2005
This monthly Newsletter brings you news for international co-operation professionals on economic and social development. Free of charge if you recommend it to other colleagues. Edited by Karsten Karsten Weitzenegger Consulting, http://www.weitzenegger.de
CONTENT
- Commission for Africa Report highlights steps to increase FDI
- UK rethinks aid conditionality
- Blue Book on building inclusive financial sectors for development
- Global Employment Trends: ILO Brief 2005
- European Summit recognises role of Chambers in EU
- EU to modify rules of origin for trade preference schemes
- Publications
- Training and Events
- Websites
1. Commission for Africa Report highlights steps to increase FDI
The UK Commission for Africa Report (http://www.commissionforafrica.org) presents a
number recommendations as an agenda for progress concerning debt, aid, trade and HIV
and Aids in Africa. The actions proposed by the Commission constitute a coherent
package for Africa. The problems they address are interlocking. They are vicious
circles which reinforce one another and must be tackled together.
The Commission has proposed the establishment of an Investment Climate Facility, which
would require US$550 million from donors and the private sector over seven years, for
the purpose of identifying and overcoming obstacles to doing business in the region.
The Report also calls for support of a investment guarantee fund proposed by MIGA
(http://www.miga.org) to insure foreign and domestic investors in post-conflict
countries in Africa. Finally, the report emphasizes the importance of public-private
partnerships in infrastructure, a priority area for private and donor funding.
Going for Growth and Poverty Reduction: the public and private sectors need to work
together to create a climate which unleashes the entrepreneurship of the peoples of
Africa, generates employment and encourages individuals and firms, domestic and
foreign, to invest. Changes in governance are needed to make the investment climate
stronger. The developed world must support the African Union's NEPAD programme to
build public/private partnerships in order to create a stronger climate for growth,
investment and jobs.
More Trade and Fairer Trade: Internally Africa must improve its transport
infrastructure to make goods cheaper to move. It must reduce and simplify the tariff
systems between one African country and another. But the rich nations must also
dismantle the barriers they have erected against African goods, particularly in
agriculture. Careful attention must be given to ensure that the poorest people are
helped to take advantage of the new opportunities and to cope with the impacts of a
more open system of world trade.
Resources: the Commission calls for an additional 25 billion USD per year in aid, to
be implemented by 2010. Practical proposals should be developed for innovative
financing methods such as international levies on aviation, which can help secure
funding for the medium and longer term.
Trade section of the UK 'Commission for Africa' report
http://213.225.140.43/english/report/thereport/15chap8.pdf
Full text of the 'Commission for Africa' report
http://www.commissionforafrica.org/english/report/thereport/cfafullreport.pdf
Executive summary of the 'Commission for Africa' report
http://www.commissionforafrica.org/english/report/thereport/06executivesum.pdf
2. UK rethinks aid conditionality
In 'Partnerships for poverty reduction', DFID explains why the UK will no longer
impose policies on developing countries as a condition of aid, but instead use a much
more supportive approach. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/conditionality.pdf
3. Questionnaire: Blue Book on building inclusive financial sectors for development
You are invited to contribute your experience and expertise in a global consultation
process launched by The UNCDF and the Financing for Development Office of the United
Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs to identify the constraints and
opportunities imbedded in giving equitable access to financial services to the
millions of bankable people currently unbanked worldwide. By completing this
questionnaire http://www.uncdf.org/bluebook/register.php , you will be participating
along with invited national governments, central banks and other financial institution
supervisory bodies, multilateral institutions, civil society, the private sector and
stakeholders in the microfinance industry in a consultative process that will lead to
the publication of the ''Blue Book on Building Inclusive Financial Sectors''. The
online questionnaire will be open for contribution until Friday April 29th 2005.
http://www.uncdf.org/bluebook/
4. Global Employment Trends: ILO Brief 2005
This ILO Brief focuses on increasing employment and poverty alleviation, and improving
the conditions of work in the global economy. The report finds that the global
employment situation improved slightly in 2004, and that this is only the second time
in the past decade that there was a year-over-year decline in total unemployment.
