This report assesses the impact of the Arab Spring on the MENA region, drawing on briefings, reports and articles to identify the main issues raised by experts. Because the events analysed here have occurred very recently, much of the analysis is lacking in rigorous documentary evidence. While this report focuses on regional impacts and implications of the protests, it also ...» more
Australian Government (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
The GSDRC began providing international development research services to the Australian government in 2008, under the former agency AusAID and then more recently to the aid programme housed within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The GSDRC publications listed below have been commissioned by the Australian government.
Good practice findings of donor efforts to support sustainable gender equality
This report reviews a selection of academic and donor literature examining donor work on gender equality and female empowerment. Most of the available literature focuses on organisational strategies to achieve gender sensitive programming rather than directly on equality outcomes. While promising donor approaches to gender equality and female empowerment were found, less ...» more
Social Media and Reform Networks, Protest and Social Movements
The widespread diffusion of the Internet, mobile communication, digital media and a variety of social software tools throughout the world has transformed the communication system into interactive horizontal networks that connect the local and global. They enable citizens to interact and can accelerate cooperation and action. This helpdesk research report looks at the role of ...» more
Cooperatives and Development
A cooperative is an autonomous association of people united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise. Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. Although the reliability of figures is poor, ...» more
Impact of Communication for Development (C4D)
Development agencies are increasingly recognising the potential of communication for development (C4D) to improve development outcomes and to enhance the overall effectiveness of aid programmes. This coincides with growing evidence of the impact of C4D on the MDGs. This report provides some practical, tangible examples of where C4D activities have improved development outcomes ...» more