ACCION: Foster Financial Inclusion through Collaboration http://www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org
Can commercial microfinance institutions organize themselves to protect the interests of their poor clients? The Center for Financial Inclusion at ACCION International is launched its activities with a focus on answering that provocative question, among others.
CGAP launched the 2009 SmartAid for Microfinance Index http://www.cgap.org/funders.
SmartAid is the first ever effort to measure, rate and compare how well development organizations are at providing funding and advisory services to microfinance. Ultimately, participation in SmartAid can strengthen the effectiveness of an organization's work. In 2006, the heads of 29 major development institutions endorsed the creation of an index. SmartAid is the fulfilment of that commitment. Results are expected in the spring of 2009.
Focuss - A collaborative research tool for global development cooperation http://www.focuss.info
The Focuss.Info Website is currently indexing 45,573 hand-picked favourite websites from partner organizations (like AGEG Consultants) and individual practitioners (like me) in the field of global development cooperation. And to make sure this amount is growing we encourage visitors of the website of Focuss.Info to join this collaborative initiative.
MyHeadlines - News for professionals http://www.myheadlines.org
MyHeadlines delivers daily news updates to your mailbox from sources that you select from our collection. There is even more, you can create your own personal newsletters, based on customized searches of our ever growing database of news articles.
Nucleus Entrepreneur's Network http://www.nucleus-international.net
The website shall serve as platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences for the further development of the Nucleus Approach.
R4D - A Portal to DFID Funded Research http://www.research4development.info
R4D is a free access on-line database containing information about research programmes supported by DFID. R4D provides you with the latest information about research funded by DFID, including news, case studies and details of current and past research in over 20,000 project and document records.
SKS Microfinance India http://www.sksindia.com
SKS Microfinance empowers the poor to become economically self-reliant by providing financial services in a sustainable manner. Launched in 1998, SKS Microfinance is one of the fastest growing microfinance organizations in the world, having provided over US $952 million (Rs 4,729 crores) and has maintained loans outstanding of US$ 393 million (Rs 1,954 crores) in loans to 3,333,917 women members in poor regions of India.
The KIS (= knowledge intensive services) Innovation Platform) http://tinyurl.com/6oyvru
The KIS -IP is a new initiative funded under Europe INNNOVA, with the aim to accelerate the take-up of services innovations in Europe. The initiative focuses on the innovative service solutions in technological and industrial fields by developing and testing new or better innovation support mechanisms for innovative small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Reality of Aid Network http://www.realityofaid.org
The Reality of Aid project is the only major north/south international non-governmental initiative focusing exclusively on analysis and lobbying for poverty eradication policies and practices in the international aid regime.
XING Group Microfinance Industry http://www.xing.com/group-21391.0fc826/4466179
In this new XING Group, microfinance professionals from all over the globe link and discuss topics of interest. Use this forum to discuss financial technology, find employment, identify training opportunities and events, and share knowledge resources with fellow members of the microfinance industry. XING is an online networking tool to manage all personal contacts and to find interesting new business contacts. It's amazing how quickly it facilitates contact with key people.
ZNet - The spirit of resistance lives http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/
ZNet is a huge website with thousands of files and diverse facilities. The ZNet top page provides a good overview of all features and especially the newest content. ZNet is a component of Z Communications.
September 2008
AfDevinfo - African Development Information Service http://www.afdevinfo.com
AfDevinfo tracks the mechanics of political and economic development across Sub Saharan Africa. They draw together a diverse range of publicly available data and present it as an accessible and ever expanding online database.
Africa Commission, for effective development cooperation with Africa http://www.africacommission.um.dk/en
The Africa Commission focuses on how to create more jobs and further economic growth in Africa in the years to come. The overall focus will be on youth, employment and economic growth. The Danish Government started this commission to put economic growth and employment in Africa higher on the international agenda. (Source: DCED)
African Foundation for Development http://www.afford-uk.org
Over the next 3 years AFFORD will concentrate on supporting the African diaspora in the UK to contribute to wealth and job creation in Africa. It runs projects and programmes such as SEEDA (Supporting Entreprenuers and Enterprise Development in Africa) which seek to mobilize the diaspora and other partners to support and invest in sustainable enterprises, particularly SME’s, that will generate wealth and jobs and respond to the jobs crisis in Africa.
African University of Science and Technology in Abuja (AUST – Abuja) http://www.aust-abuja.org
AUST was established by the Nelson Mandela Institution (NMI) in 2007 as the first of a Pan-African Network of Institutes of Science and Technology and Centers of Excellence located across the continent.
Association of African Business Schools (AABS) www.aabschools.com
AABS's mission is to promote excellence in business and management education in Africa by supporting graduate business schools through capacity building, collaboration and quality improvement.
BizCLIR http://bizclir.com
This site is a dynamic knowledge development and knowledge sharing tool to improve the impact of USAID's efforts on Business Climate Legal and Institutional Reform. The site will host information for development practitioners including: country assessments, best practices, publications, and expert opinions.
Business Climate Legal and Institutional Reform: USAID BizCLIR website http://bizclir.com
This USAID site provides a dynamic knowledge development and knowledge sharing tool to improve the impact of USAID's efforts on Business Climate Legal and Institutional Reform. The site will host information for development practitioners including: country assessments, best practices, publications, and expert opinions. The goal is to share and capture information in this field from around the world and to become an active forum for sharing cutting-edge ideas.