However, of the over 2.8 billion workers in the world, nearly half still do not earn
enough to lift themselves and their families above the US$2 a day poverty line. The
benefits of globalisation must be more evenly distributed through broader consensus on
issues regarding core labour standards. Active labour market policies, including skill
development, should be strengthened to better prepare workers for the future job
market. Improvements must be made in the conditions of work in the informal economy
through the formalising process, but it must also maintain its potential to create
jobs. Such a strategy should initially entail improving rights, providing social
protection, and allowing the organisation and representation of workers. Youth need to
be provided with training and skills, and also decent employment opportunities early
in their work- life. The wide gap between the unemployment rates of young men and
women must be addressed. Tackling youth unemployment requires both an integrated and
targeted approach to understand the diverse characteristics of young people as much as
the diversity of the labour markets in each economy. (ELDIS)
http://www.eldis.org/cf/rdr/rdr.cfm?doc=DOC17747
5. European Summit recognises role of Chambers in EU
On 22-23 March 2005 European heads of government met at a European Summit in Brussels.
While the Summit lacked the pure economic focus that is needed - see also the articles
below - it was a big step forward for the recognition of Chambers. For the first time
ever, Chambers of Commerce are explicitly listed in the Summit conclusions: Chapter II
''Relaunching the Lisbon Strategy: a partnership for growth and employment''
underlines the key role which small and medium-sized enterprises play and commits the
Member States to identifying measures required to cut red tape, introduce one-stop
contact points and provide access to finance and accompanying services. In order to
make the best use of support networks for SMEs, the Commission and Member States shall
cooperate with and involve ''Chambers of Commerce''. http://www.eurochambres.be
6. EU to modify rules of origin for trade preference schemes
The EC has adopted a plan to develop a new, simplified set of rules of origin for its
trade preference schemes, particularly the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).
'Rules of origin' are a set of requirements that govern whether goods are eligible for
the lower rates of customs duty offered under a particular preferential trade
arrangement. The new plan, which was adopted on 16 March, asks EU members to revise
and simplify the conditions for a product to be considered as originating in a
particular country, to modify customs procedures to facilitate exporters' use of
preferential market access, and to develop instruments to ensure that preference
beneficiaries comply with their obligations. Improving developing countries' access to
rich-country markets is to ''inspire'' the process, according to the document
outlining the new plan. (BRIDGES Weekly Trade News Digest). The EC 'Communication' on
the future rules of origin in preferential trade arrangements is available at
http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2005/com2005_0100en01.pdf
7. Publications
Local ownership, co-ownership and capacity-building in aid projects: the findings of a
comparative study.
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/mdg/rc/filedownload.do~itemId=1032846
This paper analyses the relation between local ownership in a selection of Swedish aid
projects and the manner in which aid is provided. It addresses analytical problems of
defining ownership for organizations and methodological problems in the empirical
investigation. Key findings of the study are firstly that local ownership cannot be
created by other parties, but can be enhanced and facilitated.
Europe must send a strong signal to the developing world
http://www.trialog.or.at/docs/final_base_document_march05.pdf
The Policy Working Group of CONCORD (Task force on the Development Policy Statement)
issued the position paper ''Review of the EU development policy statement: Europe must
send a strong positive signal to the developing world''. The document is the CONCORD
contribution to the electronic consultation on the future of the EC development policy
(conducted by the EC between January 18 and March 19, 2005). It questions that an
internet consultation is the appropriate way to discuss the future of development
policy and urges all actors involved to start serious debate on the future development
statement in governments, parliaments and civil society constituencies. The policy
paper is intended to serve as a first general CONCORD position on the important issues
at stake.
A Manual for Evaluating the Impact of Targeted Poverty Reduction Programmes
http://www.unescap.org/publications/detail.asp?id=938
The Poverty and Development Division of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific (UNESCAP) has prepared a manual for evaluating the impact of targeted
poverty reduction programmes at local level and build capacities of local-level
officials of government and NGOs for undertaking this task.
OECD Factbook 2005: Economic, environmental and social statistics
http://www.oecd.org/document/11/0,2340,en_2649_201185_34572299_1_1_1_1,00.html
Data relating to 100 major indicators are available in this annual digest of economic,
environmental and social statistics covering the OECD's 30 member nations. The data -
available in book form and online - are accompanied by explanatory analysis and
charts. Coverage is provided in the following areas: Population and migration;
Macroeconomic trends; Economic globalisationl Prices; Labour market; Science and
technology (including information technology); Energy; Environment; Education; Public
policies; and Quality of life.
New directions in impact assessment for development: Methods and practice
http://www.enterprise-impact.org.uk/conference/index.shtml
This Conference was held in Manchester, UK, 24 - 25 November 2003. The conference
website links to the papers presented, and to summaries of breakout sessions.
