How can art and culture contribute to peace and reconciliation processes in post-conflict societies? Through a series of case studies this CKU occasional paper highlights how art methodologies can provide the non-didactic, participatory tools necessary for building relations between groups and contributing to long-term peacebuilding processes. It recommends long-term investment ...» 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.
Protracted displacement: uncertain paths to self-reliance in exile
This report maps the global state of protracted displacement, examining patterns and trends in numbers, geographic spread and funding. It notes that at the end of 2014, half of all refugees had been in exile for over ten years. Displacement is increasingly an urban and dispersed phenomenon, with settled camps becoming the exception. Seven countries – Syria, Iran, Pakistan, ...» more
Global Peace Index 2015. Measuring peace, its causes and its economic value.
The Global Peace Index 2015 highlights an increasingly divided world: while some countries are experiencing unprecedented levels of peace, others are facing increased violence and conflict. It shows that global levels of peace remain stable compared with 2014, but are still lower than in 2008. For the first time, the Index includes a section on 'Positive Peace' which they ...» more
Humanitarian trends and challenges for the Pacific region
What are the current and post 2015 humanitarian challenges and trends for the Pacific region? The paper provides an overview of the challenges facing Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). Humanitarian action in the Pacific region is predominantly in response to natural disasters, but the region has also witnessed several conflicts over the past decade, and many ...» more
The impact of private sector internship and training on urban youth in Kenya
This paper evaluates the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the Government of Kenya with support from the World Bank’s Kenya Youth Empowerment Project (KYEP) training and internship pilot programme for vulnerable youths between the ages of 17 and 29 years old who were out of school and/or had no permanent job in the previous year. It finds it has had overall significant ...» more
Evidence synthesis: Security sector reform and organisational capacity building
This synthesis examines the extent to which capacity building interventions in security sector reform have led to improved outcomes in accountability, responsiveness and capacity to deliver among security institutions and agencies in low- and middle-income countries. It further explores the factors enabling or hindering these improvements and the relationship between ...» more
Migration and refugee governance in the Mediterranean: Europe and international organisations at a crossroads
Can international organisations (IOs) be a catalyst for change if Europe is unable to agree on a solution to the current Syrian refugee crisis and broader issues of the deadly migration into the region? The paper argues that the current crisis is not only a European but a transregional governance crisis and shows how IOs have been instrumental in framing an alternative debate ...» more
Youth unemployment, education and political instability: evidence from selected developing countries 1991-2009
What is the relationship between youth unemployment and political instability? This working paper explores how youth unemployment is associated with political violence and armed conflict in developing countries. It suggests that youth unemployment is a symptom rather than a cause of political instability; there is a positive effect of youth unemployment on political violence ...» more
Social inclusion, poverty eradication and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development
A renewed interest in social inclusion has highlighted the need for the simultaneous promotion of productivity, poverty reduction and greater inclusiveness. This paper argues that there are three key interrelated areas that are critical for poverty eradication and inclusive development: (i) universal social protection; (ii) meaningful participation; and (iii) social and ...» more
Realising the right to a basic education in South Africa
Is South Africa meeting its constitutional and other legal obligations in making quality basic education accessible to all? This report finds that while progress has been made on access to basic education, quality and adequacy remain key issues that the government needs to address. This paper aims to guide the government in how to better fulfil these obligations and to provide ...» more
Women, business and the law 2016: Getting to equal
Since 2009, Women, business and the law has collected data about legal restrictions on women’s entrepreneurship and employment in order to inform policy discussions and promote research on the linkages between the law and women’s economic opportunities. This report is the fourth in the series. The report includes data on seven indicators: accessing institutions, using ...» more
Debunking the stereotype of the lazy welfare recipient: Evidence from cash transfer programs worldwide
This paper re-analyses the results of seven randomized controlled trials of government run cash transfer programs from six countries – Honduras, Indonesia, Morocco, Mexico (2 different programs), Nicaragua, and the Philippines – to examine the program impacts on labour supply. The re-analysis uses harmonized data definitions and empirical strategies to make the data as ...» more
Speculating on crisis: the progressive disintegration of the Central African Republic’s political economy
What factors shape the Central African Republic's volatile present? This report explores the political and economic foundations that underpin the country’s progressive disintegration. It analyses the interlinking factors that have deepened historic divisions, stimulated armed groups and failed to adequately address the countries' continued instability. It calls for strategic ...» more
Inclusive transitions framework
Transitions are the critical moments where fragile states can transform their social and political dynamics by pursuing more inclusive and cohesive practices. This publication argues that an inclusive approach offers the only realistic way to transform the relationships, institutions and dynamics that have troubled these countries. It draws on past experiences of ...» more
After rape: comparing civilian and combatant perpetrated crime in northern Uganda
How does the sequence of violence that women experience, before, during and after war relate to transitional justice approaches? This article compares rapes by combatants compared with rapes by civilians, both of which follow abductions intended to result in “marriage.” It calls attention to typically unacknowledged commonalities between the two forms of abduction and ...» more
Drivers of violent extremism: hypotheses and literature review
This review analyses the substantial academic literature on what causes violent extremism. It examines the 17 hypotheses discussed in the 2008 DFID paper ‘Drivers of Violent Extremism’, and summarises the strength of the evidence on each. It notes that an alignment of situational, social-cultural and individual factors at the macro, meso and micro levels is necessary for ...» more
Fossil fuels are dead, long live fossil fuels: Botswana’s options for economic diversification.
Botswana is at a critical historical juncture. It has enjoyed a stable democracy since 1965 and strong, quality economic growth for the last few decades. However, the diamond revenues on which the country depends are likely to decline in the near future. This report examines how Botswana can best harness it's ample fossil fuel supply for regional energy security at the least ...» more
Private sector development for poverty reduction: opportunities and challenges for Norwegian development aid
What are the most appropriate private sector development (PSD) interventions for poverty reduction? PSD is very demanding – attracting controversy and requiring highly competent implementing institutions - nevertheless, it remains popular among policy makers. Focusing on areas under the Norad PSD mandate, this paper explores the challenges and opportunities of different ...» more
Improving education outcomes by linking payments to results: an assessment of disbursement-linked indicators in five results-based approaches.
What are good indicators and how can they be selected? While results-based approaches are gaining popularity with donors and partner countries, there remains a question of whether they deliver higher returns than traditional aid modalities. This paper argues that the quality of indicators may determine the success of results-based approaches; the link between disbursement of ...» more
What lies beneath? A critical assessment of PPPs and their impact on sustainable development
Donor governments and financial institutions, such as the World Bank, are increasingly promoting public-private partnerships (PPPs), as a way to finance development projects. This report looks at the empirical and theoretical evidence on the nature and impact of PPPs based on experiences in Tanzania and Peru to assess whether they deliver on their promises. The report has ...» more