Business Fighting Corruption http://info.worldbank.org/etools/antic/index.asp
This website and the ''Fighting Corruption through Collective Action”guide are the result of an on-going collaboration of businesses and non-governmental organizations, led by the World Bank Institute.
Centre for Agricultural Resources & International Development http://cefard.org
CEFARD is a not-for-profit, non-governmental, and humanitarian organisation in Toronto, Canada. CEFARD's mandate is to champion the course of global poverty alleviation through agricultural resources and developmental tools mostly in the developing nations of the world.
Centre for International Competitiveness http://www.cforic.org
Founded in 2007, the Centre for International Competitiveness focuses on researching and exploring the competitiveness of economies and businesses. The Centre is also the home of the influential World Knowledge Competitiveness Index, European Competitiveness Index, and the UK Competitiveness Index series of reports.
CUIL http://www.cuil.com
Cuil claims to be the largest search engine in the world, and that it searches three times as many pages as Google. Cuil is an old Irish word for knowledge. For knowledge, ask Cuil.
Enterprise for Pro-poor Growth (Enter-Growth) http://www.entergrowth.com
Enter-Growth is a project of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), and the Sri Lanka Ministry of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion. Its goal is to contribute to pro-poor economic growth and quality employment for women and men, through an integrated programme for development of micro and small enterprises. The Website has a good project library.
eponews.net News on Development & International Co-operation http://www.eponews.net
eponews.net - the news & views channel of epo.de - delivers you with news (in particular from NGOs) and views on international development.
Euforic RSS feeds http://www.euforic.org
As an existing subscriber to the Euforic News Flash, we invite you to subscribe to our Euforic Highlights. Follow this link to get a regular email alert. You can also sign up for our alerts in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish! You can also subscribe to news alerts from Euforic member organisations – follow this link .
European Development Co-operation to 2020 [EDC2020] http://www.edc2020.eu
The EDC2020 project combines both research and communication aspects. Its aim is to encourage close collaboration between researchers and policy makers and therefore it enhances the co-operation with reputable European development research institutes. EADI, SID and others launched the project in June. To subscribe to the regular EDC2020 e-newsletter please visit http://www.edc2020.eu/21.0.html. Two working papers entitled ''European Development Co-operation to 2020: The Issues” and ''Energy and Development: Lessons from Nigeria” were published and available as a download.
Global Value Chains http://www.globalvaluechains.org
The Global Value Chains Initiative seeks to develop an industry-centric view of economic globalization that highlights the linkages between economic actors and across geographic space. It is a multi-year effort to test and develop the GVC framework with the aims of creating greater analytical precision, intellectual impact and policy relevance. Our efforts include a research agenda, a publishing thrust, the development and dissemination of industrial upgrading handbooks for practitioners, and a series of intensive workshops convened to test and broaden the framework through interactions among network participants and with the broader academic, policy-making and activist communities.
globADVANTAGE - Center of Research on International Business & Strategy http://www.globadvantage.ipleiria.pt/
The globADVANTAGE – Center of Research on International Business and Strategy in the Instituto Poltécnico de Leiria (globADAVANTAGE – I.P.Leiria) was created in 2007 as a research center for the study of international business and corporate strategy. Researchers focus on issues of importance to international trade, international investment, international strategy and global competitiveness.
Growing Inclusive Markets (GIM) http://www.growinginclusivemarkets.org
The Growing Inclusive Markets Initiative has created a set of data, information and analytical products that will increase understanding of the markets of the poor, including existing opportunities and challenges.
GTZ: Promotion of Economic Development and Employment in Conflict and Post-Conflict Environments (PEECE) http://www.gtz.de/en/themen/...
Development interventions can help prevent, transform or overcome conflicts, but at the same time they can cause, trigger or aggravate conflicts. Since development interventions always have an impact on conflict – either positive or negative - Private Sector Development (PSD) in conflict or post-conflict situations cannot be planned and implemented in the same manner as in peaceful countries. This platform has been established as a dynamic space offering practical advice, tools and project examples to economic development experts working in conflict or post-conflict situations.
Guide to Sources of information for Sustainable Development http://www.comminit.com/es/node/265632
This is a project of Avina Foundation and The Communication Initiative Latin America (CI LA), that aims to facilitate links between journalists/researchers and experts and social organizations in 22 areas of sustainable development. The guide is a directory that includes the name, contact data, and field of work of 634 social leaders and specialists in 23 Latin American countries.
IDRC: Competition and Development http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-119682-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
This website demonstrates the importance of true and fair competition to sustainable development. The site provides an overview of competition law and policy in developing countries, results of IDRC-funded research, and the important lessons that have been learned. The slide presentations, short case studies, research reports, and online books also touch on issues of globalization, consumer welfare, cartels and monopolies, and trade liberalization.
International Initiative for Impact Evaluation http://www.3ieimpact.org
3ie seeks to answer the enduring questions of development. Submit your own enduring question to enduring_questions @ 3ieimpact.org. Or make a submission to the 3ie blog. 3ie is supported by governments, NGOs, official development agencies and private foundations (List of 3ie members). More information on Joining 3ie.
International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) http://www.3ieimpact.org/
3ie seeks to improve the lives of poor people in low- and middle-income countries by providing, and summarizing, evidence of what works, when, why and for how much.
International journal of microfinance and business development http://practicalaction.org/?id=sed_journal
Enterprise Development & Microfinance (EDM) provides a forum for those involved in designing and running enterprise development and microfinance programmes in developing countries. EDM is essential reading for managers of projects, providers of technical assistance, consultants to projects, policymakers and staff of donor agencies.
