DevDispatch Recommends: August 2022 Publications
We celebrate Africa Climate Week, which coincides with the release of this edition of DevDispatch Recommends, by highlighting three publications focused on climate change and the environment. We spotlight other key drivers of development including youth employment trends and managing safe and efficient trade, all released this August.
Enjoy!
Call to Action: Accelerating clean cooking as a nature-based climate solution
By Clean Cooking Alliance
The report emphasises that lack of access to clean cooking remains the most underinvested health and environmental problem in the world, and one of the chilling repercussions of this is that approximately 2.4 billion people do not have access to clean cooking, costing the world more than US$2.4 trillion in damage to the climate and local economies and contributing to 3.2 million premature deaths each year.
The report presents an urgent case and practical proposals to mobilize and align global finance for clean cooking as a nature-based climate solution.
Recommendations made include:
- Governments and multilateral finance institutions need to step up their support to countries to integrate clean cooking into nationally determined contributions (NDCs)
- Investors should screen nature-related investments to identify where clean cooking solutions can help to de-risk nature-related investments in nature-based solutions.
- As the focus on the interrelationship between nature and climate intensifies, clean cooking companies should develop new partnerships with conservation organizations, local government stakeholders such as forestry administration and national parks, and other environmental groups to leverage clean cooking value chains for nature-based solutions.
The 36 paged report is a quick read recommended for climate action design groups and governments.
Navigating the landscape of support for the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans
By United Nations Climate Change
The report is centred on the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes established to formulate and implement National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) aimed at reducing countries’ vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.
It states that as of July 2022, 38 developing countries had submitted their NAPs to the UNFCCC and provides an overview of the landscape of support available to facilitate the formulation and implementation of NAPs.
The report is structured around six different categories of support including Guidelines, Systematic Observation, Science and Climate Services, Information and Knowledge, Finance which includes the Green Climate Fund, Least Developed Countries Fund, and Special Climate Change Fund, Capacity-building and Technical Support which includes The Paris Committee on Capacity-Building and Technology Development and Transfer.
This digital report is a live document and the information will continue to be updated as countries’ needs and the available support evolves. It is recommended for climate change committees in charge of policy at national level.
Water Supply and Sanitation Policies, Institutions, and Regulation : Adapting to a Changing World - Synthesis Report
By The World Bank
This synthesis report argues for the strengthening, adjustment, and scaling up of Policies, institutions, and regulation (PIR) which are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water and sanitation. The report reviews and documents the experience of various countries with PIR.
The key messages presented in the report are that:
- Understanding the PIR context of Water and Sanitation Services (WSS) provision is a precondition for all other efforts to achieve meaningful and sustainable WSS outcomes.
- Progress in achieving meaningful PIR reforms starts with a rigorous assessment of the root causes of WSS service bottlenecks.
- PIR reforms are long term in nature and require mechanisms that foster evaluation, learning, and adjustment.
Moving forward, the report advocates for the use of the renewed PIR approach through projects, technical assistance, and structured policy dialogue with key sector stakeholders around the world.
The 63 pager is recommended for water and sanitation policymakers.
Global Employment Trends for Youth 2022: Investing in transforming futures for young people
By the International Labour Organization (ILO)
The 2022 Global Employment Trends for Youth report provides an update on regional youth labour market indicators which between 2019 and 2020 were significantly characterised by challenges related to COVID-19.
The publication states that between 2019 and 2020, 15 to 24 year olds experienced a much higher percentage loss in employment than adults (defined as those aged 25 years and above), many of whom dropped out of the labour force, or failed to enter it altogether owing to the enormous difficulty of searching for and securing a job when lockdowns measures were in place.
The digital economy is perceived to have considerable potential to create jobs for young people as well as the orange economy – one of the fastest growing sectors worldwide – which is projected to generate employment opportunities for young people in areas including architecture, visual and performing arts, crafts and videogames. The report underscores that labour market and skills development policies designed to help workers move on to new occupations and jobs should ensure that young people are actively engaged and that their needs are addressed.
