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She's Our Man - Liberians Elect Africa's First Woman Leader

Tuesday, 15 November 2005, 9:40 am Column: Imogen Prickett. On a bustling street in central Monrovia, my favourite message of the presidential campaign is still scrawled on a wall; it reads "Ellen, She's our Man". Although the results of the Presidential run-off elections are not yet finalised, with all of the 3,070 polling places now counted, it looks like Liberia, and Africa, will soon have its first elected female leader.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00210.htm

(Added: Wed Nov 16 2005   Hits: 82)

eGovernment Handbook for Developing Countries

A Project of infoDev and The Center for Democracy & Technology. E-government is not a tool limited to the richer countries. Indeed, some of the most innovative uses of the Internet in governance are appearing in the developing world, as ICTs are being used to streamline government and connect it more closely with the people it is supposed to serve. Our goal in creating this handbook is to offer concrete guidance to government officials and others in the developing world, presenting for the first time a comprehensive index of e-government models and resources, focused on success stories in the developing world. This handbook presents a roadmap - in fact, a compilation of roadmaps - for policymakers considering electronic government as a mechanism for reform. We do not seek to sell e-government. Other reports and papers have outlined the philosophy, the benefits and the general methodologies of e-government. Here, using specific examples, we show how it can be done, with a healthy respect for the realities and challenges that must be faced.

http://www.infodev.org/en/Publication.16.html

(Added: Mon Nov 14 2005   Modified: Fri Mar 28 2008   Hits: 309)

Letter from GA President on Follow Up and Implementation of UN Reform Measures

Letter from the President of the General Assembly describing progress and future developments for UN reform.

http://www.reformtheun.org/index.php/articles/1780

(Added: Thu Nov 10 2005   Hits: 65)

ReformtheUN.org

ReformtheUN.org provides up-to-date information and resources about UN reform in 2005.

http://reformtheun.org/

(Added: Fri Aug 26 2005   Hits: 80)

Measuring and explaining government inefficiency in developing countries

By Nicolas Van de Sijpe and Glenn Rayp of Ghent University (2004). This study estimates government inefficiency for 52 developing countries using a data envelopment analysis. The report reveals that the government expenditure inefficiency is primarily determined by governance, political and structural country variables. Economic policy determinants appear to be less influential. The government inefficiency of the Sub Saharan countries in the sample was found to be substantially higher.

http://www.feb.ugent.be/fac/research/WP/Papers/wp_04_266.pdf

(Added: Mon Aug 01 2005   Modified: Mon Oct 31 2005   Hits: 62)

A New Spring for the UN? Kofi Annan unveils ambitious agenda

Oli Brown, IISD, 2005. In this IISD Commentary, IISD Project Manager, Oli Brown, reviews Kofi Annan's suggested reforms for the United Nations. Annan's report, "In Larger Freedom", seeks to strengthen the UN by streamlining the deliberations of the General Assembly and expanding the Security Council. It also outlines an ambitious agenda to promote the three 'great purposes' of the United Nations: development, security and human rights.

http://www.iisd.org/publications/pub.aspx?id=683

(Added: Wed May 18 2005   Modified: Tue Jan 10 2006   Hits: 328)

Online Women in Politics

Asia Pacific Online Network of Women in Governance, Politics, and Transformative Leadership .

http://www.onlinewomeninpolitics.org/

(Added: Thu Apr 21 2005   Hits: 167)

Poverty can be halved if efforts are coupled with better governance, says TI

19 January 2005. Transparency International calls on leading donor governments to respond positively to the UN Millennium Project report, and to conduct a major evaluation of the impact of aid.

http://www.transparency.org/pressreleases_archive/2005/2005.01.19.better_gov.html

(Added: Tue Mar 15 2005   Modified: Mon Jul 02 2007   Hits: 325)

Thai election result puts governance in the spotlight

Ethical Corporation, 10 Feb 05. The victory of Thailand's incumbent Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra in the country's national poll held on Sunday appears to pose serious questions for corporate and government accountability in the country

http://www.ethicalcorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=3472

(Added: Fri Feb 18 2005   Modified: Mon Oct 31 2005   Hits: 89)