International Poverty Centre Online Resource Centre http://www.undp-povertycentre.org/theme.do
IPC is pleased to announce a new section on its website where you will find its publications organized by 16 thematic areas.
Joint Donors' Competence Development Network http://www.train4dev.net
Train4dev is an open forum for donor agencies, currently comprising 17 donors: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, European Union, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United Nations, World Bank and ILO. The training course (http://www.train4dev.net/training-courses/allcourses.html) are for members exclusively.
J-STOR give free access to scientific journals http://www.gdnet.org/JSTOR
GDN announces access to JSTOR to eligible registered researchers on the Knowledge Base. Through J-Stor, registered researchers can retrieve scanned images of journal issues and pages as they were originally designed, printed, and illustrated. Access is granted to Business, Business II and Arts and Science II Collections. If you are registered with GDNET, update your profile to activate access to JSTOR. Register at http://www.gdnet.org/register
London International Development Centre (LIDC) http://lidc.bloomsbury.ac.uk
The LIDC is a unique collaborative project bringing together social and natural scientists and educators across the six Bloomsbury Colleges of the University of London. This project is designed to establish a collaborative, inter-disciplinary Centre to address complex problems in international development.
MDG Monitor http://www.mdgmonitor.org
The MDG Monitor shows how countries are progressing in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). With the 2015 target date fast approaching, it is more important than ever to understand where the goals are on track, and where additional efforts and support are needed, both globally and at the country level.
MFTransparency for transparency in microfinance http://www.mftransparency.org
A non-government organization was launched in Jluy 2008 which will make public the interest rates charged by microfinance lenders.'' MFTransparency will be the venue for the microfinance industry to publicly demonstrate its commitment to transparency, integrity and poverty alleviation. MFTransparency will enable transparent communication between suppliers and consumers of microcredit products, as well as all microfinance stakeholders, by presenting information on credit products and their prices in a clear and consistent fashion.
ProFI Porgramme, Indonesia http://www.profi.or.id/
ProFI is a comprehensive micro-finance program. The idea is to promote more accessible, affordable, and effective micro-financial institutions (MFIs) for low-income people.
Quick Impact Capacity Development and Knowledge Transfer Center
for Microfinance in Post-disaster Environments http://quick-centre.or.id
The QUICK Centre is a knowledge sharing platform for the practitioners of microfinance in disaster surroundings. Here you will find the best practices and experiences on post-disaster microfinance support measures, microfinance as a disaster preparedness tool, disaster management for microfinance institutions.
Samea - South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association http://www.samea.org.za
Samea strives to cultivate a community that will support, guide and strengthen the development of monitoring and evaluation as an important discipline, profession and instrument for empowerment and accountability in South Africa. Source: GTZ NEDAnews.
The African Diaspora Policy Centre (ADPC) http://www.diaspora-centre.org
ADPC enables African Diaspora in Europe to connect more closely with the continent as a collective force. The thematic areas are Peacebuilding, Research, Expert Meetings, Training, Better Governance, Research, Expert Meetings, Migration & Development, Research, Expert Meetings and Brain Gain.
The Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) http://cbcglobal.biz
CBC provides leadership in increasing international trade and investment flows, creating new business opportunities, promoting good governance and corporate social responsibility, reducing the digital divide and integrating developing countries into the global market.
The Wharton Africa Business Forum http://www.whartonglobal.com/africa/index.html
Wharton takes a vigorous approach at identifying viable and attractive areas for investment and trade with Africa. Within the context of discussion about business opportunities, the changing economic and geo-political landscapes, and examples of success stories, we hope that our panelists and speakers will enlighten the audience on Africa's future, and how we personally can affect it both positively and profitably.
VeoSearch http://veosearch.com
This is a search engine financing projects towards Sustainable Development through your online searches. Every search generates advertisement revenues. 50 % of these revenues are distributed to the charities presented on the site. They are engaged in at least one of the three main pillars of Sustainable Development: social work, environment protection or sustainable economics.
June 2008
Africa Progress Panel http://www.africaprogresspanel.org
The aim of the Africa Progress Panel is to focus world leaders' attention on making the most of the growing number of opportunities for progress in Africa. It will also comment on the challenges African governments, the G8 and other international partners face in meeting the commitments made towards Africa's development.
AGEG Consultants eG http://www.ageg.de
AGEG is a consulting company operating worldwide with over 20 years of experience in international development cooperation. AGEG Consultants eG is a registered cooperative since 1989 and relies on the experience and expertise of its shareholders. AGEG shareholders not only fulfil important corporate functions within the cooperative but are also active as consultants in the field. Their Website was redesigned completely. Individual consultants are invited to register.
Business for the Environment B4E http://www.b4esummit.com
B4E, the Global Business Summit for the Environment, is the leading international conference focusing on business and the environment. B4E 2008 will highlight the most urgent environmental challenges facing the world today and discuss business-driven solutions for mitigating and adapting to climate change. Important topics addressed will include resource efficiencies, renewable energies, new business models and climate strategies. Delegates will learn best practices for identifying and managing the risks posed by climate change and uncover opportunities for developing competitive advantages.
Centre for technology, innovation and culture TIK – University of Oslo http://www.tik.uio.no/english/
The Centre studies production and dissemination of knowledge - broadly defined as the development of and interaction between science and technology, innovation and entrepreneurship - through inter-disciplinary linkages between the social sciences and the humanities.