The report is 300 pages long and is recommended for entrepreneurs, human resources practitioners, and labour policymakers.
Transit Oriented Development in practice.
A powerful example of impact on the ground in the area of Housing by our Brazil Cities team – and a story of how interventions in one city led to an approach that was scaled up and adopted as part of a Brazilian national law that set the standards for better quality social housing.
Three Challenges to Safe and Affordable Urban Housing
The blog raises three critical challenges: (i) importance of core services in informal settlements and slums, (ii) need to support housing rental markets, and (iii) making better use of underutilized land in city centers.
Can Housing Be Affordable Without Being Efficient?
The blog highlights the importance of giving due attention to building efficiency in affordable housing projects, both location efficiency and on-site energy and water efficiency. The key message: over their lifetimes, efficient homes are more affordable, healthier and provide better opportunities for residents than conventional buildings.
Managing Risk for Safe, Efficient Trade: Guide for Border Regulators
By International Trade Centre (ITC), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
For quick reads, check out these blog posts
The report highlights risk management as a key trade facilitation measure and its efficient application as a prerequisite to reduce non-tariff trade costs.
Its chapters:
- Explore trade as both a risk mitigation policy tool and a source of different and severe risks.
- Provide an overview of risk management concepts and tools that are especially relevant in the context of international trade and on which import compliance processes applied by regulatory agencies are based.
- Describe how to build risk-based regulatory systems that support the SDGs.
- Offer a holistic reference model for a targeting system that any border control agency can use and give technical guidance on integrating import compliance systems.
- Advise economic operators on how to cooperate and engage with border regulatory agencies and to promote compliance by investing in internal reforms and applying best practices.
The report offers 176 pages worth of information recommended for policymakers, customs authorities, trade facilitation bodies, and high-level government representatives.
Transit Oriented Development in practice.
A powerful example of impact on the ground in the area of Housing by our Brazil Cities team – and a story of how interventions in one city led to an approach that was scaled up and adopted as part of a Brazilian national law that set the standards for better quality social housing.
Three Challenges to Safe and Affordable Urban Housing
The blog raises three critical challenges: (i) importance of core services in informal settlements and slums, (ii) need to support housing rental markets, and (iii) making better use of underutilized land in city centers.
Can Housing Be Affordable Without Being Efficient?
The blog highlights the importance of giving due attention to building efficiency in affordable housing projects, both location efficiency and on-site energy and water efficiency. The key message: over their lifetimes, efficient homes are more affordable, healthier and provide better opportunities for residents than conventional buildings.
Malawi Economic Monitor, December 2020 : Doing More with Less - Improving Service Delivery in Energy and Water
By the World Bank
The pandemic has induced a sharp recession in many countries across the globe. Malawi’s economy has been heavily affected, with growth projected at 1.0 percent in 2020, down from earlier projections of 4.8 percent. With population growth around 3.0 percent, this represents a 2.0 percent contraction in per capita GDP. Political stability has returned following the June 2020 Presidential elections, which should support investment. However, global and domestic factors emanating from the pandemic are affecting Malawi’s economy, including: 1) disruption in global value chains and trade and logistics; 2) decrease in tourism; and 3) decrease in remittances. This has combined with social distancing policies and behavior to also reduce domestic demand. The Malawi Economic Monitor (MEM) provides an analysis of economic and structural development issues in Malawi. The publication intends to foster better-informed policy analysis and debate regarding the key challenges that Malawi faces in its endeavor to achieve high rates of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Global SDG Accountability Report
By the Transparency, Accountability and Participation (TAP) Network.
This report serves to ascertain the level of accountability for the Sustainable Development Goals at a subnational, national and international level. Information gathered from the SDG Accountability Survey serves as the basis of this report by collecting reflections and inputs from stakeholders around the world.