Assessing International Fiscal and Monetary Transparency

The IMF has been leading efforts to develop and implement Codes of Monetary and Fiscal Transparency. Such Codes aim to increase disclosure of public sector information on the Internet-representing a type of "e-transparency." Do such codes and increased Internet-based public sector information achieve their objectives? Much e-government theory sees electronic presence and e-transparency as a first step toward transformationary e-government. Yet, e-transparency itself represents a transformation in e-government. This paper will first describe the results of a private-sector based assessment of fiscal and monetary transparency and report cross-country ratings. Second, it will describe a new method of assessment which emphasizes the role of knowledge management and the critical role played by assessment project design. Lastly, this paper will discuss the extent to which such e-government efforts aimed at greater transparency achieve broader objectives -- such as increased trust, predictability, credibility, oversight, and political accountability in the public sector. The lessons in this paper are applicable to governments engaged in promoting and assessing transparency as well as corporations. (Submitted by Bryane Michael)

http://users.ox.ac.uk/~scat1663/Publications/Papers/Soros%20Policy%20E-Govt.pdf

(Added: Sun Nov 21 2004   Modified: Mon Oct 31 2005   Hits: 350)

Enhancing the Capacities To Govern: Challenges Facing the CEE countries

Selected Papers from the 11th NISPAcee Annual Conference: Bucharest 2003. This page describes capacity building effects in Central and Eastern Europe as well as offers undergraduate and graduate syllabi. (Submitted by Bryane Michael)

http://users.ox.ac.uk/~scat1663/Publications/Papers/Govern%20Capacities.htm

(Added: Sun Nov 21 2004   Modified: Mon Oct 31 2005   Hits: 299)

The Role of Incentive Design in Parliamentarian Anti-Corruption Programmes

By Bryane Michael and Aare Kasemets. The "first wave" of donor sponsored anti-corruption programmes usefully focused on elaborating recommendations for parliamentarians or tried to train them (develop human capital) in anti-corruption. Now it time for these programmes to take into account parliamentarian incentives to adopt these recommendations and/or use this "knowledge." This paper will discuss these incentives and the ways these programmes should and can help build political capital by managing voter demands, political competition, patronage, and enforcement. The paper also reviews some basic theories from formal political economy which may be of interest to practitioners interested in bridging the theory-practice gap. (Submitted by Bryane Michael)

http://users.ox.ac.uk/~scat1663/Publications/Papers/Parliamentary%20Policy%20Brief.pdf

(Added: Sun Nov 21 2004   Modified: Mon Oct 31 2005   Hits: 101)

"Good Governance" and the MDGS: Contradictory or Complementary?

Focus on the Global South. By Alejandro Bendana, first presented at the Institute for Global Network, Information and Studies (IGNIS) conference in Oslo, 20 September 2004. "In much of the development debate today, the notion of governance has been presented as the missing link to successful growth and economic "reform" including the attainment of the MDGs. (1) But governance has diverse understandings. There is one that is people-centered and there is another-unfortunately predominant--which in our opinion takes us away from democracy and the possibilities of genuine development (including the attainment of the MDGs). In essence, a faulty notion of "good governance" is taking us away from the goals because it entails placing the state and society at the service of the market, under the presumption that economic growth alone will deliver development."

http://www.rorg.no/Artikler/740.html

(Added: Tue Oct 19 2004   Modified: Mon Jul 02 2007   Hits: 389)

Decentralisation and Poverty in Developing Countries: exploring the impact

OECD Development Centre. Working Paper No. 236. Johannes Jütting, Céline Kauffmann, Ida Mc Donnell, Holger Osterrieder, Nicolas Pinaud and Lucia Wegner.August 2004.Donors are increasingly concerned by the slow progress being made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals and have identified new ways of strengthening the poverty focus of their policies and programmes. For this reason, decentralisation, the transfer of power and responsibility from the central to the local level, is receiving increasing international attention as a potential tool in the fight against poverty. Though decentralisation would not be implemented solely for the direct purpose of poverty alleviation, the ensuing changes in the institutional architecture are very likely to impact on governance, participation and the efficiency of public-service delivery, all of which are important variables for poverty outcomes. The findings of this study, based on a review of the experiences of 19 countries suggest that the impact of decentralisation on poverty is not straightforward. In particular, its usefulness as a tool for poverty reduction varies distinctly between poor countries on the one side and emerging economies on the other. In countries where the state lacks the capacity to fulfil its basic functions, there is a definite risk that decentralisation will increase poverty rather than reduce it. However, in countries with a functioning central state committed to the devolution of power to local tiers of government, decentralisation can be an excellent means of promoting improved representation of the poor and enhancing the targeting of service delivery. The study confirms that in addition to awareness of this country context, pro-poor decentralisation also requires a clear understanding of the key factors influencing the process. One of the major objectives of the Development Centre's ongoing work on governance is indeed to improve understanding of the mechanisms of such institutional change.