Changemakers - open sourcing social solutions™ http://www.changemakers.net
Changemakers is an initiative of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public that focuses on the rapidly growing world of social innovation. It provides solutions and resources needed to help everyone become a changemaker and presents compelling stories that explore the fundamental principles of successful social innovation around the world.
CLIMATE-L.ORG http://www.climate-l.org
This is a knowledge management project for international negotiations and related activities on climate change run by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
Countdown 2010 http://www.countdown2010.net
A powerful network of active partners working together towards the 2010 biodiversity target. As a partner, AGEG Consultants support projects and programmes towards biodiversity conservation and improvement of local livelihoods world-wide in collaboration with other partners (e.g. GTZ, KfW, WWF). AGEG also provides expertise and collaborates with local NGOs in voluntary conservation initiatives in Germany with specific attention to forest biological diversity.
Creating Sustainable Enterprise http://www.impact-dtg.com
Impact are global leaders in sustainable business transformation and people development. Our learning journeys and training solutions inspire new thinking and generate the meaningful dialogue needed to create and develop sustainable enterprise. Impact help people work more effectively together. As experts in behavioural change and leadership development, we work with organisations on their journey to becoming a sustainable enterprise.
Development: Making it happen http://www.dfid.gov.uk/achievements/2008/
As DFID publishes the Annual Report for 2008, here are some examples of the ways in which the Department for International Development is working to help eliminate world poverty.
Find a Job in Africa http://www.findajobinafrica.com
Africa's employment zone connecting employers, recruitment agencies and jobseekers. The website was founded in 1999 by Africans on the conviction that African's problems must be owned by Africans with the solution driven by African's. One of the challenges was poor/lack of job opportunities to Africans as a result many the vast array of job opportunities were not readily available to African's based inside and outside Africa.
Forum Finances et Développement http://esf.asso.fr/portail/
Un portail francophone dédié au financement du développement.
Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System http://www.gdacs.org
The GDACS provides near real-time alerts about natural disasters around the world and tools to facilitate response coordination, including media monitoring, map catalogues and Virtual On-Site Operations Coordination Centre.
IRIS http://www.iris.umd.edu
IRIS is a research and advisory center located in the Department of Economics at the University of Maryland, College Park, USA. It works understand and facilitate economic growth and democratic development in poor and transition countries, focusing on the role of institutions — the formal and informal rules by which individuals organize economic, political, and social activity.
The EC Magazine of Enterprise Policy http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/e_i/index_en.htm
The new Enterprise & Industry on-line magazine will provide regular updates on policy development, on legislative proposals and their passage to adoption, and on the implementation and review of regulation affecting enterprises. Articles will cover issues related to SMEs, innovation, entrepreneurship, the single market for goods, competitiveness and environmental protection, better regulation, industrial policies across a wide range of sectors, and more.
SEPT: Small enterprise promotion + training http://www.sept.uni-leipzig.de
The Small Enterprise Promotion Network (SEPneT) is an alumni network of more than 200 experts from over 70 countries specialized in SME issues. All members have studied in Germany.
The Imp-Act Consortium http://www2.ids.ac.uk/impact/
The Imp-Act Consortium is global group of organisations working to promote and support the management of social performance by MFIs. ''We are a catalyst for change in microfinance understanding and practice. By connecting practitioners around the world we demonstrate practical action and support each other in managing towards our social goals.''
The MicroInsurance Centre http://www.microinsurancecentre.org
This site is intended to provide practical tools to assist in the success of these relationships between regulated insurers, and MFOs and banks. It is focused on a partnership model of microinsurance provision.
The Virtual Library on Microcredit http://www.gdrc.org/icm/
Repository of information on alternative, non-conventional financial systems and microfinance/microcredit issues.
Virtual communities & fair tourism against poverty http://conectafrica.wordpress.com
This Online PhD investigation on Fair Tourism really goes for tourism development in Africa, using Web 2.0 technology. It is in Spanish language.
Visit our Sponsor: Rucksackshop http://tinyurl.com/5qx8an
Bags, Rucksacks, travel & outdoor stuff. High quality - low prices - since 1991. Delivered world-wide by Lothar Erdmann from Doebeln, Germany.
Weitzenegger's Currency Cheat Sheet http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet?user=Weitzenegger
Keep your travel budget under control by knowing exact values in your home currency. This Traveller CheatSheet displays a handy list of conversion units from one currency to another and is designed to be printed out and carried while travelling. Choose daily Interbank rate or typical rates for credit card or cash.
May 2008
>(loband)- http://www.loband.org
loband is a service that simplifies web pages, in order to make them download faster over slow Internet connections. The simplified page viewed through loband will contain the same text information as the original. The formatting of the simplified page will be as similar to the original as possible, with colours and images removed. On certain pages you may find that things have moved around to some degree.
Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) http://aiard.org
The Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) is an association of professionals and practitioners in international development with experience and intellectual and institutional capabilities to articulate and address broad-based as well as more focused development issues in agriculture and rural development.
Banking With The Poor Network http://www.bwtp.org
The Banking With The Poor Network is a network of some 30 national policy institutions, commercial banks and NGO's from nine countries in Asia - namely Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The BWTP objective is to link microfinance with the financial system and to support the provision of inclusive financial services in Asia. It pursues this objective through capacity building, information sharing, policy dialogue, advocacy and research.
