DevDispatch Recommends: February Publications
Just like that, the second month of the year has rolled past. We have been working hard to bring you the latest publications from the international development sector.
Check out our list for February!
Reimagining Girls’ Education: Solutions to Keep Girls Learning in Emergencies
By UNICEF, Overseas Development Institute and Global Partnership for Education
It is true that girls have always faced inequality in a school setting and this rings truer when that school setting is in an area affected by an emergency such as, the COVID19 pandemic. This report is aimed at education decision makers and stakeholders in education programs. It sets out clear and achievable targets which are aimed at supporting equal learning and continued learning during emergency settings when school systems are strained by lack of resources and access. The report stresses the fact that for programming to be successful the beneficiaries of the programs themselves should be involved in the decision making. A distinction needs to be made when it comes to disadvantaged students as many of them might have multiple intersecting vulnerabilities which are not accounted for. Solutions that work for other countries and schools such as digitalisation may not be practical in others. There must be a focus on diversifying output in different circumstances from no-tech, low-tech and high-tech solutions. The main goal is inclusion, inclusion, inclusion.
The report is short with less than 60 pages and has specifically been made easily accessible with key points that have proven successful being highlighted.
Establishing community-led monitoring of HIV services — Principles and process
By UNAIDS
Since the evolution of the AIDS pandemic, data has always been collected to serve as a building block in program designing, as a way of ensuring accountability and as a tool in further provision of health services. This collection of data has always been somewhat lacking – often leading to data which lacks the perspective of the service user which then leads to decision makers making poor choices in how services are provided. This primarily affects minority members of the community who are already stigmatised. This document aids to show the importance of having community led monitoring (CLM) of HIV services. It outlines how CLM should be established, funded and in which contexts it would work best.
This short 36 page document is pertinent for networks of people living with HIV and members of affected communities, anyone collaborating in using CLM, including those involved at different levels of service planning and provision, and for funders and other CLM sponsors.
Key Stakeholders’ Perspectives For UN Women’s Next Strategic Plan
By UN Women
This short report is based on the findings from the UN Women Survey on the Development of the Next Strategic Plan 2022-2025. The survey had responses from more than 1000 respondents who all represented key stakeholders at a global, regional and country level. 146 of the respondents were from Eastern and Southern Africa and 95 were from West and Central Africa.
The findings are grouped into four sections:New and Persistent Challenges to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, UN Women’s Strategies and Impact Areas, The Importance of Partnerships and UN Women’s Role in the Context of the UN Reforms.
This short report is for those who work within the governmental structure, civil society in regards to gender equality. The report is an easy read with data and graphics being presented clearly and concisely.
World Employment and Social Outlook 2021- The role of digital labour platforms in transforming the world of work
By ILO
This ILO flagship report pays an in-depth look at how the fourth industrial revolution is going to shape the world of business and labour. Although this is quite a long report it could not have come at a more poignant time as the global COVID pandemic has flipped the world on its head in terms of work. More and more people have had to shift to working remotely in order to comply with social distancing guidelines and though the workplace was already becoming a more digital landscape- this has considerably hastened the process. The report includes perspectives from small start-up all the way to large Fortune 500 companies as all businesses are increasingly relying on online web-based platforms.
This report is on the lengthier side at 283 pages but it is well organised into short segments which the reader can decide to tackle in smaller increments.
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.
WFP Global Operational Response Plan 2021 Update 1
By WFP
For quick reads, check out these blog posts
Climate change, conflict and COVID19 have only served to exacerbate the humanitarian crises faced by countries all over the world. This report sheds light on the socio-economic standing of countries around the world and serves to update WFP’s government partners, policymakers and humanitarian organisations on the priorities the WFP has deemed most urgent. The report summarises the outlook on global food insecurity, operational plans as well as the matter of funding. What is most interesting about this report is the quick country spotlights provided in the regional overviews.
This is a very short yet informative report under 40 pages and would be most beneficial to all those who have any interest in humanitarian aid.
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.
Nigeria Development Update, December 2020 : Rising to the Challenge - Nigeria's COVID Response
By the World Bank
This report highlights how the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis has impacted Nigeria’s economy. In 2020, Nigeria’s economy is expected to experience its deepest recession since the 1980s due to the COVID-19-related disruptions, notably lower oil prices and remittances, enhanced risk aversion in global capital markets, and mobility restrictions. This edition of the Nigeria Development Update takes stock of the recently implemented reforms and proposes policy options to both mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and foster a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive recovery.
Uganda Economic Update, 16th Edition, December 2020 : Investing in Uganda’s Youth
By the World Bank
Uganda is entering a pivotal stage of its development path. The population is currently estimated at 46 million and will most likely rise to around 104 million by 2060. Close to 70 percent of the future population will be of working age and about half will reside in urban centers. This presents an enormous opportunity to invest in education and health so that the soon-to-be working age population will have the skills and health necessary to be fully productive and contribute strongly to the country’s development. The sixteenth Uganda Economic Update, which includes the special topic of ‘Investing in Uganda’s Youth’ reviews recent economic developments, with particular attention on the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and provides an outlook for the macro-economy.
Nigeria: “My heart is in pain” - Older people’s experience of conflict, displacement, and detention in northeast Nigeria
By Amnesty International
The violence in Northeast Nigeria is now in its second decade, with both Boko Haram and the Nigerian military responsible for war crimes and likely crimes against humanity. Amid the conflict, older people’s perspectives and human rights have been largely ignored, despite the distinct and often disproportionate risks they face, whether in their villages, in military detention, or in displacement. This report examines specific violations and abuses that older people have suffered disproportionately, linked also to the intersection of older age, gender, and disability. It also analyses how the humanitarian response has failed to uphold many older people’s rights, including related to food, health, shelter, and participation.
Measuring attitudes & perceptions on the impact of COVID-19 in select Sub-Saharan African cities
By Metropolis Canada's COVID-19 Social Impacts Network for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a severe economic contraction in many developing countries, especially those in Africa. COVID-19 has exposed and exacerbated inequalities between countries just as it has within countries, leaving the most vulnerable groups further behind. To effectively counter the consequences of the pandemic, further international and national efforts are needed, including coordinated policy actions and reforms, creating an enabling policy environment.UNESCO in cooperation with the Metropolis Canada’s COVID-19 Social Impacts Network has prepared the following report on the impact of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa to provide governments with data and information on pandemic-related phenomena to develop effective, inclusive, and evidence-based responses. The study explored in this report aims to identify key issues, indicators, and socio-demographics in hopes of generating evidence-based policy responses addressing the socioeconomic dimensions of the COVID-19 crisis in nine cities across Sub-Saharan Africa (Maputo, Mozambique; Johannesburg, South Africa; Harare, Zimbabwe; Nairobi, Kenya; Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Dakar, Senegal; Libreville, Gabon; Freetown, Sierra Leone; and Kampala, Uganda).
That’s all we got for you this month. Let us know if you tuck into any of these.