'In many transition economies, the state has surrendered its direct involvement in agricultural production and the rural economy, focusing on rural public goods and a greater regulatory role, particularly in food safety and plant and animal health. However, the exact definition of and appropriate financing for rural public goods remain unclear. In response to this conceptual gap, the rules and procedures of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the European Union (EU) are increasingly determini more...

'Reporters Without Borders (with UNESCO) has compiled a Handbook for Journalists for those going to dangerous parts of the world, listing international norms protecting them and containing practical advice on how to stay alive and safe.'

'Armed violence is not the preserve of conflict countries. The increasing convergence of widespread violence and criminal activity is a severe hindrance for non-conflict countries’ development - Mexico is a case in point. Many southern countries are witnessing an increase in youth populations (and ergo youth gangs), and this, combined with the prevalence of ungoverned urban spaces has meant that criminal activity such as the trafficking of drugs, arms and people has quickly moved from a local/ more...

'Around seven hundred thousand mostly low-income and minority men and women are released from prison each year. Returning to lives of low wages and high rates of unemployment, about two thirds will be rearrested within three years. A national prisoner reentry program is proposed whose core element is up to a year of transitional employment available to all parolees in need of work. Transitional jobs are supplemented by substance-abuse treatment and housing after release, expanded work and educat more...

'This paper summarises some of the initiatives to enhance public accountability in India. These are divided into two categories: initiatives from the government and those that emanated primarily from civil society. India’s economic and institutional reforms provided the setting in which these initiatives were launched.

Notable among the government’s initiatives were the creation of citizen charters in important public services, legislation to facilitate the public’s right to information more...

'In an interview, Ann Florini discussed the difference between 'global government' and 'global governance,' intergovernmental organizations such as the UN, and the role and achievements of civil society and transnational networks, particularly on environmental issues.'

'How can civil society and NGOs be supported by donors? This paper reviews experiences in Tanzania, looking at different models for supporting civil society and investigating possibilities for improving and increasing effectiveness of direct support to NGOs/CSOs. The authors consider how this can be done through country level support models and consider different examples of donor joint funding, which is helping other donors who might not have capacity to deliver their programmes to CSOs directl more...

'How do organisations change how they work? This chapter addresses the topic of change in humanitarian organisations. Drawing on the findings of a literature review and group interviews the authors question the efficacy of some of our traditional approaches to change. They consider performance improvement and suggest alternative principles and approaches developed outside the humanitarian sector. The document considers whether these approaches can be introduced into humanitarian agencies, and pr more...

'Landmine action is a key component of sustainable development. Not only does ‘contaminated’ terrain present obvious physical dangers but it disables communities by deterring IDP and refugee-return; limits access to health care, education and other basic social services; and crucially prevents the use of core resources vital to sustainable livelihoods (such as water sources, land used for agriculture and housing/resettlement).

This document is a guide for humanitarian and development NGO more...

'Across all provinces in Afghanistan, there are non-governmental organisations (NGOs) delivering assistance in the midst of violence and political instability. Their ability to implement programmes safely and effectively is increasingly jeopardised by the deteriorating security situation.

In some districts, NGOs have significantly reduced their operations or even withdrawn entirely as their staff, projects and beneficiaries come under attack. In this challenging context, aid agencies have a r more...