Business Fights Poverty http://businessfightspoverty.ning.com
From the team behind Business Action for Africa and Mentori, Business Fights Poverty is a professional network for all those passionate about fighting world poverty through the power of good business. I joined this recently and will invite you personally.
DB Classifieds: Vacancies, Training, Materials, and Events http://www.comminit.com/en/node/263664#TME
DB Classifieds includes information relevant and helpful to people and organisations involved in international development. As part of the Classifieds service, organisations can now post training and events related to international development in the Classifieds section of the CI website as well as within the DB Classifieds - TME.
DB Classifieds will often include material for which organisations have paid for placement.
EASYPol is an FAO on-line http://www.fao.org/easypol/output/
Interactive multilingual repository of downloadable resource materials for capacity development in policy making for food, agriculture and rural development. EASYPol is maintained by the FAO Agricultural Policy Support Service.
Eldis Community http://community.eldis.org
The Eldis Community is a free on-line community where you can meet others involved in international development, discuss issues that are important to you and share useful resources. Anyone with an interest in development issues can join the site free of charge.
eldis Ressource Guide: EU trade policy http://www.eldis.org/go/topics/resource-guides/trade-policy/eu-trade-policy/
This Resource Guide provides easy structured access to our extensive collection of research and policy documents. All are editorially selected, summarised and available free to download in full text. Resource guides are intended to help you keep up to date with the latest in development research, policy and practice.
European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) http://www.microfinance-platform.eu
Sharing the vision that everyone on this globe has access to inclusive financial services, microfinance is a solution. e-MFP, as a multi-stakeholder and well connected European microfinance community, has the mission to promote innovative and inclusive financial sectors in developing countries.
Geneva Trade and Development Forum (GTDForum) http://www.gtdforum.org
The GTDForum seeks to provide an enduring platform – and a novel experience – for reflection, innovation, debate and dialogue. It will address the specific challenges and opportunities of developing countries trying to reap the benefits and heal the wounds from globalization and trade liberalization. The Forum offers a much needed neutral environment away from the negotiating table for all stakeholders, where the needs and interests of the poorer countries and the use of trade as a development tool will be at the centre of discussions.
Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN) http://www.odihpn.org
HPN is an independent forum for humanitarians to share and disseminate information, analysis and experience. It has specialist resources for practitioners and policy makers alike and facilitate debate through regular events and the Online Exchange discussion forum.
Improving the Business Enabling Environment, by IFC http://www.ifc.org/bee
Here IFC collects, summarizes, and analyzes various data on the successes and failures of business environment reform efforts, and develop practical guides for designing and implementing these reforms. They are currently focusing on business registration, business licensing, business inspections, municipal simplification, corporate tax administration, export/import procedures, building the capacity of business membership organizations, and alternative dispute resolution.
Mentori - Share your business skills for a better world. http://www.mentori.org
Mentori connects you online with people from developing countries who value your expertise. Its simple. You can volunteer anytime, anywhere, from any computer. Mentori offers the Diaspora the opportunity to do a ''virtual return” home.
MicroFinance Network (MFN) http://www.mfnetwork.org
MFN is an international association of leading microfinance institutions. Through the MFN, 39 members from 31 countries share ideas, experiences, and innovative solutions to the challenges they face in search of continuous growth and progress. MFN members seek to be models of what is possible in the industry.
Poverty Action Lab, MIT http://www.povertyactionlab.org
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) serves as a focal point for development and poverty research based on randomized trials. The objective is to improve the effectiveness of poverty programs by providing policy makers with clear scientific results that help shape successful policies to combat poverty.
Senegal: Inter-agency multifunctional platform programme (MFP) http://www.ptfm.net
MFP has been recently launched in Senegal with the financial support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The MFP is a national / subregional programme based in Senegal. It aims to bring energy to the poorest rural areas and thus contributes to poverty alleviation and increasing the quality of life. A village enterprise - the Multifunctional-Platform: more time and more income for rural women and higher levels of schooling for girls. Using a simple diesel engine, rural people, particularly women, can now have access to affordable, simple and modern energy services. This improved access saves time and effort that can be devoted to income-generating activities, education, health and childcare.
The Gurteen Knowledge Website http://www.gurteen.com
David Gurteen hosts on his personal website the Gurteen Knowledge Community, a global learning community of over 15,000 people in 154 countries. The main themes of the site are knowledge management, learning, creativity, innovation and personal development. Everything on this site is open and you do not need to be a member to access any part of it or to subscribe to any of the services provided. However, you will want to come back often and be part of it.
The Right to Food Virtual Library http://www.fao.org/righttofood/kc/library_en.htm
This Library is a unique repository of information on the Human Right to Adequate Food and Freedom from Hunger. It provides catalogued documentation to assist the implementation of the Right to Food at national level. The aim of the Right to Food Virtual Library is to collect, maintain and provide a relevant, up-to-date, and outstanding collection of documents to fulfill the information needs of policy makers, practitioners, general public, civil society, NGOs, UN country teams, media and the academia, working toward the realization of the Right to Food. The Virtual Library is also available on CD and free of charge.
Theoretical Economics http://www.econtheory.org
Theoretical Economics aims to become the leading journal in economic theory. It differs from existing journals in one major respect: all content is freely available
VISION Era-Net Portal for Innovation Policy Publications
This portal is a unique collection of publications related to innovation policy. The Innovation Policy Portal provides a valuable source and unique of information for both practitioners and researchers alike. The database consists of over 50 research reports, white papers, and policy documents from the world-leading researchers on the most advanced countries in the innovation policy. http://www.visioneranet.org/?84_m=222&s=10
Wikigender http://www.wikigender.org
On the occasion of International Women's Day, the OECD Development Centre launched this new interactive website to share and exchange information on gender equality issues.