Split into four sections the report looks at:
1. The foundations of the 2030 Agenda – which explains and contextualises the SDGs;
2. A snapshot of SDG accountability – which outlines the challenges being faced by stakeholders in implementing the SDGs especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
3. Building a Global Multistakeholder Movement for SDG Accountability – which focuses on case studies of different stakeholders and their role in accountability and how they can improve accountability
4. Recommendations to Advance Accountability for the SDGs & the 2030 Agenda – which summarises the findings of the report and provides recommendations for specific stakeholders.
This report is an asset for the media, parliamentarians and national human rights institutions. It’s 101 pages but is organised such that it can be read in sections relevant to the information you are looking for.
The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Education, Livelihoods & Food Security Status: Policy Implications For Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
By P. Tamasiga, A.T. Guta, H. Onyeaka, H. Nkoutchou and M.S. Kalane.
Sub-Saharan countries were particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 as they were already experiencing weak health care systems, low financing for testing and very few resources for response measures. This data-driven report outlines the key trends of the COVID-19 pandemic by region, highlighting case trajectories, lockdown and containment measures, economic impacts, education impacts and health impacts. South Africa still accounts for the highest number of cases and deaths followed by Ethiopia and Nigeria.
Along with containing COVID-19, Central Africa is still facing the additional challenges of pre-existing health concerns, especially malaria.
The policy implications are focussed on supply chains, trade and market access, food and agricultural production, misinformation and the media, health, education and strategic communication. Sub-Saharan Africa has already been deemed to be the most at risk for food insecurity and this is expected to increase 2.5 fold.
Global progress report on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, 2021
By WHO
This report looks into how effective the strategies planned for 2016-2021 have been in the fight against HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs. Progress has indeed been made despite the disruption of the global pandemic but in the same breath, there are still many targets that have not been reached. The number of new HIV infections has fallen by 23% to its lowest rate since 2010 with 1.7 million new infections in 2019 however this is far from the target of only 500 000 new infections.
Stigma and lack of resources to implement people-centred policies and services still remain the largest hindrance. COVID-19 severely affected the ability for people to get tested easily. This report analyses the success and shortfalls of each WHO region. The report recommends that the only way to try and get back on track is for governments to collaborate their efforts into universal health care systems beneficial for the most vulnerable.
This report is targeted at anyone who works with marginalised communities of people infected by HIV, hepatitis or any STIs and is also a good read for health care workers and policy makers. It is moderately long at 108 pages.
Mainstreaming gender in urban public transport
By Stockholm Environment Institute
Africa is the fastest urbanizing continent, yet walking still remains the most affordable mode of transport in urban areas. This is due to a lack of service provision. There is also a large gender inequality problem when it comes to transport both in operation and in use. This report seeks to shed light on the under researched matter of women’s participation in transport decision making and their use of public transport systems.
The report uses the case studies of Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Kampala by interviewing all members of society from taxi drivers to policy makers in the ministries of transport and transport planners. The report identifies accessibility and safety of public transport systems, sexual assault and harassment, lack of integrated and gender sensitive urban planning and underrepresentation as larger barriers towards gene=der mainstreaming in transport.
This report is the perfect short read for city and transport planners at only 40 pages.
Terrorism in the Sahel Facts and Figures
By NATO Strategic Direction- South, ACSRT
The fight against terrorism in the Sahel is still a major issue that deserves attention as the number of terrorist attacks has increased by 18.5% in 2020. This report analyses current and past data to show a conclusive analysis on the rate of terrorism. The largest threats come from the following terrorist groups Boko Haram, ISGS, JNIM and ISWAP and the most affected countries are Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad.
This analysis is taken in the form of quantitative analysis with a lot of informative graphs and infographics as well as qualitatively by looking at the types of attacks. The report concludes that 2020 has been the most intense year in terms of terrorism in the Sahel.
This report is target to all members defence ministries and counter-terrorism organisations. It is a very brief read with only 37 pages.