ODI Publications capture the latest critical thinking on development issues.

Our series range from short ODI Opinions by our experts on cutting edge topics, to Working Papers that present preliminary research results, and Briefing Papers or Natural Resource Perspectives that provide concise, policy-relevant research analysis.

Political Science? Strengthening science–policy dialogue in developing countries  Nicola Jones, Harry Jones and Cora Walsh. ODI Publications - Working Paper  294, August 2008.
This study provides a multi-layered analysis of the science–policy interface in developing countries. The findings confirm the need to tackle systemic barriers to institutionalising evidence-informed policy processes in the field of science, technology and innovation for development. They also shed light on ways in which the quality of policy dialogues on science and technology could be strengthened in order to enhance their value for pro-poor sustainable development policy and practice.

A 'new' approach to global value chain analysis  Jodie Keane. ODI Publications - Working Paper  293, August 2008.
This paper argues that current approaches to global value chain analysis in agricultural trade do not tell the full story and that a new approach may be needed.

Assessing international democracy assistance: Key lessons and challenges  Lise Rakner, Alina Rocha Menocal and Verena Fritz. ODI Publications - Project Briefing  14, August 2008.
This Project Briefing summarises the key findings of a study on international democracy assistance by ODI and the Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI). It finds that the relationship between democratisation and ‘good governance’ can be complex, with the two at times pulling in opposite directions, and calls for greater recognition of the tensions between long-term processes of democracy and the need for quick results.

Making trade policy in Latin America more pro-poor: Is greater participation the answer?  Alina Rocha Menocal. ODI Publications - Opinion  106, August 2008.
In this Opinion, Alina Rocha Menocal argues that the challenge for interested stakeholders in influencing trade policy-making to make trade work better for the poor lies in determining the right balance between necessary autonomy, and dialogue and openness.

Practical approaches to transboundary water benefit sharing  Halla Qaddumi. ODI Publications - Working Paper  292, July 2008.
This paper considers practical mechanisms for moving towards an operationalisation of benefit sharing with regard to water resources. The focus is on steps for putting the concept into practice and the point of departure is lessons learned from existing cooperative efforts.

Supporting networks: Ten principles  Enrique Mendizabal . ODI Publications - Opinion  105, July 2008.
Why should donors support networks and why should the various actors of the development world join them? What should we look for when developing mechanisms or programmes to support networks?

Aid effectiveness after Accra  David Booth. ODI Publications - Briefing Paper  39, July 2008.
This Briefing Paper by David Booth examines aid effectiveness and the impact of the Paris Principles in the run-up to the Third High Level Forum, in Accra in September 2008.

Doing development in a downturn  Simon Maxwell. ODI Publications - Opinion  104, July 2008.
2008 is a critical year for the MDGs, but political support could be undermined by the domestic pressures of food and fuel prices, and the credit crunch. ODI Director Simon Maxwell argues for new messages to show that aid makes a difference, and that what

A new donor approach to fragile societies: The case of Somaliland  Timothy Othieno. ODI Publications - Opinion  103, July 2008.
Timothy Othieno examines the case of Somaliland as a good example of how a fragile society can become an effective state through the participation of its own citizens. Somaliland is unique in that, unlike southern Somalia, it has restored law and order an

Rising food prices: Cause for concern  Steve Wiggins and Stephanie Levy. ODI Specialist Series - Natural Resource Perspective  115, July 2008.
The current spike in food prices needs prompt reaction through various forms of social protection to avert hunger.

ODI Annual Report 2008  ODI. ODI Publications - Annual Report, July 2008.
The ODI Annual Report 2008 captures a remarkable year for the Institute.

Development Policy Review vol. 26, no. 4  Various authors. ODI Journals - Development Policy Review, July 2008.
Amongst other themes, articles in the latest issue explore the complementarity of human rights and economics, and the new aid paradigm of economic growth, good governance and social development.

How effective is European Commission aid on the ground?  Alina Rocha Menocal. ODI Publications - Project Briefing  13, June 2008.
This Project Briefing discusses the findings of ODI research on the impact of EC aid on the ground in Cambodia, Mozambique, and Peru. It finds that the quality of EC aid seems to be improving in important respects but progress remains slow, pointing to persistent challenges that limit the effectiveness of EC aid.

A misguided quest: Community-based tourism in Latin America  Jonathan Mitchell and Pamela Muckosy. ODI Publications - Opinion  102, June 2008.
Tourism can help reduce poverty in Latin America, but community-based tourism is not the answer. Instead, communities should be helped to access mainstream tourism markets.

What happens after trade agreements?  Sheila Page. ODI Publications - Project Briefing  12, June 2008.
Evidence from Latin America suggests that introducing complementary policies, both directly and indirectly related to trade, may make the crucial difference in generating development benefits for the poor.

Doing the right thing approximately not the wrong thing precisely: Challenges of monitoring impacts of pro-poor interventions in tourism value chains  Caroline Ashley and Jonathan Mitchell. ODI Publications - Working Paper  291, June 2008.
The IFC, SNV, ODI and other organisations are addressing the challenging question of how to scale up impacts of tourism (and their interventions) on poor people. They are increasingly adopting a 'value chain' (VC) approach, seeking to intervene at key points in the tourism value chain that can significantly expand income and opportunities for the poor, while working effectively within a highly commercial and sophisticated service sector.

Disasters vol. 32, no. 2  Various authors. ODI Journals - Disasters, June 2008.
Articles in the latest issue examine household response to drought in Kenya, collaborative emergency management and more.

Where next for TICAD: Building lasting partnerships  Fletcher Tembo. ODI Publications - Background Note, May 2008.
This background note considers the potential impacts of the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development and Japan’s influence on the development agenda in 2008.

Donor support to private sector development in sub-Saharan Africa  Kiyoto Kurokawa, Fletcher Tembo and Dirk Willem te Velde. ODI Publications - Working Paper  290, May 2008.
This study examines how one type of Japanese support, the one-village one-product (OVOP) approach, fits with other donor approaches and how it relates to the development of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). It also presents some preliminary findings from Malawi’s experience of OVOP.

Policy briefs as a communication tool for development research  Nicola Jones and Cora Walsh. ODI Publications - Background Note, May 2008.
This background note highlights the barriers to, and opportunities for, strengthening communication between researchers, knowledge brokers and policy-makers working in international development, and the key requisites of policy briefs to meet the challenges of this landscape.