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- No.2 / (5) Development Diplomacy and Partnerships for Social Policy at the Time of PRSPs
- Title_ Development Diplomacy and Partnerships for Social Policy at the Time of PRSPs: The Case of Decent Work Author_ Raymond Saner and Emanuele Sapienza Pages 145-177 Abstract_ In 2002, the International Labour Organization (ILO) decided to start an initiative aimed at increasing the Decent Work content of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) originally developed by the World Bank and the IMF. As the ILO Governing Body concluded its consideration of work in this area (March 2008), the present paper reviews the ILO experience from a partnership-building and development diplomacy point of view. The paper argues that, while significant progress has been achieved, there is a need to take the process one step forward in order to trigger a significant reframing of the PRSP debate and a shifting of its boundaries. This step will involve a partial repositioning of the ILO’s partnership building within the PRSP process and an effort to move beyond the traditional tripartite constituency of the ILO and build more systematic alliances with other segments of the national civil society as well as global poverty reduction advocacy groups. Keywords_ Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, Decent Work, Social Policy, Development Diplomacy.
- IPAID 2020.12.04
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9
- No.2 / (4) Policy Engagement for Enhancing Local Food Security Plan in Ileje District, Tanzania
- Title_ Policy Engagement for Enhancing Local Food Security Plan in Ileje District, Tanzania Author_ Francis Mwaijande and Festo Maro Pages 119-144 Abstract_ This policy engagement study was carried out in April, 2012 as a follow-up to the situational assessment of food security study conducted in Ileje district in May, 2011. The study collected information at two focus group discussions (FGDs) in Ilulu and Mbebe villages of Ileje district as well as from key informants at the District Finance and Planning Committee. The study question is: how policy engagement for local food security is guided in Ileje district. The study combines the findings of the FS report, a desk review of current local government planning process, district planning guidelines 2011, district development plan, district agriculture development plan, district agricultural planning processes, and focus group discussions with relevant stakeholders in the district development plan planning process. The first part of the paper revisits the district budget and how the District Agriculture Development Plan (DADP) accommodates the concept of food security. The second part of the paper looks at the policy engagement and the decision making process regarding District Development Plan (DDP) by answering questions of who is involved in the local food security planning, how local food security is attained, and how best policy engagement can ensure food security at the district level. Keywords_ food security, poverty, Tanzania.
- IPAID 2020.12.04
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8
- No.2 / (3) Infrastructure for Human Development Notions, Linkages and Policy Options
- Title_ Infrastructure for Human Development Notions, Linkages and Policy Options Author_ Selim Jahan Pages 75-118 Abstract_ The present paper discusses the analytical inter-linkages between infrastructure and human development through the lens of human poverty reduction and human security and presents some policy options as to how to use infrastructure for enhancing human development. In that context, the paper first examines the various notions related to infrastructure and human development, followed by an analytical discussion of their inter-linkages. In that discussion, the issue of governance of infrastructure will also be brought in. The last section of the paper presents some policy options for mutually reinforcing the linkages between infrastructure and human development. Keywords_ poverty reduction, human development, infrastructure.
- IPAID 2020.12.04
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7
- No.2 / (2) Non-Governmental Organizations and Rural Poverty Reduction in Northern Ghana
- Title_ Non-Governmental Organizations and Rural Poverty Reduction in Northern Ghana: Perspectives of Beneficiaries on Strategies, Impact and Challenges Author_ Osei-Wusu Adjei, Seth Agyemang, and Kwadwo Afriyie Pages 47-74 Abstract_ This paper draws experiences from 198 heads of rural households benefitting from four operational NGOs to address the extent to which NGOs impact on poverty reduction in the Wa West and Tain districts of northern Ghana. It examines the NGOs poverty reduction strategies and their impact on people’s quality of life. The paper reveals that the NGOs adopt the integrated rural development strategy with both basic needs and basic means approaches. The paper identifies improved income, productivity levels of beneficiary households and improved utilization of basic social amenities as significant impact of operational NGOs in the study areas. However, low level of participation of beneficiaries in the NGOs strategies’ design is a major challenge inhibiting their effectiveness. The paper recommends that, given the necessity of local government support through the creation of an enabling environment, NGOs can effectively combat the multiple manifestations of poverty in the rural communities in northern Ghana. Keywords_ NGOs, Poverty, Rural, Livelihoods, Ghana
- IPAID 2020.12.04
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6
- No.2 / (1) Democracy and the Human Development Sequence
- Title_ Democracy and the Human Development Sequence: A Revised Cross-Country Comparison Author_ Jairo Acuña–Alfaro Pages 1-46 Abstract_ This paper provides a parsimonious empirical test of the relationship between democracy and HD, using time-series cross-sectional data on 164 countries from 1972 to 2002. The paper specifies a similar partial model to those found in the global comparative literature on democracy and development in an effort to replicate earlier findings and advance the proposition that there are strong reciprocal connections between HD and democratization that form two chains which reinforce one another cumulatively over time. The statistical analysis aims to show that the causal relationship forms two chains that run in both directions. This gives rise to virtuous and vicious circles, with good or bad performance on human development and democracy reinforcing each other. Cross-country partial regressions show a significant relationship in both directions. Yet evidence over time has strong sequential implications, and where a choice is necessary, democracy should be given sequencing priority over HD and economic growth, respectively. The discussion is relevant in lieu of ongoing debates about post 2015 Millennium Development Goals in regards to governance and democratization. Keywords_ Democracy, HD, Model Specification, Identification, Endogeneity, Development Lopsidedness, Large “N”, Policy Sequence, Elective Affinities