Impact evaluations when time and money are limited
http://www.enterprise-impact.org.uk/feature/index.shtml
EDIAIS has two new feature documents - ''Impact Evaluations When Time and Money are
Limited'' by Michael Bamberger and ''Shoestring Evaluation: Designing Impact
Evaluations under Budget, Time and Data Constraints'' by Michael Bamberger, Jim Rugh,
Mary Church and Lucia Fort.
Joint World Bank and IMF Report on PRSP - Progress in implementation 2005 review
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPRS1/Resources/PRSP-Review/2005prsreview_conceptnote.pdf
Concept note of the Joint World Bank and IMF report on PRSP. The review will be part
of the presentation to the board of directors for the forthcoming (2005) annual meeting.
Private sector development in the context of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers
http://www.gersterconsulting.ch/docs/PRSP_Private_Sector.pdf
Second generation PRSPs are coming up. Despite the broadly shared view that economic
growth matters for poverty reduction, many interactions between economic policies and
poverty are still not well known.
Hamburg's Initiative for Business Start-ups and Innovation
http://www.weitzenegger.de/new/hei.pdf
This paper by Karsten Weitzenegger analyses the City of Hamburg's Initiative for
Business Start-ups. It was designed as public-private-partnership to strengthen the
demand of BDS by a training voucher system. Public funds were used to stimulate the
demand and at the same time to strengthen the networking of suppliers. The large
number of existing providers was oriented more towards business starters. The local
government did not ''crowd out'' the providers, but took the lead in developing a
network in a market-friendly approach. For the donor the system is an efficient and
effective way to reach the beneficiaries without maintaining a costly institution. The
intervention was designed to be small, but permanent. The experience could be used in
designing local economic development activities.
Private sector participation in health
http://www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de/EN/Fachinformationen/Healthcare13/Private_Sector_Study.pdf
This document is a review of demand and supply side mechanisms for engaging with the
private sector. The document points to a set of approaches in regards to
public/private sector schemes, and the provisions of health services and commodities
to the poor. A review of evidence draws upon case studies of the impacts of private
sector interventions and pro-poor programming toward health systems with supply side
and demand side mechanisms. The study was instituted by the KfW Entwicklungsbank.
Involving the community: A guide to participatory development communication
http://web.idrc.ca/openebooks/066-7/
This guide by Guy Bessette (Southbound/IDRC 2004) is intended for people working in
research and development. It introduces participatory development communication
concepts, discusses the effective two-way communication approaches, and presents a
methodology to plan, develop, and evaluate communication strategies to address the
following questions: How can researchers and practitioners improve communication with
local communities and other stakeholders? How can researchers, community members, and
development practitioners improve their ability to effectively reach policymakers and
promote change?
Chinese Competitiveness: Where Does The Nation Stand?
http://www.isc.hbs.edu/pdf/CAON_China_2004.06.18.pdf
This is a presentation on national competitiveness by Prof. Michael Porter of Harvard
Business School.
Transparency International's Global Corruption Report 2005
http://globalcorruptionreport.org
Transparency International s Global Corruption Report 2005 shows how corruption in the
construction sector undermines economic development, and threatens to hamstring
post-conflict reconstruction in Iraq and beyond. To mark the publication of the Global
Corruption
Eradicating poverty through profit: WRI conference summaries
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/special/foreigninvestment?intcmp=800
Session summaries from the World Resources Institute's ''Eradicating Poverty Through
Profit'' conference have also been added to this Development Gateway Special Report.
These include Consumer Products, Partnering Strategies, The Policy Dimension,
Asset-Building Among the Poor, Effective Strategies in the US and Developing World
Markets, and Capital Investment.
The Central Role of Entrepreneurs in Transition Economies
http://www.cefe.net/forum/Entrepreneurs-in-transition.pdf
In China, new firms were drivers of reform. The other ex-communist economies had
similar experiences. They strengthened the budding market economy by creating jobs,
supplying consumer goods, mobilizing savings and ending the state firms' monopoly. As
in China, also, the reformers usually did not anticipate the force of entry. Paper by
by John McMillan and Christopher Woodruff. (CEFE-Newsletter)
Trade Negotiations Insights
http://www.acp-eu-trade.org/tni.html
A joint ECDPM-ICTSD two-monthly publication on the major issues faced by African and
ACP countries in their international trade negotiations at the WTO and with the EU in
the context of the Cotonou Agreement.
Developing smallholder agriculture
http://www.smallholderagriculture.com
Developing Smallholder Agriculture is thus a very practical book by Richard L.
Tinsley. It promotes looking beyond technology and development. Dissemination
concentrates on the supporting services that smallholders need to enable them to
enhance their crop management. It emphasizes the importance of village-level, private
micro-enterprises as a cost-effective means of assisting smallholders, and questions
the potential of governments and public sector institutions in providing these support
services.
