Open aid – transparent Swedish development cooperation

Open aid – transparent Swedish development cooperation.

Open aid – transparent Swedish development cooperation

“Open aid” is the name of the next step in the reform of Sweden´s development cooperation. The step is being taken to better adapt development cooperation to today´s reality and the opportunities created by globalisation and technological development. The goal is to achieve as effective poverty reduction as possible. To achieve this goal, development cooperation must be opened up to transparency and ideas from others.

Filed under: Development, European Union, OECD, Aid Efficiency, Aid Transparency, OpenAid

3rd European Forum on Sustainable Development, Palencia, Spain 29th March-1st April 2011

CTA – Brussels Office Weblog – 3rd European Forum on Sustainable Development.

The 3rd European Forum on Sustainable Development will be held in Palencia, Spain from 29th March-1st April 2011. This forum is an initiative by the European Commission and EU Presidency with the support of France, Germany, Ireland, the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development and CTA. Around 500 experts in rural development form all around the world will be attending. Areas in agricultural cooperation which will be discussed include cover governance, food security and social protection, land issues, Ecologically efficient agricultural systems for smallholder farmers, the role of the private sector and the civil society in rural development, rural financing…
In the framework of the Forum, CTA is preparing a side-event under the theme “ICTs Mobilizing Farmers” which will highlight the importance and potential of ICTs in rural communities and agricultural development, presenting testimonials of farmers, ICTs specialists and researchers. The aim is to exemplify the positive contribution of technology in the development of small agricultural clusters; increasing productivity, bringing up-to-date market information and even allowing easier access to finances.

If you wish to assist to the Forum and event, please contact lopes@cta.int

Filed under: Development, Environment, European Union, Rural Economies

Development ministers discuss future development policy, Sahel strategy

CTA – Brussels Office Weblog – Development ministers discuss future development policy, Sahel strategy.

At the informal meeting member states discussed the European Commission’s green paper outlining the future trends of European development policy. The main idea is to coordinate the European Union’s support policies with the goals of sustainable growth by putting economic growth in the service of acceptance and reducing poverty. […] Development ministers also discussed an EU strategy for the Sahel region. Sahel is one of the poorest regions in the world where abject poverty is compounded by a fast population growth, food shortage is an everyday issue and governments are transient. Society is riddled with internal conflicts, Islam radicalism poses a high risk, and security threats related to bootlegging and terrorism are extremely high. The European Union is now finalizing a comprehensive strategy to address the region’s security and development challenges. In this quest, creating stable governance, resolving internal conflicts, encouraging closer cooperation between the regions and fighting against radicalism are of equal importance. The strategy also aims to enhance the region’s security capabilities, protect the rule of law and to support economic development.

Filed under: Africa, Development, European Union, News

THE CLUB OF ROME – A New Path for World Development

THE CLUB OF ROME – A New Path for World Development.

It is clear that the present path of world development is not sustainable in the longer term, even if we recognise the enormous potentials of the market and of technological innovation. New ideas and strategies will be needed to ensure that improved living conditions and opportunities for a growing population across the world can be reconciled with the conservation of a viable climate and of the fragile ecosystems on which all life depends. A new vision and path for world development must be conceived and adopted if humanity is to surmount the challenges ahead.

In response to this intellectual and practical challenge, the Club of Rome will undertake a three year programme on “A New Path for World Development” so as to achieve a better understanding of the complex challenges which confront the modern world and to lay solid foundations for the action which must be taken to improve the prospects for peace and progress.

Filed under: Crisis, Development, Economy, Governance, Publications

Crowd Sourcing: How to be a good evaluator

Crowd Sourcing: How to be a good evaluator: Do This, Not That| weitzenegger.de.