Wikinomics http://www.wikinomics.com
Today, encyclopedias, jetliners, operating systems, mutual funds, and many other items are being created by teams numbering in the thousands or even millions. While some leaders fear the heaving growth of these massive online communities, Wikinomics explains how to prosper in a world where new communications technologies are democratizing the creation of value. Anyone who wants to understand the major forces revolutionizing business today should consider Wikinomics their survival kit.
World Bank Knowledge Resources: Financial & Private Sector Development http://rru.worldbank.org
Rapid Response is the World Bank Group’s knowledge hub on financial and private sector development in developing countries. This site offers best practice public policy advice for private sector led growth and financial market development in developing countries. Find expert analysis, powerful databases, quick solutions, and comprehensive ''how-to'' guides.
April 2008
African Voices in Europe demand more effective aid for Africa's poorest http://practicalaction.org/?id=africanvoices
Practical Action has launched a new website - African Voices in Europe - to expose the failures of European aid and set out a new agenda for Improving aid for Africa's poorest communities. African Voices in Europe exposes the failures of EC aid to reach farmers and livestock keepers across Africa, and explores how EC aid could be more effectively targeted to achieve its objective of poverty reduction.
AiDA Adds Information from Major Nongovernmental Organizations http://aida.developmentgateway.org/aida/AidaHome.do
The database on development activities, AiDA, now includes activities funded by the Gates Foundation, the Open Society Institute, and the Soros Foundation Network. These non-traditional donors fund over 3,800 activities. As a tool for aid effectiveness, AiDA includes information on more than 200,000 development projects worldwide.
CAN launches a FREE Social Enterprise Directory http://www.can-online.org.uk/register.php
CAN has just launched a FREE directory of social entrepreneurs, social enterprises and enterprising charities in the UK. Sign up today if you want to be listed.
Commonwealth Micro Finance (CMF) http://www.commonwealthmf.com
Commonwealth Micro Finance (CMF) has been established by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) to provide a range of financial services including international remittances, micro-savings, micro-loans and other banking services for individuals and small businesses in 52 Commonwealth countries. CBC provides leadership in increasing international trade and investment flows, creating new business opportunities, promoting good governance and corporate social responsibility, reducing the digital divide and integrating developing countries, in the Commonwealth, into the global market. Pre-register online for your Zipp™ card. It dramatically reduces transaction costs for Migrant remittances and banking transaction costs.
CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment www.cuts-citee.org
Since October 2007, CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment (CUTS CITEE) has been posting latest developments, news items, etc on trade and development issues onto its site. They are gathered from various sources and put under three heads: WTO Issues, Regional Economic Cooperation, and Developmental Issues. For instance, the latest draft texts on agriculture and NAMA (non-agricultural market access) of the Doha Round of negotiations by the WTO Members are there.
Data Base of Evaluation Studies Undertaken by EU Member States and the European Commission in External and Development Cooperation (from 2000) http://ec.europa.eu/comm/dg/aidco/ms_ec_evaluations_inventory/evaluationssrch.cfm
The current database (DB) contains references to evaluations undertaken by European Union (EU) Member States (MS) and the European Commission in the area of development and external cooperation from the year 2000. More than just an index or a catalogue of interesting evaluations, the database offers the possibility of direct access to the available documents via the Web. A link to the summary or the full report is available in approximately 60% of cases.
EIM's Public Knowledge Web on SMEs and Entrepreneurship http://www.entrepreneurship-sme.eu
EIM carries out a long term research program on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurship, which is being financed by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. Some major themes are nascent entrepreneurship, business start-ups, high growth enterprises, firm size distribution, innovation, internationalization, job creation and human resources management in SMEs.
EU Donor Atlas 2008 http://development.donoratlas.eu
The EU Donor Atlas is based on the data on ODA provided by the DAC International Development Statistics online: DAC online (for annual aggregates) and Creditor Reporting System online (for aid activities) as of January 2008 -covering data for the years up to 2006.
FRAME: Framework for Reporting, Analysis, Monitoring, and Evaluation http://www.seepnetwork.org/section/frame
SEEP's FRAME Tool and companion manual, Measuring Performance of Microfinance Institutions (the Framework), represent an initiative towards reaching global standards for microfinance performance monitoring and reporting. The FRAME Tool and Framework complement each other, and should be used in conjunction. The FRAME Tool, and Framework ratios, were developed by and for microfinance practitioners, in conjunction with raters, network organizations, donors, and investors. SEEP is proud to release FRAME 2.0, with over nineteen new features.
Growth, Innovation and Policy (GIPOL) http://survey.nifustep.no/gipol/
GIPOL is a collaboration project between NIFU STEP, Norwegian School of Management, University of Agder and University of Lund. It is financed by the Norwegian Research Council and lasts from 2007 until 2010. The main aim of the project is to analyze modes of innovation and knowledge networks in order to develop an analytical framework adapted to the increasing globalization of the economy.
ip4inno - Intellectual Property Rights at SME http://www.ip4inno.eu
ip4inno is a project funded by the European Commission as a part of the Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. Its main aim is to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) enhance their understanding and use of intellectual property rights with a view to promoting innovation and competitiveness in line with the European Commission's Lisbon goals.