8. Training and Events
AGEG-Seminar: Crisis prevention, conflict resolution, peace promotion
http://www.ageg.de/news-events/news-events.html
Kirchheim, Germany, 14-16 April 2005 The German Association of Development Consultants
AGEG invites for a news seminar in German language about crisis prevention, conflict
resolution, and peace promotion. The facilitator is Inge Remmert-Fontes, a long-term
consultant and mediator, member of the board of the competence centre peace promotion
in Berne. Contact Ms. Simona Scheibitz, s.scheibitz @ ageg.de, Tel +49 7021 9708721.
Study Tour on German Experiences for International LED Experts
24.04.-06.05.2005 / Germany
http://www.led-tour.de
The project activities of InWEnt and GTZ have shown that there is considerable demand
in numerous developing countries for practical examples of successful Local and
Regional Economic Development (LRED) initiatives. Conversely, many cities and regions
in Germany have gained valuable experience over the years in the development and
implementation of measures to promote local and regional economic development. To
support a practice-oriented transfer of knowledge between selected regions in Germany
and Eastern European and developing countries, InWEnt has started to develop a number
of ''exposure programmes'' focussing on different aspects of local and regional
economic development. These programmes are intended for promoters of local and
regional economic development. The group excursion consists of a travel program to two
selected regions of Germany and accompanying workshops in which experience is assessed
and the concepts and measures that have been introduced can be examined and modified
in terms of their adaptability to the target countries.
Summer Academy on OSCE
http://www.hrea.org/erc/Calendar/display.php?doc_id=2510
26 June-9 July 2005, Stadtschlaining, Austria, Level: graduate, professional.
Focus: The courses and special events of this summer academy are designed to provide
diplomats who are going to work with OSCE delegations and institutions, and other
individuals (scholars, NGOrepresentatives, etc.) intending to work in the areas of
fact-finding, human-rights, election monitoring, peaceful settlement of disputes, and
other types of international diplomatic and civilian mission Location: Stadtschlaining
(Austria) Deadline of application: 14 May 2005 Organisation: Austrian Study Center for
Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR)
The Role of Banks, Financial and Economic Institutions in Promotion and Financing the SME
http://www.aabfs.org/EB/Conf/Enhome.asp
29.-31.05.2005 / Amman, Jordan
Facilitating the Flow of Funds to SMEs, The Arab Academy for Banking and Financial
Sciences.
Determination of the role of various organizations (banks, financial and economic
institutions) in SME support, at both Arab and global levels, and empowering SME to
participate actively in balanced economic development in all sectors.
Summer Academy on Local Economic Development
http://www.mesopartner.com/summer-academy/
27 June to 8 July 2005, Ruhr valley, Germany
Mesopartner observed that there is a variety of courses available that offer an
introductory training to LED, yet there seem to be no training formats available for
practitioners with experience in the field. The Summer Academy shall fill this niche
by presenting effective ways to address the key challenges in local economic
development; offering you an opportunity to share the know-how of leading specialists
in the field; and inviting professionals to exchange experience with other colleagues
working in this field.
11th EADI General Conference
http://www.eadi.org/edc2010.
From 21-24 September 2005 EADI is organising the 11th EADI General Conference in Bonn
with the main theme: Insecurity and development: Regional issues and polices for an
independent world. During the conference, one day, Friday 23 September 2005, will be
devoted to the EDC2010 programme.
Organizations as learning systems, Asia
http://www.od-asia.com
Further training program for national and international development practitioners in
Bangkok, Thailand, 2005 - 2006.
The program provides basic knowledge and skills in major content fields of OD.
Participants will use various tools of OD interventions. To put knowledge and skills
into practice, they are requested to identify, implement, document and present their
own OD project in their own working environment. In doing so, they are supported by
coaching and supervision. The course is conducted by experienced OD practitioners and
trainers. Contact: Ms. Orathai Hofmann, odasia @ asianet.co.th
Support to local government and decentralisation. Strategies and tools
http://www2.gtz.de/snrd/downloads/SNRD_DECENTRAL_Training05.doc
Maseru, Lesotho, 29 May - 5 June 2005
Registration: GTZ-SNRD Africa, Hatfield, Pretoria, SA, Tel: ++27-(0)12-3423537, Fax:
++27-(0)12-3423510, elmo @ gtzpsdp.co.za
Microenterprise and Development Institute Courses
13.06.-01.07.2005 / Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
http://www.snhu.edu/MDI
SID/ EDC2010 International Conference Europe and the South: A New Era.
