Opinions - ODI Publications - Resources from the Overseas Development Institute

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ODI Opinions are signed pieces by ODI researchers on current development and humanitarian topics.

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Is the global food system broken?
ODI Publications - Opinion 113, October 2008

Author(s) : Steve WigginsSummary/abstract:

This Opinion argues for the rebuilding of global food stocks in the medium term to avert food price crises in the future.

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Recent bilateral initiatives for climate financing: are they moving in the right direction?
ODI Publications - Opinion 112, September 2008

Author(s) : Neil Bird and Leo PeskettSummary/abstract:

This Opinion argues that the haste to create new funding mechanisms for climate change programmes may be at the expense of conceptual thinking on how the funds should be delivered. Providing more of the same will not do.

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The MDGs and the humanitarian-development divide
ODI Publications - Opinion 111, September 2008

Author(s) : James DarcySummary/abstract:

This Opinion examines the divide between the humanitarian and development agendas, pointing out that the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 will be a hollow victory if those who are worst off – including many of those living in fragile states – see little or no improvement in their living conditions.

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MDGs and the environment: Are environmental institutions 'fit for purpose'?
ODI Publications - Opinion 110, September 2008

Author(s) : Neil BirdSummary/abstract:

Progress on Millennium Development Goal 7 -- environmental sustainability -- requires a greater focus on the efficiency and effectiveness of environmental institutions.

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Sanitation and the MDGs: Making the politics work
ODI Publications - Opinion 109, September 2008

Author(s) : Peter NewborneSummary/abstract:

The world is not on track to reach the MDG sanitation target of halving the proportion of people without access to improved sanitation by the year 2015. Recent research suggests that the problem lies in failures in sanitation policy-making.

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Inspiring action to reduce poverty
ODI Publications - Opinion 108, September 2008

Author(s) : Simon MaxwellSummary/abstract:

This Opinion, drawn from the overview of the ODI Annual Report 2008, sets out the ODI priorities and concerns over the past year, and its future agenda.

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Relations between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean: The partnership phase
ODI Publications - Opinion 107, September 2008

Author(s) : Enrique Mendizabal and Guy EdwardsSummary/abstract:

Latin American trade ofers not only a favourable climate for European investment, but also a timely political opportunity for the European Union.

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Making trade policy in Latin America more pro-poor: Is greater participation the answer?
ODI Publications - Opinion 106, August 2008

Author(s) : Alina Rocha MenocalSummary/abstract:

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.

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Supporting networks: Ten principles
ODI Publications - Opinion 105, July 2008

Author(s) : Enrique Mendizabal Summary/abstract:

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?

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Doing development in a downturn
ODI Publications - Opinion 104, July 2008

Author(s) : Simon MaxwellSummary/abstract:

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

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A new donor approach to fragile societies: The case of Somaliland
ODI Publications - Opinion 103, July 2008

Author(s) : Timothy OthienoSummary/abstract:

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

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A misguided quest: Community-based tourism in Latin America
ODI Publications - Opinion 102, June 2008

Author(s) : Jonathan Mitchell and Pamela MuckosySummary/abstract:

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.

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Measuring the impact of business on development
ODI Publications - Opinion 101, April 2008

Author(s) : Caroline AshleySummary/abstract:

More work is needed to find ways to measure the development impact of doing better business. The best examples of business impact on development use corporate investment as a springboard for local enterprise.

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Is CSR just Corporates Saying the Right things?
ODI Publications - Opinion 100, April 2008

Author(s) : Karen EllisSummary/abstract:

The best way to improve business development impact is to create mechanisms that reward businesses financially for increasing their contribution to development. This Opinion restates ODI's call for a 'Good for Development' label for companies that make a

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Stepping up the ladder: how business can help achieve the MDGs
ODI Publications - Opinion 99, April 2008

Author(s) : Simon MaxwellSummary/abstract:

Business and development is the topic to watch and work on in 2008. This Opinion outlines the three -- possibly four -- steps to effective engagement of the private sector in efforts to reach the MDGs. It calls for action to seize growing opportunities to

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Migration restrictions and the 'brain drain': The wrong response to an ill-defined problem
ODI Publications - Opinion 98, April 2008

Author(s) : Massimiliano CaliSummary/abstract:

This opinion questions whether migration restrictions are the wrong response to an ill-defined problem: the brain drain.

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Mitigating climate change: what impact on the poor?
ODI Publications - Opinion 97, April 2008

Author(s) : Martin Prowse and Leo PeskettSummary/abstract:

The impact of climate change is of vital importance. But, for the world’s poor, policies to mitigate climate change may, in the short term, have as much impact as climate change itself.

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Global social justice as a new focus for development policy?
ODI Publications - Opinion 96, March 2008

Author(s) : Simon MaxwellSummary/abstract:

Concern for social justice is an important driver of progressive development policy.