- IPAID 2020.12.04
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5
- No.1 / (5) Joint Liability Groups
- Title_Joint Liability Groups: Theory, Practice and Implications for Poverty Author_ Eric Henry Yeboah and Alhaji Abdulai Pages 97-123 Abstract_ While joint liability groups (JLGs) are fundamental to MFIs, theoretical knowledge on JLGs seems to have overtaken the empirical evidence available. The effect of JLGs on poverty is unclear. Employing a mixed method approach, this paper examines JLGs in two MFIs, NWEP and SAT, in a rural community in Ghana. This study showed that, contrary to theory, JLGs are essentially top-down strategies because of MFIs’ determination to control the JLG implementation process. Peer monitoring was irrelevant in the situation where the use of loans for non-business purposes was widespread. Regarding the effect of JLGs on poverty, consensual decision-making within groups yielded positive benefits to service users. Service users who benefitted the most from MFIs disliked JLGs suggesting that they inhibit poverty reduction. This is perhaps an indication that it is time MFIs looked for other innovative ways of providing financial services that is acceptable and fair to poor service users. Keywords_ joint liability groups, microfinance institutions
- IPAID 2020.12.04
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4
- No.1 / (4) Policy Issues and Enlightenments on Transfer Effectiveness of Cash Transfer Program in the South
- Title_ Policy Issues and Enlightenments on Transfer Effectiveness of Cash Transfer Program in the South Author_ Yifan Yang and Ziyi Wang Pages 73-96 Abstract_ The purpose of this paper is to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of the findings from evaluations of cash transfer programs for social protection. Based on the literature review, these types of interventions have become increasingly popular among recipient governments, especially so-called conditional cash transfer programs and unconditional cash transfer programs. The paper then analyzes the social cash transfer schemes in practice, summarizing basic issues like universal or targeted, and conditional or unconditional. The conclusion is that the imposition of conditional plans needs to be carefully measured, universal plans should be based on the classification of the whole population, and the coordination of the cash transfer program and the overall framework of social security should be paid more attention to. Keywords_ cash transfer program, social pension, conditional social assistance
- IPAID 2020.12.04
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3
- No.1 / (3) Determinants of Dropout of Members from Thrift and Credit Groups
- Title_Determinants of Dropout of Members from Thrift and Credit Groups: An Empirical Examination in India Author_ Debadutta Kumar Panda Pages 59-72 Abstract_ This quantitative study is conducted in the state of Orissa in India to understand the determinants of dropout of members from women self-help groups. Stratified random sampling method was employed to select 40 sample SHG members from 16 self-help groups from 6 villages. Descriptive statistics and t-significance test was used to understand the difference between active borrowers and dropout members across a set of selected variables. The logit regression model was used to analyze the possible predictors of dropout of members from self-help groups. The hypothesis testing was done through the logit regression. From the analysis, the possible determinants of members’ dropout from their respective self-help groups were observed to be loan size, group size, group meeting, group savings, total loans received, number of loans received, literacy position of the members and interest rates on the loans. Keywords_ development, India, microfinance
- IPAID 2020.12.04
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2
- No.1 / (2) Environmental Sustainability and Government Procurement Reform in East Asia
- Title_Environmental Sustainability and Government Procurement Reform in East Asia: Achievements and Outcomes Author_ David S. Jones Pages 33-58 Abstract_ An important reform of government procurement in the last two decades is the incorporation of environmental standards in the criteria for determining the products acquired and the public works undertaken by government agencies (referred to as sustainable procurement). These requirements have been in recent years included in internationally-recognized best practices of government procurement. They affect product and design specifications, the criteria for awarding contracts, and in the case of public works contracts, they also affect the assessment of contractor performance, including the management of the works site. In recent years, governments of East Asia have adopted reforms to promote sustainable procurement to varying degrees, with noticeably more progress achieved in the developed countries than in the developing and emerging countries of the region. This paper will focus on why the developing and emerging countries of the region have lagged behind the developed countries, identifying as key factors the extent of open competition in tendering, and the budgetary, organizational and human resource constraints in procurement. Keywords_ East Asia, environmental sustainability, government procurement
- IPAID 2020.12.04
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1
- No.1 / (1) Stabilizing Poverty in the Context of the IMF’s Monetary Model
- Title_ Stabilizing Poverty in the Context of the IMF’s Monetary Model Author_ Sheetal K. Chand Pages 1-32 Abstract_ The IMF monetary model focuses on the balance of payments. This paper adds a poverty stabilization objective to it. Drawing on statistical income distribution theory, key aspects of the head count poverty indicator are introduced. The resulting model reproduces traditional balance of payments policy prescriptions, while showing their implications for the incidence of poverty. A balance of payments stabilization-poverty tradeoff relationship is derived. This facilitates analysis of pre-emptive policies that can stabilize the incidence of poverty when undertaking balance of payments adjustment, thereby reducing the need for costly alleviation. The suggested approach is illustrated in the context of Mexico’s 1995 stabilization episode. Keywords_ poverty incidence; IMF monetary model; stabilization policy
- IPAID 2020.12.04