'In 2009, UNDP Capacity Development Group has launched a global campaign on capacity development with the aim of gathering more evidence on what works in capacity development. This is also a call to partners for engagement and a convening of the global community of experts and practitioners.
This note is a brief summary of a campaign ‘of sorts’ that involves the gathering of more evidence, a call to partners for engagement, a convening of the global community of experts, thinkers and pract more...

'The report examines the extent to which post-Revolution reforms have impacted on human development opportunities. Specifically, the report looks at the way the reforms have affected the efficiency of the economy; the equity with which people are treated and resources are utilised; the sustainability of the political, economic and social environment; the physical and economic security of the population; and their level of empowerment to take control of their lives and make choices.'

'Women are increasingly significant as national and international migrants, and it is now evident that the complex relationship between migration and human development operates in gender differentiated ways. However, because migration policy has typically been gender-blind, an explicit gender perspective is necessary. This paper attempts this, beginning with an examination of recent trends in women’s migration, internationally and within nations. It then considers the implications of the socio more...

'We analyze a newly available dataset of migration policy decisions reported by governments to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs between 1976 and 2007. We find evidence indicating that most governments have policies aimed at either maintaining the status quo or at lowering the level of migration. We also document variation in migration policy over time and across countries of different regions and income levels. Finally, we examine patterns in various aspects of destin more...

'Rural roads are the last link of the transport network, however, they often form the most important link in terms of providing access for the rural population. The permanent or seasonal absence of road access can act as a constraining factor in terms of providing rural communities with services such as education, primary health case, water supply, local markets as well as economic opportunities. The availability of such services and opportunities are only sustained when the rural road network i more...

'China’s progress in poverty reduction over the last 25 years is enviable. One cannot fail to be impressed by what this vast nation of 1.3 billion people has achieved in so little time. In terms of a wide range of indicators, the progress has been remarkable. Poverty in terms of Income and consumption has been dramatically reduced. Progress has also been substantial in terms of human development indicators. Most of the Millennium Development Goals have either already been achieved or the count more...

'The Millennium Projects' 15 Global Challenges for 2008 aim to provide a framework to assess the global and local prospects for humanity. Their description, with a range of views and actions to address each challenge, include regional views and progress assessments. They are updated each year since 1996 and published in the Millennium Projects' annual 'State of the Future' document.'

'This papers looks at the monitoring and evaluating of capacity and capacity development with special reference to developing countries. Issues covered in the paper are:
• literature concerning capacity and capacity building in the public sector, and the application of formal M&E approaches
• donors, their organisations, and M&E of capacity development
• innovative approaches to monitoring of the development of performance and capacities
• innovative approaches to monitoring of the d more...

'Prepared for the African Union, this report evaluates national and regional early warning systems (EWS) across Africa. It reveals that these systems have generally been effective in alerting countries and donors to impending food crises in the context of seasonal droughts. However, exceptions suggest that inadequate early warning analysis, together with poor communication and coordination, have often contributed to acute food security emergencies that could have been prevented.
The report find more...

'Home to almost 500 million people, roughly half of whom earn less than a dollar a day, fragile states, until recently known in the World Bank as Low-Income Countries Under Stress (LICUS), have attracted increasing attention. Concern is growing about the ability of these countries to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as about the adverse economic effects they have on neighbouring countries and the global spillovers that may follow.
This review from the World Bank Independent more...