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How to achieve growth: The million dollar question
ODI Publications - Opinion 95, February 2008

Author(s) : Karen EllisSummary/abstract:

We know the conditions that are conducive to growth, but that does not mean that achieving high and sustained rates of growth is easy - only a few countries have succeeded.

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A planetary petroleum 'windfall' fund for carbon abatement technologies
ODI Publications - Opinion 94, January 2008

Author(s) : Michael WarnerSummary/abstract:

'A 1% levy on global wholesale oil and gas sales could generate US$160 billion over the next five years for research into carbon abatement technologies.'

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How do development and foreign policy connect?
ODI Publications - Opinion 93, December 2007

Author(s) : Simon MaxwellSummary/abstract:

'For a long time, the development aid community has worked to ring-fence aid and ensure that it is used specifically for 'poverty reduction'. Historically, this has its roots in the often well-founded fear that 'they' would use 'our' money to further geo-strategic political or commercial interests that could only loosely be described as developmental. But what if 'we' and 'they' were actually on the same side? Would it make sense to reconsider the acute ring-fencing that currently prevails?'

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Understanding the political economy of climate change is vital to tackling it
ODI Publications - Opinion 92, December 2007

Author(s) : Diana CammackSummary/abstract:

'Discussion about how to address climate change at local levels is often devoid of politics.'

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Realising gender in agricultural policies: The fight for equality is not over
ODI Publications - Opinion 91, December 2007

Author(s) : Rebecca Holmes and Rachel SlaterSummary/abstract:

'addressing the barriers that women face ... will increase efficiency and productivity in the agricultural sector.'

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Budget reform at sector level: All bark and no bite?
ODI Publications - Opinion 90, November 2007

Author(s) : Zainab Kizilbash AghaSummary/abstract:

'Existing approaches to budget reform at sector level are too concerned with cosmetic changes to budget processes.'

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Reform in public financial management when the politics aren't right: A proposal
ODI Publications - Opinion 89, November 2007

Author(s) : Edward Hedger and Zainab Kizilbash AghaSummary/abstract:

'Identifying the conditions that favour successful PFM reform is a good start, but we need to understand the possibilities when not all of these conditions are present.'

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Is the time ripe for a 'Good for development' product label?
ODI Publications - Opinion 88, October 2007

Author(s) : Karen Ellis and Michael WarnerSummary/abstract:

'The Fairtrade labeling scheme represents a very narrow definition of what is good for development, and concerns about food miles may jeopardise exports for over a million poor farmers. How can consumers be given better information about the broad development impacts of their purchases?'

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Making contract farming work with co-operatives
ODI Publications - Opinion 87, October 2007

Author(s) : Martin ProwseSummary/abstract:

'A greater focus on strengthening market-orientated producer organisations and dispute-resolution mechanisms between farmers and firms may increase the chances of win-win outcomes from this form of institutional innovation.'

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Funding agriculture: Not 'how much?' but 'what for?'
ODI Publications - Opinion 86, October 2007

Author(s) : Lídia CabralSummary/abstract:

'Before calling for an increase in the volume of funding to agriculture, we need a better understanding of how resources are being used.'

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The first Millennium Development Goal, agriculture and climate change
ODI Publications - Opinion 85, October 2007

Author(s) : Martin Prowse and Tim Braunholtz-SpeightSummary/abstract:

Do the physical impacts of climate change affect the prospects for achieving the first target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to halve world poverty?

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Ten steps to a new development agenda
ODI Publications - Opinion 84, July 2007

Author(s) : Simon MaxwellSummary/abstract:

'The poverty reduction paradigm has been a powerful driver, but the agenda is changing… An analogy I have drawn is with a visit to a game park. All eyes and lenses are focused on the lioness and her cubs on one side of the car. Meanwhile, on the other, unnoticed, a large bull elephant advances…'

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De Rato’s summer to do list
ODI Publications - Opinion 83, July 2007

Author(s) : Lauren PhillipsSummary/abstract:

'De Rato's resignation may provide new impetus for finishing a deal on IMF representation quickly rather than undermine the process'

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Is financial liberalisation enough to promote financial inclusion?
ODI Publications - Opinion 82, July 2007

Author(s) : Karen EllisSummary/abstract:

'Is financial liberalisation enough to promote financial inclusion?

'Liberalising the financial sector may be a good way for developing countries to stimulate greater dynamism, innovation and competitive pressure. But by itself it is not enough to promote

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'Leakage' claims: muddled thinking and bad for policy?
ODI Publications - Opinion 81, June 2007

Author(s) : Jon Mitchell and Caroline AshleySummary/abstract:

Claims of 'leakage' pessimists do us a disservice by diverting attention from the challenge of boosting the linkages between tourism and the rest of the local economy.