How to be a good evaluator? (A new crowd sourcing exercise)

Results-based management in international development cooperation seems to require super heroes to evaluate it. How can you perform as a good evaluator and live on happily? Can you give us some practical advice from your experience? It will end up in a tip sheet for future evaluators.
Consider this:
1. What education, abilities, skills and experience are really needed?
2. How do you bring in your social and personal competencies (e.g., Social competence, Communication, Cooperative behaviour, Self-management, Team Management, Learning and problem solving)?
3. What does it take to meet the Standards (e.g., Independence, Stakeholder consultation and protection, Validity, Clarity, Fairness, Completeness, Transparency, and Timeliness)?
4. How do you prepare an assignment well (e.g., clarification, roles, stakeholder involvements, methodology, information and knowledge, logistics, time constraints, etc.)?
5. What behaviour is appropriate when evaluating (e.g., perspectives, techniques, self-awareness, respect, power-sharing, capacity building, give and take feedback)?
6. How do you master field work (e.g., stakeholder involvement, cultural competencies, diversity, credibility, presentation, transparent knowledge management)?
7. The day after: How do you follow-up after or in between evaluations?
8. What else are considered good practices as evaluator?
9. The Don’ts: What common mistakes should be avoided when evaluating?
10. What related guidance is already published elsewhere?

Please drop your ideas on this here as a comment.

Kind regards,
Karsten Weitzenegger

Filed under: Methods, Networks

How Matters | Aid effectiveness is not about what we do, but HOW we do it.

How-matters.org explores the skills and knowledge needed by all international “do-gooders” (professional and amateur alike) to truly raise the level of human dignity within international assistance and to put real resources behind local means of overcoming obstacles.

via How Matters /  Aid effectiveness is not about what we do, but HOW we do it..

Filed under: Development

The New Latin American Progresismo and the Extractivism of the 21st Century | CIP Americas

The advent of progressive governments in South America in the last decade gave environmentalists the hope that this would be the beginning of a truly sustainable economic development. But post-neoliberal “progresismo” has brought new complications in the environmental front, according to numerous activists and experts.

via The New Latin American “Progresismo” and the Extractivism of the 21st Century – CIP Americas.

Filed under: Caribbean

Learning forum on Green Jobs: local strategies and actions

Learning forum on Green Jobs: local strategies and actions.

Provides participants with a range of development tools and best practices with the objective to enhance their skills in the design and implementation of innovative Green Jobs strategies and actions at the local level. Target group: Local, regional and national officials concerned with economic development or planning and environmental policies; experts from international organizations, NGOs, chambers of commerce and other bodies dealing with territorial development, environment, representatives of workers, employers, local business organizations, cooperatives and other member-based organizations. Application deadline: 27 February 2011 A limited number of partial fellowships is available!

Language: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese,
Modality: face-to-face
Location: Turin and StudyVisit
Start Date: 2011/04/04 – End Date: 2011/04/21

Filed under: Economy, Employment, ILO

The Call — The Turin 2011 Learning Link

The Call — Learning Link.

The Turin 2011 Learning Link is based on the principle of collaborative contributions. This call is addressed to all organizations that are willing to share their knowledge and experiences in a participatory learning setting from April 11-15 at the International Training Centre of the ILO in Turin, Italy.
Themes

South-South and Triangular Cooperation
• This thematic area may be examined through the lens of understanding concepts, contexts and the international discourse on South-South and triangular cooperation. Practical questions, such as how to establish commitment to partnerships for capacity development? or what are successful strategies to implementing South-South and triangular cooperation for capacity development? may also be addressed.

Private Sector Participation
• In addition to analyzing challenges and opportunities for public and private sector cooperation for capacity development, the steering committee would appreciate session proposals that investigate incentives and tactics for the proactive inclusion of the private sector. How to identify, adapt and adopt successful practices across sectors, or knowledge sharing approaches, are examples of possible topics.

The MDGS: towards 2015

Filed under: Economy, Employment, ILO

Rural 21 Newsletter 1/2011

Newsletter 1/2011.

News

* Commitment by the German Development Ministry at the Berlin International Green Week – and at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA)
* Managing development in rural regions in West Africa
* Capacity Development for Agriculture and Rural Sectors: Monitoring, Evaluation and Impact Assessment
* New PRO-AGRO series launched

Filed under: Rural Economies