the provision of social protection in MENA and how safety nets and broader social protection instruments can offer partial solutions to some of these ...» more
An evaluation of Hogaan iyo Nabad: A community driven governance programme in Somalia/Somaliland
The report presents the results of an evaluation of Hogaan iyo Nabad, a Community Driven Reconstruction (CDR) programme in Somaliland and Somalia.The programme was funded by DFID and implemented by CARE, DRC and IRC, and aimed at strengthening local governance in rural and rather remote districts in Somaliland (Erigabo) and Puntland (Galkayo and Burtinle). To work towards ...» more
The politics of governing oil effectively: A comparative study of two new oil-rich states in Africa
This paper challenges the mainstream understanding that the quality of institutions within resource-rich countries is the key to how successfully they will manage to avoid the ‘resource curse’. While this understanding would expect democratic Ghana to more effectively and accountably manage its oil than semi-authoritarian Uganda, the findings of this paper suggest otherwise. ...» more
Big results now? Emerging lessons from Results-Based Aid in Tanzania
Experiments with Results-Based Aid (RBA) is an ongoing trend in development cooperation. This paper analyses design features and initial implementation experiences of three ongoing RBA programmes in Tanzania that support government reforms in the water, education and decentralisation sectors. It finds that the overarching programme and the nature of capacity development ...» more
Addressing vulnerability? Cash transfer programming and protection outcomes for out-of-camp Syrian refugees
This report analyses the successes and shortcomings of a Danish Refugee Council (DRC) implemented e-card programme for out-of-camp Syrian refugees in southern Turkey. While the programme was impressively broad and has helped provide food security for tens of thousands of Syrian refugees in southern Turkey, there are several areas for improvement. The report focuses on: the ...» more
Courts, clans and companies: Mobile money and dispute resolution in Somaliland
Mobile money has thrived in Somaliland, providing access to storing money in e-wallets and the ability to pay for goods and services in a largely cashless economy. Its widespread adoption raises a number of social and legal questions, particularly around handling disputes. How are these disputes resolved, by which entities and according to which laws or regulations? Why are ...» more
It’s not a gift when it comes with price: A qualitative study of transactional sex between UN peacekeepers and Haitian citizens
Sexual exploitation of civilians by peacekeepers undermines the fragile stability established in post-conflict settings. Despite this, it continues to be an ongoing problem for peacekeeping missions worldwide. This article presents data from a study that explores the opinions and experiences of Haitians who engage in transactional sex with peacekeepers. The findings present a ...» more
Violence against women in the Gaza strip after the Israeli military operation protective edge 2014
This report explores violence against women (VAW) in the Gaza Strip following Operation Protective Edge. It highlights the relationship between VAWG in conflict-affected areas and levels of vulnerability of conflict and displacement. It also looks at the challenges organisations face in the provision of support services. The study recommends multidimensional responses that aim ...» more