http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/40/19/33648213.pdf

(Added: Mon Oct 18 2004   Modified: Tue Jan 10 2006   Hits: 372)

The International Foundation for Election Systems

IFES As one of the world's premier democracy and governance assistance organizations, IFES provides targeted technical assistance to strengthen transitional democracies. Founded in 1987 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, IFES has developed and implemented comprehensive, collaborative democracy solutions in more than 120 countries.

http://www.ifes.org

(Added: Fri Jul 30 2004   Modified: Mon Oct 31 2005   Hits: 102)

A Grand Deceit: The World Bank's Claims of 'Good Governance' in Papua New Guinea (pdf)

(AID/WATCH) By Dr. Tim Anderson, August, 2003. An extensive critical analysis of the World Bank 'Good Governance' policy which includes case studies of the export model of development and detailed analysis of the impacts of the Good Governance model in PNG.

http://www.aidwatch.org.au/index.php?current=68&display=aw00492&display_item=1

(Added: Tue Jul 13 2004   Modified: Mon Oct 31 2005   Hits: 507)

On the Brink: Weak States and US National Security (pdf)

Center for Global Development, 2004. On the Brink is the culmination of nine months of work by a bi-partisan panel of thirty former government officials, senior business leaders, academics, and NGO representatives, with wide-ranging expertise on the issues at the intersection of development and security. On the Brink recognizes that weak and failed states matter to US national security, American values and the prospects for global economic growth; and that a successful response to addressing the challenges of weak states combines security and development policies. Weak states are the "sleeping giant" threat to national security, receiving extremely limited attention within the highest levels of government. On the Brink outlines a framework for action - one that seeks to mobilize key actors and instruments in US foreign policy to the task of meeting the threat.

http://www.cgdev.org/Research/?Page=Commission%20on%20Weak%20States%20and%20US%20National%20Security

(Added: Thu Jun 17 2004   Modified: Wed Dec 07 2005   Hits: 161)

Publish What You Pay

The Publish What You Pay campaign aims to help citizens of resource-rich developing countries hold their governments accountable for the management of revenues from the oil, gas and mining industries. Natural resource revenues are an important source of income for governments of over 50 developing countries, including Angola , Congo-Brazzaville , Kazakhstan and Venezuela . When properly managed these revenues should serve as a basis for poverty reduction, economic growth and development. The Publish What You Pay coalition of over 200 NGOs worldwide calls for the mandatory disclosure of the payments made by oil, gas and mining companies' to all governments for the extraction of natural resources. This is a necessary first step towards a more accountable system for the management of natural resource revenues in resource-rich developing countries. The campaign was launched by George Soros and founded by Global Witness, CAFOD, Open Society Institute, Oxfam, Save the Children UK, and Transparency International UK.

http://www.publishwhatyoupay.org/

(Added: Wed Jun 16 2004   Modified: Mon Oct 31 2005   Hits: 178)

The Governance Resource Centre (GRC) Exchange

The GRC Exchange is a new website sharing the latest information about governance in development. 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.

http://www.grc-exchange.org

(Added: Mon Mar 15 2004   Modified: Mon Oct 31 2005   Hits: 223)

The Media In Governance: A Guide To Assistance (pdf 1.55 MB)

