Latest resource links added to the Dev-Zone Knowledge Centrehttp://www.dev-zone.org/knowledge/en-nzCopyright 2008Thu, 08 May 2008 12:00:00 +0000Thu, 08 May 2008 12:00:00 +0000RSSMaker (PHP Class)http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss2403456789101112131415SaturdaySundayhttp://www.dev-zone.org/images/logos.gifhttp://www.dev-zone.org/knowledge/Visit Dev-Zone Knowledge Centre12080http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14609The Child Poverty Action Group NZ (CPAG) Post-Budget Breakfast. The University of Auckland, Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health and Department of General Practice & Primary Health Care invite you to share breakfast and analysis of Budget 2008 at the School of Population Health, Tamaki Campus, University of Auckland. 7:30am - 8:45am. Friday, May 23rd Cost: $25 waged, $10 unwaged. http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14609Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14606This Dev-Zone Onepager provides a concise description of trade's role in development. It covers debates on free trade, discusses trade deals and outlines the economics of fair trade products.http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14606Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14607In Radford, Virginia on May 22-25, thousands of activists, academics, journalists, poets, musicians and policymakers will converge at the 2008 "Building a New World" Conference.http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14607Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14608The United Nations has designated 20 June as World Refugee Day (WRD) and it is commemorated each year to highlight the plight of refugees worldwide and recognise their courage and resilience. The global theme for World Refugee Day 2008 is refugee protection.http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14608Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14600"Locating the power of in-between" will shine a spotlight on the role of research brokers and intermediaries and the contribution they can make to supporting and enabling evidence-based pro-poor policy and practice. 1 - 2 July, 2008 Pretoria, South AfricaOrganisers: The Human Science Research Council, South Africa and the Institute of Development Studies, UKApplication period is now open - deadline 16 May 08 http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14600Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14601Produced by Torqaid of Australia, this article, which is built around 4 diagrams, shows how effective disaster risk management (DRM) ideally can take place in both developing and developed countries. The initial diagram (the Disaster Risk Management Cycle = DRMC), shows that for most medium to fast onset disasters (such as Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar), these normally go through recognizable Normal/Risk Reduction, Emergency Response and Recovery Stages. The second diagram (Comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction) shows that effect Risk Reduction ideally depends upon four complementary parameters, namely Security & Good Governance; Economic & Social Development (with a strong emphasis on Poverty Reduction); Environmental Sustainability/Climate Change Adaptation (CCA); and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The third diagram (Disaster Risk Management Planning), shows that effective planning needs to be carried out by governments at national, state/provincial, and district levels, with all this being complemented at sub-district level by Risk Reduced Development Projects (RRDPS) - often called Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM), which tends to be the focus of NGOs. The final diagram (the Project Management Cycle = PMC), shows that in addition to development projects, this diagram can be a useful basis for planning, implementing and evaluation projects in the Recovery and Risk Reduction stages of a humanitarian disaster.http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14601Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14605The Travel Foundation is an independent UK charity that aims to help the outbound travel industry manage tourism more sustainably.http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14605Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=1460412-4pm, Sunday 11th May 2008, Golden Lotus Restaurant, Brooklyn, Wellingtonhttp://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14604Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14603Make Travel Fair was established at the end of 2006 as an online platform to communicate some of the global issues associated with travel, and to encourage education amongst travellers.http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14603Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14602WTM World Responsible Tourism Day supported by the UNWTO is an opportunity for travel and tourism to become one powerful and unifying force. Following the success of the first WTM World Responsible Tourism Day in November 2007 the 2008 event will be taking place on Wednesday 12th November during World Travel Market (10th - 13th November).http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14602Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14587Kofi Annan claimed that a change would take place in the way of working: a culture of cooperation and dialogue would replace the culture of confrontation and distrust, which dominated the Commission in recent years. But this analysis of the Council's work demonstrates, the Council is more politicised than ever. (by Veronique Joosten, United Nations Association Flanders Belgium, 2007)http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14587Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14598Developing-country governments desperately need more long-term and predictable aid, given through their budgets, to finance the expansion of health care, education, and other vital social services. The European Commission (EC) is one of the biggest donors providing this kind of essential budget support, and has innovative plans to further improve and increase this aid. European Union (EU) member states must support these ambitious plans (Oxfam GB, May 2008).http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14598Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14586Ban Ki-moon announced that he will lead the Task Force on the Global Food Crisis, which will bring together the heads of UN agencies, funds and programs and the Bretton