MDGInfo 2007 http://www.devinfo.info/mdginfo2007
This database system is designed for the compilation and presentation of development indicators to support data users in their MDG monitoring. The MDG goals and targets are imbedded in the system linked to the 48 MDG indicators in a goal monitoring framework. MDGInfo has been adapted from DevInfo and presents the most up to date country-level statistics available as of August 2007 for the global monitoring of progress achieved towards the MDGs since 1990.
Resources for Improving Training Outcomes http://www.worldbank.org/ieg/training/
Visit this World Bank site for free resources for training providers and donors, providing guidelines on training design, participant selection, targeting of training content to organizational needs and monitoring and evaluation of training.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich http://www.smi.ethz.ch/
The chair focuses research and teaching in the fields of Strategic Management and Innovation. As an academic field, Strategic Management is concerned with the long-term competitiveness and performance of a corporation. It examines and explains why some corporations financially outperform its competitors.
The Centre for Knowledge, Innovation, Technology and Enterprise (KITE) http://www.ncl.ac.uk/kite/
KITE brings together Newcastle University’s extensive research capabilities on innovation management and enterprise, incorporating research on the social, economic, managerial,
organisational, and cultural aspects of information and communications technologies and their social consequences, and studies of the role of universities in society.
The QUICK Centre for microfinance in disaster surroundings http://www.quick-centre.or.id
This is a knowledge sharing platform for the practitioners of microfinance in disaster surroundings. A new knowledge centre and knowledge sharing platform on microfinance in disaster surroundings has been established for the practitioners' community. The QUICK Centre posts information on post-disaster microfinance support measures, microfinance as a disaster preparedness tool (incl. microinsurance), • and disaster management for microfinance institutions. It includes among others a project database, a library, a forum and links to related organizations.
TransMONEE database – Unicef Innocenti Research Centre http://www.unicef-irc.org/databases/transmonee/
The TransMONEE database is an annually updated database containing a wealth of general social and economic statistics and indicators of child well-being across the 27 countries of the CEE-CIS region, collected directly from the national statistical offices. The 2007 release of the TransMONEE 2007 is now available in English and Russian.
Whither EC Aid? Towards a New Approach For Assessing Development Cooperation http://weca-ecaid.eu
European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) and Actionaid launched this new project website.
Wikigender http://www.wikigender.org
On the occasion of International Women's Day, the OECD Development Centre launched a new interactive website to share and exchange information on gender equality issues.
February 2008
Vaccinate your business against bad times http://ec.europa.eu/.../self_assessment.cfm
You are an owner of a small or medium-sized enterprise or self-employed. You invest 15 minutes of your time. You gain a preventive screening of your business that might save you a lot of time and money in the future! This really is an official EC site.
Directory of Research Centres at International Poverty Centre http://www.undp-povertycentre.org/site/CentreSearch.do
The Directory currently covers 540 institutions doing research on poverty, inequality and development in 27 countries in Latin America and 200 institutions in 38 sub-Saharan African countries. This directory is an effort to strengthen links among research centres in developing countries and foster South-South Cooperation on poverty research and training.
Intute: Social Sciences http://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/
Intute: Social Sciences is the subject group of Intute that provides Web resources for education and research for the social sciences, including law, business, hospitality, sport and tourism. Intute: Social Sciences has been created by bringing together two of the Hubs of the Resource Discovery Network (RDN): Altis and SOSIG. In combining the resources and services of these two services, Intute: Social Sciences offers an easy to use and powerful tool for discovering the best Internet resources in this important range of subjects.
The Róbinson Rojas Archive - The political economy of development http://www.rrojasdatabank.org
Created and managed by Dr. Róbinson Rojas, this academic site promotes excellence in teaching and researching economics and sustainable development, and the advancing of describing, understanding, explaining and theorizing. This site also contains books, parts of books, papers, parts of papers, notes and lecture notes published and unpublished by R. Rojas, statistics and documents from international and national sources.
ENTWINED Research programme on Trade and Environment http://www.entwined.se
This project examines the role of private and governmental environmental policies under the trade regime from both a positive and a normative point of view. It focuses in particular on the treatment of trans-boundary problems. Its ultimate aim, first, is to identify areas where governmental and private environmental policies are able and where they are insufficient to address these problems. The second purpose of the project is to suggest alternative solutions to allow for better simultaneous achievement of environmental and other objectives of trade.
The Regoverning Markets programme http://www.regoverningmarkets.org
The overall aim of the Regoverning Markets programme is to provide strategic advice and guidance to the public sector, agri-food chain actors, civil society organizations including economic organizations of producers, and development agencies on approaches that can anticipate and manage the impacts of the dynamic changes in local and regional markets. This programme is supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), ICCO, Cordaid, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Other development partners and related programmes are also networked with this programme at international, regional and country levels.
African Presidential Archives and Research Center at Boston University (APARC) http://www.bu.edu/aparc
APARC has three core programs: the African Presidents in Residence Program, the Public Papers/Private Conversations Project, and the Annual African Leaders' State of Africa Report. The goal of the program is to give former democratically elected African leaders a way to offer their perspectives to the ongoing discussion of Africa's place in the global community. This website contains links to policy papers delivered by former democratically elected presidents of African countries; links to annual leadership workshops; and outreach.
