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42. ICTs in Humanitarian Response: A learning review of a three-year, five-country programme
- Author:
- Amy O'Donnell
- Publication Date:
- 04-2017
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- The Scaling Humanitarian ICTs Network (SHINE) funded by Sida, set out with the theory of change that the quality and efficiency of humanitarian aid can be improved in a variety of contexts through the adoption of Information Communications Technologies (ICTs). With applications in Ethiopia, DRC, Mali, Indonesia and Iraq, ICTs were introduced to enable digital registrations, mobile data collection, cash/voucher programming and systems for accountability. While ICTs hold promise for saving time, money and improving accuracy, this learning report sets out to unpack these benefits and identify the conditions that need to be in place in order for ICTs to significantly add value to humanitarian response.
- Topic:
- Development, Science and Technology, Accountability, Humanitarian Crisis, and Data
- Political Geography:
- Africa, Iraq, Indonesia, Middle East, Asia, Ethiopia, Mali, and Democratic Republic of Congo
43. ‘We’re Here For an Indefinite Period’ Prospects for local integration of internally displaced people in North Kivu, DRC
- Author:
- Aurore Mathieu
- Publication Date:
- 04-2017
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Internally displaced people in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are struggling to find long-term solutions to improve their resilience to shocks in a region that has been beset by armed conflict for more than 20 years. In 2016 Oxfam partners undertook a survey among host communities and displaced people in Masisi and Lubero, North Kivu, to gain a picture of the formal and informal mechanisms developed by displaced people to integrate into host communities. It revealed that although the majority of displaced people wish to return eventually to their place of origin, the least vulnerable displaced people are those who manage to integrate into their host communities. This paper reports the views of displaced people and host communities. It aims to influence the debate underway on solutions to displacement in the province of North Kivu and provides concrete suggestions for ways to strengthen those mechanisms; in particular by redefining the interventions of humanitarian and development actors and authorities to consider the needs of host communities
- Topic:
- Displacement, Local, Humanitarian Crisis, and Internal Displacement
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Democratic Republic of Congo
44. Starting with People: A Human Economy Approach to Inclusive Growth in Africa
- Author:
- Kathy Wright
- Publication Date:
- 05-2017
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- High levels of inequality across Africa have prevented much of the benefits of recent growth from reaching the continent’s poorest people. To combat inequality in Africa, political and business leaders have to shape a profoundly different type of economy. It must start with the needs of Africa’s women and young people for good quality sustainable jobs, rather than the needs of the richest and of foreign investors. Leaders must use economic policy, taxation policy and social spending to build a human economy for Africa.
- Topic:
- Poverty, Inequality, Economy, Tax Systems, Sustainability, and Inclusion
- Political Geography:
- Africa
45. Innovation in the Horn, East and Central Africa (HECA): Perspectives from on-the-ground experiences
- Author:
- Jane Gaithuma
- Publication Date:
- 05-2017
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Innovation involves applying information, imagination and initiative to get greater or different value from resources, and includes all processes by which new ideas are generated and converted into useful processes or products. These case studies showcase some of the innovative ideas that are being implemented by Oxfam in six countries: Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi. Each project was selected for its potential to bring greater impact in the future. They include turning ‘excrement into income’ in urban slums in Kenya; giving citizens a voice through empowering them to use their mobile phones to report and share information on justice issues in Rwanda; and using a logistical ‘hub’ in Uganda to enhance service delivery and cost-effectiveness across a region.
- Topic:
- Science and Technology, Mobility, Urban, and Innovation
- Political Geography:
- Uganda, Kenya, Africa, and Rwanda
46. On the Brink: As Famine Looms, World Leaders Must Say Up and Deliver Political Solutions to Save Lives
- Author:
- Shannon Scribner
- Publication Date:
- 05-2017
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- As famine takes hold in South Sudan and threatens to spread to northeastern Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen, world leaders must immediately step up to fully fund the United Nations’ appeal for $6.3 billion. Of this amount, $4.9 billion is urgently needed by July for critical assistance, including health, food, nutrition, and water. If lives are to be saved, humanitarian agencies must be able to rapidly scale up and access people in need. World leaders must not walk away from key meetings, such as the Group of Seven Taormina Summit in Italy and the Group of Twenty Hamburg Summit in Germany, without taking action to increase funding, improve access, resolve conflict and insecurity, and ensure that emergency relief is coupled with long-term approaches to building resilience in affected countries.