Woods institutions, as well as experts within the UN and leading authorities from the international community. (UN News Centre, 29 April 2008)http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14586Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14591This resource guides people working at local and national levels around the world in taking on a rights-based approach to education (rather than a service delivery/needs-based approach)(ActionAid International, April 2007).http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14591Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14588 The military government in Burma (Myanmar) is receiving an outpouring of emergency aid offers from the international community, as the death toll from Saturday's cyclone continues to soar. While some foreign aid workers were told they could enter the country to assess needs and distribute supplies, as of Tuesday - three days after the disaster hit - they were still awaiting visas. The delay raises questions as to how willing the hermit regime is to facilitate relief in the crucial, early stages of this humanitarian emergency (Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2008).http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14588Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14599The Indian government is planning a major initiative to document all traditional knowledge on biodiversity and natural resources in order to safeguard against biopiracy. Notwithstanding its many potential benefits, without inbuilt safeguards this move could prove to be the undoing of traditional knowledge (Ashish Kothari, May 2008).http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14599Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14590Since the end of Suharto's rule, Indonesia has initiated an ambitious decentralisation programme. To some extent, this has addressed long-standing local and regional demands for greater autonomy. But it has also opened up space for new forms of competition amongst local identity groups and interests (Rachael Diprose, CRISE Working Paper No.38, 2007).http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14590Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14593Social protection is seen as a central pillar of growth in Zambia's National Development Plan, but its implementation remains a challenge. This Project Briefing proposes a framework of protection, prevention and promotion to enable low capacity households to graduate from vulnerability and poverty (Rebecca Holmes and Rachel Slater, ODI Publications, May 2008).http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14593Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14592How the economic policies of the International Monetary Fund are forcing poor countries to either freeze, or seriously curtail, spending on teachers (ActionAid, April 2007).http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14592Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14589Since the events of September 11, 2001 and the development of the 'war on terror', western powers have cited international terrorism as the greatest threat facing the world. This has diverted attention and resources from other, more serious, likely causes of future conflict. The root causes of global insecurity must be addressed (Chris Abbott, Paul Rogers and John Sloboda, 2006)http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14589Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14594Once conflict has ended in an African state, the need to reconstruct basic education becomes a priority. While post-conflict states share some common issues, they each attempt this reconstruction within a particular context. How can they incorporate different perspectives on issues critical to education reconstruction? What lessons can they learn in relation to funding, management and access, especially in relation to Alternative Basic Education (ABE)? (Carolyne Dennis and Alicia Fentiman, DIFD, 2007)http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14594Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14595Safe hygiene practices and access to sanitation are crucial for combating the main health threats to children. However, nearly twice as many people lack access to sanitation compared with water supply. Is it time to stop aligning sanitation and health (S&H) policies so closely with water management policy? (Katharina Welle, Overseas Development Institute, February 2007). http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14595Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14597More than half of Asia's population, 1.8 billion people, lives below the poverty line of $2-day. Of these, over 600 million try to survive with less than $1 day. With ever increasing food prices most of Asia's 'working poor', already struggling on degraded lands, in sweatshops, on streets and at homes, risk further destitution. Yet the Asian Development Bank -an institution whose mission is to reduce poverty- will present a new "Strategy 2020" to member governments at its upcoming annual meeting in Madrid, which is ominously silent on the importance of employment and social protection for the poor. NOTE: This opinion piece has been written by a former Manager and former Senior Staff of ADB. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the authors and do not reflect the position of the United Nations (Isabel Ortiz and Anita Kelles-Viitanen .http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14597Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14596Self-help groups (SHGs) play a major role in providing microfinance in India. But they do not work alone. State institutions are also a big part of the microfinance landscape. How does this kind of 'institutionalised co-production' in service delivery work in practice? This research shows that the relationships are not symmetrical. When they seek access to bank credit, women's groups are in a dependent relationship, and are subject to, and tarnished by, the institutional imperatives, systemic corruption and political compulsions that shape the behaviour of rural development bureaucracies and banks (K. Kalpana, 2008)http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14596Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14585Investigating the issues and rating a number of key brands this buyer's guide give you the low down on trainers and sports shoes (Ethical Consumer). http://www.dev-zone.org/cgi-bin/knowledge/jump.cgi?ID=14585Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200