Department for International Development (UK), 2001, 59 pages. The media can be a major force for improving the quality of government in developing and transitional countries, and can also make a real difference to the lives of poor and disadvantaged people. Yet the provision of support to achieve this outcome is not a straightforward process and a pragmatic approach is necessary when considering involvement. In what areas can the UK offer expertise, and to whom? And, what questions should be asked first? This DFID document focuses on radio, television and the press. It suggests that the UK can help both politically and technically to improve the quality and impact of government-media relations and media effectiveness in serving the interests of the poor and the disadvantaged. It points to the main problems associated with supporting the media but avoids prescribing detailed solutions to all problems, since it may not always be desirable to assist.

http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/mediaingovernance.pdf

(Added: Mon Mar 15 2004   Modified: Thu Feb 08 2007   Hits: 145)

Haiti's Lawyer: U.S. Is Arming Anti-Aristide Paramilitaries

Wednesday, February 25th, 2004 Interview By Democracy Now! with Ira Kurzban, who has served as General Counsel for the government of Haiti since 1991. The US lawyer representing the government of Haiti charged today that the US government is directly involved in a military coup attempt against the country's democratically elected President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Ira Kurzban, the Miami-based attorney who has served as General Counsel to the Haitian government since 1991, said that the paramilitaries fighting to overthrow Aristide are being backed by Washington. "I believe that this is a group that is armed by, trained by, and employed by the intelligence services of the United States," Kurzban told the national radio and TV program Democracy Now!. "This is clearly a military operation, and it's a military coup." If a direct US connection is proven, it will mark the second time in just over a decade that Washington has been involved in a coup in Haiti.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/02/25/1613200

(Added: Thu Feb 26 2004   Modified: Tue Dec 20 2005   Hits: 109)

Good Governance against Good Government?

by Rémy Herrera February 23, 2004 "Since the beginning of the 1990s, the major international organizations, first and foremost among them International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, have been lavishing upon their member countries recommendations for "good governance". However, the definitions of this term and, along with them, its substance, have varied noticeably from one institution to another, preventing the formulation of a precise legal definition -particularly since governance can also be global, corporate. Within the framework of its loans and "oversight" operations, the IMF seeks to promote good governance covering "all aspects of the conduct of public affairs". [...] In spite of the vagueness of the concept and of the normative judgement criteria involved, the goals formulated by these organizations are quite clear and convergent: what is at stake is the shaping of states' policies to create those institutional environments most favorable to the opening up of the countries of the South to globalized financial markets."

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=13&ItemID=5036

(Added: Wed Feb 25 2004   Modified: Mon Oct 31 2005   Hits: 290)

It's All Politics - World and National Political Discussion Forum

"It's All Politics" is a World and National political discussion forum. Discuss global politics and political issues in your country and others around the world. All views are welcome!

http://www.itsallpolitics.com

(Added: Mon Feb 16 2004   Modified: Mon Oct 31 2005   Hits: 203)

Who Will Pay?:Coping with Aging Societies, Climate Change, and Other Long-Term Fiscal Challenges

By Peter S. Heller, International Monetary Fund, November 2003 "Peter Heller emphasizes one overriding theme in this important new book: think ahead in managing public sector budgets. One might suppose such a message to be superfluous. After all, do we really need reminding that our actions today affect our choices tomorrow, whether in our personal decisions or in our collective decisions regarding a national budget? Yet Heller is thoroughly persuasive in demonstrating that current fiscal practices around the world fall far short of the necessary intertemporal logic and rigor. He goes far to explain why that is so, and why thinking ahead in fiscal affairs is much harder than it looks. Even more important, he shows how governments can improve their fiscal policymaking by adopting new tools for intertemporal analysis and budget implementation. The lessons are so powerful, indeed, that they would do much to transform the practices of Heller's own institution, the International Monetary Fund, in its role of helping countries escape the trap of extreme poverty."

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/nft/2003/WWP/index.htm

(Added: Thu Feb 12 2004   Modified: Mon Oct 31 2005   Hits: 111)

Climatic Disruption in 2002: A Scientific Puzzle and Political Dilemma (PDF)

by George M. Woodwell of the Woods Hole Research Center. Presented at The Granville H. Sewell Lecture in the Environmental Health Sciences, Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. November 7, 2002. (PDF 407 KB).

http://www.whrc.org/publications/pdf/ClimaticDisruption.pdf

(Added: Tue Feb 03 2004   Modified: Mon Oct 31 2005   Hits: 389)

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