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"Turismo pro-pobre" – ¿Qué ha ido bien y qué ha ido mal?
ODI Publications - Opinion 80, June 2007

Author(s) : Caroline Ashley y Harold GoodwinSummary/abstract:

'Las recientes estrategias para la reducción de la pobreza destacan cada vez más el turismo, y las nuevas políticas de turismo incluyen compromisos para aprovechar el turismo en la reducción de la pobreza – no sólo para generar divisas... Los profesionales de turismo necesitan responder a esta nueva oportunidad, con enfoques robustos y resultados comprobados.'

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'Pro poor tourism': What's gone right and what’s gone wrong?
ODI Publications - Opinion 80, June 2007

Author(s) : Caroline Ashley and Harold GoodwinSummary/abstract:

'Recent poverty reduction strategies increasingly highlight tourism, and new tourism policies contain commitments to harness tourism for poverty reduction – not just to generate foreign exchange... Tourism practitioners need to respond to this new opportunity with robust approaches and proven results.'

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Beyond-aid policies and impacts: Why a developing country perspective is important
ODI Publications - Opinion 79, May 2007

Author(s) : Alan HudsonSummary/abstract:

'In the context of what DFID's 2007 Annual Report says about the development impacts of the policies pursued by other UK Government departments, this Opinion explains why a developing country perspective is important in determining domestic policy.'

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Why Evo Morales is not going to be the next Hugo Chavez
ODI Publications - Opinion 78, February 2007

Author(s) : Massimiliano CalìSummary/abstract:

Is Morales really acting' as a radical populist, confirming the suspicion of critics such as Mexican politician Jorge Castañeda who argue that Bolivia is part of the axis of the “wrong” lefts in Latin America?'

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Sanitation and hygiene: Grounding the HDR call for a global action plan
ODI Publications - Opinion 77, January 2007

Author(s) : Katharina WelleSummary/abstract:

'Can increased global recognition and funding for sanitation and hygiene be translated into effective action on the ground if the lessons of previous policy failures are inadequately learnt?'

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China and the politics of development in Africa
ODI Publications - Opinion 76, November 2006

Author(s) : Diana CammackSummary/abstract:

'While Western nerves may jangle at China's growing and muscular presence in Africa, the 48 African heads of state who shot off to Beijing to see what was on offer have fewer qualms'

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IMF reform: What happens next?
ODI Publications - Opinion 75, September 2006

Author(s) : Lauren PhillipsSummary/abstract:

'Given the complexities of the coming negotiations, what ability do under-represented developing countries have to influence the outcome of such reforms? And what should they expect to get out of the reforms?'

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Assessing governance: How can political risk analysis help?
ODI Publications - Opinion 74, August 2006

Author(s) : Lauren PhillipsSummary/abstract:

'Assessing governance as a basis for determining aid policy is a difficult task, but adapting private sector strategies for measuring and anticipating political risk may be a useful starting point for discussion.'

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Governance and aid effectiveness: Has the White Paper got it right?
ODI Publications - Opinion 73, July 2006

Author(s) : Julius CourtSummary/abstract:

'The big challenge for Britain's aid policy is to reconcile concerns about governance in developing countries with the commitment dramatically to scale up aid. Aid is set to double. But governance in Africa in particular is often poor – and not significantly improving. Political risk will need to be taken much more seriously in coming years.'

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How to move forward on governance and corruption
ODI Publications - Opinion 72, July 2006

Author(s) : Verena FritzSummary/abstract:

'We know that good governance matters for development. It is clear that corruption holds development back. As general propositions, both are straightforward. What is much more challenging is to specify which aspects of governance matter most, and to find

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What’s next in international development?
ODI Publications - Opinion 71, July 2006

Author(s) : Simon MaxwellSummary/abstract:

'If the development agenda broadens, are aid agencies best equipped to lead? If not, how is policy managed across ministries of aid, trade, defence, foreign affairs, and others?'

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Where Europe Stands in the New Aid Architecture and Why We Need a New €5bn European MDG Fund
ODI Publications - Opinion 70, June 2006

Author(s) : Simon MaxwellSummary/abstract:

'As Europeans, we can be proud of our collective contribution to 2005, the year of international development….. We should also be aware, however, that the hardest decisions may yet be to come, in particular about the changing shape of the international aid industry.'

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Malawi: The Politics of Hunger
ODI Publications - Opinion 69, April 2006

Author(s) : Diana CammackSummary/abstract:

'… one explanation for Malawi's continuing hunger and recurrent emergencies is often ignored. This in part is because large parts of the media, donors and relief agencies seemingly feel the need to concentrate on the less contentious causes of hunger to raise funds from the public rather than to mention 'poor governance'.

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Changing Course in Latin America: Reconciling Democracy

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Papers in this series - click for more detail