European Development Cooperation: towards policy renewal and a new commitment.
http://www.euforic.org/sid-europe
This report is the outcome of the SID/ EDC2010 conference held in September 2004 in
The Hague. As an outcome of the conference an 'Agenda for Action' was drawn up. The
Agenda is foremost an appeal to the parliaments, researchers and to segments of the
civil society, amongst them the business community to adapt international cooperation,
and more especially European development cooperation as a real issue of the 21st
century. For any enquires regarding the report, the Agenda for Action or the future
activities of the SID European Programme please look at the Website or contact Gordana
Stankovic g.stankovic.sid @ socires.nl , tel: + 31 70 338 3285. To order a hard copy of
the report please send an e-mail to Gordana Stankovic.
Learning the Business of Microfinance
http://www.uncdf.org/english/microfinance/MFcourse.php
A CD ROM-based Microfinance Distance Learning Course.
This distance learning course intended to make basic knowledge of microfinance
accessible around the globe is now available from the United Nations Capital
Development Fund's Special Unit for Microfinance. The course explores why and how
microfinance operations grow to provide financial services to poor and low-income
people on a sustainable basis. The course was designed for working professionals who
need to balance the demands of the job with new learning experiences. The course
retails to the public for US $49.95. A Guided Tour CD-ROM that provides sample course
material is available free of charge through UNCDF by contacting
distancelearning @ uncdf.org or Fax (+1 212) 906-6479.
WTO and the Netherlands launch new trainee programme for LDCs
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres05_e/pr400_e.htm
The WTO and the Kingdom of the Netherlands launched, on 24 March 2005, a new Trainee
Programme for LDCs and other low income, and small and vulnerable, economies. The
objective is to give the officials from such countries the opportunity to learn, while
working for the WTO, about trade and development related matters and to develop their
knowledge of trade policy. More on technical assistance:
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/teccop_e/tct_e.htm
devtrain online - EADI Training Database
http://www.eadi.org/devtrain
The EADI Training Database allows you to search for post- and undergraduate programmes
and training courses with a focus on development issues from 28 European countries.
Details are provided on the programme's objectives and themes, its location and costs,
plus full contact details and links to the associated organisation.
BOND training ads
http://www.bond.org.uk/classifieds/training.html
BOND is the network of more than 280 UK based voluntary organisations working in
international development and development education. The Classifieds section of the
website is updated every few days, and includes training.
9. Websites
GRC Exchange about governance in development
http://www.grc-exchange.org
The Governance Resource Centre (GRC) is an information service designed to meet the
growing demand for governance advice and expertise within DFID. Hosted by the
Governance Resource Centre (GRC) of the UK Department for International Development
(DFID), and compiled by leading international experts, the GRC Exchange provides a
focal point for sharing ideas in governance. It provides a range of tailored, high
quality information services to support the implementation of DFID's Governance Target
Strategy Paper, 'Making Governments Work for Poor People' (2001). These services are
available to DFID through an intranet style website.
Innovation Funders Network (IFN)
http://www.innovationfunders.org
IFN is a network of funders who seek to strengthen nonprofits and improve the lives of
communities and people worldwide through the innovative use of information and
communication technology.
ACP-EU cooperation: Are you getting regular updates and news?
http://www.dgroups.org/groups/cool
More than 50 weekly updates, including news, press clippings, links, official reports
from EC meetings - - and documentation not available anywhere else. Topics ranging
from EU budget to Common Security Policy and Non-state actors. Simple yet intuitive
design, tailored for access in the South. Service that everyone is praising and
talking about! Keeping you in the ACP-EU loop!
Phil Bradley's Finding Information
http://www.philb.com/whichengine.htm
Phil Bradley's Finding Information not only has some recent additions to the search
engine universe, it also tells you in plain English exactly how to use them. This site
helps you to define what you need (''I want an overview of a subject,'' ''I want to
see thumbnails of pages before visiting them,'' ''I need access to academic
resources,'' etc.). And it has dozens of search engines here, including several I
never knew about. (FITA)
Tutorials Directory
http://www.tutorialsdirectory.com
Tutorials Directory is a listing of some of sites for self-learners, although limited
to computer topics. Here you'll find tutorials on things like operating systems, Web
design, Microsoft Office, computer graphics, Internet marketing, and programming.
These links will help you to find solutions to the computer problems that cause you to
lose sleep, grumble at your spouse, and kick the dog. (FITA)
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