Institute Of Peace, Leadership and Governance - Africa University, Zimbabwe http://www.africau.edu
The Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance (IPLG) was established at Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe, in 2003 to provide training, research and consultancy in peace, leadership and governance for students in Africa. IPLG`s work is guided by an International board chaired by Salim Ahmed Salim, former Secretary General of the OAU. The purpose of IPLG is to train participants to develop ways to prevent and resolve conflict and to sustain global peace.
Whither EC Aid http://weca-ecaid.eu
This ECDPM and ActionAid project aims to re-position the debate on monitoring the effectiveness of European Commission aid by seeking to open it up and bring in the views of a wide variety of stakeholders. You can find the latest information about the project and contribute directly to the debate.
Free and Affordable Distance Learning http://www.docnmail.com
You will find lots of resources on this site, many of them free of charge. Business Education, Money, Science, Careers, Professional, Life, Art/Entertainment, Fitness/Health, Fun and Games; these are some of the categories, and each one has many subtopics from which to choose. If you don't see your interest right away, be sure to browse all drop down navigation boxes to find the profession or vocation that you're interested in. There online tests and exams as well, to help you assess your baseline knowledge and give you an idea of the things you will be expected to know in any given field of work. Contributor: Cally Robyn Wolk
DATA - debt AIDS trade africa http://www.data.org
DATA is an advocacy organization dedicated to eradicating extreme poverty and AIDS in Africa. DATA argues that supporting Africa is essential to our economic and national security interests. However, at the core of DATA's beliefs is a view that these issues are not about charity, but about equality and justice.
January 2008
North-South Training, Research and Policy Network on Trade and Development http://www.acp-eu-trade.org/index.php?loc=nsn/
The NSN comprises universities and policy-oriented institutions from European and ACP countries. Its overall aim is to contribute to creating in ACP countries a cadre of professionals able to provide sound policy advice on trade and development matters, through the strengthening of linkages and interaction between the ACP and European training, research and policy communities in the area of development and trade.
The International Poverty Centre (IPC) http://www.undp-povertycentre.org
IPC is a joint project between the United Nations Development Programme and the Brazilian Government to promote South-South Cooperation on applied poverty research and training. It specializes in analyzing poverty and inequality and offering research-based policy recommendations on how to reduce them. IPC is directly linked to the Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea), which does research for the Brazilian Ministry of Strategic Planning, and the Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP.
The Internet Site for Economists http://www.inomics.com
Inomics is an Internet service especially tailored to the needs of economists. At this site you can find job openings for economists, conference announcements, a human-edited directory as well as a database of research papers in economics.
Informal Economy Resource Database http://www.ilo.org/dyn/dwresources/iebrowse.home
This database contains over 500 ILO entries directly or indirectly related to the informal economy and decent work. The database is searchable by country, keyword, ILO author unit and date. Each entry contains information about the resource, and usually includes a brief summary of the contents. In most cases the resources can be accessed electronically, in PDF format. Links are often provided to the relevant ILO website to enable the User to make further inquiries. As a database, this resource is a "living" and dynamic inventory which can be improved on at any time. Comments and/or suggestions are welcome at: iedintegration @ ilo.org
UN to Connect Rural Women Entrepreneurs through Online Knowledge Network http://kn4womencoop.org
This web-based network will make it possible for women entrepreneurs to learn from each other about business opportunities, market trends, and to market their products. Membership in the knowledge network is open to women’s cooperatives, women’s business associations, non-governmental organizations and policymakers. Topics include: business basics, building life skills for women’s empowerment, forming cooperative enterprises, marketing, making business plans, costing and pricing, building e-businesses, and online payment and delivery systems.
World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) http://www.woccu.org
This improved Web site this eerything you need to know about WOCCU's programs, international remittances, partnerships and credit union statistics in any given country is now available in one place in both English and Spanish. WOCCU’s Web site also offers an archive of valuable resources on best practices in credit union development.
55 Top Quality Products on one 640 Meg CD http://www.cd3wd.com
CD3WD is a 3rd World Development private-sector initiative, mastered by Software Developer Alex Weir. Major online and offline sections on Livestock, Training, Metalwork, Auto Mechanics, Wind, Solar, other Alternative Energies. You can browse and/or download the complete and latest version of CD3WD. Single Files are at http://sleekfreak.ath.cx:81/3wdev/cd3wd/index.htm
Alternative Channel Inc., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, http://www.alternativechannel.tv/achannel/articles/about.html
Alternative Channel is international, interactive, and deeply committed to the ideals of journalism in a brave new world of media. The place of citizen journalism in our lives is still being explored.
Global Hand http://www.globalhand.org
Global Hand is a matching service helping corporate/ community groups partner with NGOs: a non-profit brokerage facilitating public/ private partnership. Finding appropriate partners, in this context, can be difficult. The library has been set up to connect all parties in this sector with carefully chosen information searchable by location, need type and services, at both national and international levels.
WAND directories http://www.wand.com
The specificity of the WAND product and service categories allows more accurate search and classification than any other business directory platform on the Internet. The categories can be split off into industry segments to create vertical directories. Over 70,000 categories are available. The WAND business to business directory platform is built upon the WAND Product and Service Taxonomy providing a sophisticated underlying structure for categorizing and searching company data by the specific product or service which a company is able to provide. Custom branded Powered by WAND directories have been in use on the Internet by major yellow pages publishers, trade associations, and government agencies since 1996.
Read our free monthly Newsletter for new summary of info that development professionals find useful and relevant for economic and social development. It covers politics, training events, publications, Weblinks and support services. You can also search the archives here.
Print |
PDF