- Topic:
- International Cooperation, United Nations, Famine, Food Security, and Leadership
- Political Geography:
- Africa, Middle East, Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan
47. Protection and Governance: Linking Good Practice in Protection and Governance Programmes in the DRC
- Author:
- Helen Lindley-Jones
- Publication Date:
- 06-2017
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Oxfam’s programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo work in a context in which violent and non-violent conflict affect communities and protection and governance concerns are closely linked. Some protection threats, such as illegal taxes and arbitrary arrests, stem from structural governance issues, and other protection threats, such as forced marriage, are exacerbated through the challenges that local authorities face in fulfilling their role as duty bearers. This learning report explores the overlap between protection and governance, and Oxfam’s staff in the DRC share learning of potential value for the review and design of other governance and protection programmes in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
- Topic:
- Governance, Fragile States, Conflict, and Protected People
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Democratic Republic of Congo
48. Africa Climate Change Resilience Alliance: Phase 2 Synthesis Evaluation
- Author:
- Aristides Baloi, John Colvin, and Mutizwa Mukute
- Publication Date:
- 06-2017
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- ACCRA, which began implementing its programme in Mozambique, Uganda and Ethiopia in 2009, works with national and local governments and civil society groups in the countries where its programmes are implemented to tackle complex climate change issues and work towards increasing community adaptive capacities, transforming governance systems and achieving climate justice. This evaluation of phase 2 of the programme used a participatory, reflexive and theory-informed methodology to assess the extent to which the programme objectives were met. Also available are case studies on Mozambique and Uganda; see downloads on this page.
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Development, Environment, and Governance
- Political Geography:
- Uganda, Africa, Mozambique, and Ethiopia
49. Women’s Empowerment in South Africa: Evaluation of the Raising Her Voice project
- Author:
- Gavin Stedman-Bryce
- Publication Date:
- 06-2017
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- This evaluation is presented as part of the Effectiveness Review Series 2015/16, selected for review under the women’s empowerment thematic area. This report documents the findings of an impact evaluation, carried out in January 2016. The purpose of the evaluation was to rigorously assess the effectiveness of the Raising Her Voice project in South Africa (RHV-SA), in terms of its contribution to greater women’s empowerment. Usually, evaluations under this thematic area are evaluated using quasi-experimental impact evaluation techniques. In this case, given the characteristics of the project, a different impact evaluation technique has been applied, called process tracing. Where interventions have small sample sizes for evaluators to draw from (referred to as small ‘n’ evaluations), this can make it difficult to adopt traditional counterfactual approaches to establishing causality for a range of technical and practical reasons. This is a situation typically faced in projects under Oxfam’s Good Governance outcome area (previously known as Citizen Voice and Policy Influencing). Evaluations of interventions under this outcome area are concerned with establishing whether or not they contributed to an observed change; in other words, they are concerned with assessing a causal claim. To make this type of assessment possible, Oxfam developed a pre-qualified protocol, based on process tracing.
- Topic:
- Civil Society, Governance, Gender Based Violence, and Feminism
- Political Geography:
- Africa and South Africa
50. Finance for a Fruitful Future: Dutch Aid for Agriculture 2005-2015
- Author:
- Hugo Hooijer and Madelon Meijer
- Publication Date:
- 06-2017
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Dutch oofficial development assistance (ODA) for agriculture has been on the rise in the last five years. However, it remains unclear whether Dutch ODA expenditures on agriculture are reaching female smallholder farmers. Empowering smallholders, especially women, is a proven solution for reducing hunger and poverty. This is particularly true of the rural poor, who are the worst affected by the impacts of climate change. This paper calls on the Dutch government to combine a strong ODA budget for agriculture with a solid strategy for resolving hunger by 2030, to scale up climate finance for adaptations in the agricultural sector, and to supply improved data on the impact of agricultural investments for each target group and gender.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Gender Issues, Poverty, Sustainable Development Goals, and Farming
- Political Geography:
- Africa
51. Sustainable Solutions to Water Supply in Kenya
- Author:
- Ian Goodrich and Simeon Ogamba
- Publication Date:
- 06-2017
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- The Kenya Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Resilience and Governance Programme is built upon a theory of change which emphasizes empowerment, rights and the ability of citizens – particularly women – to develop and implement their own strategies for better access to services to improve health and quality of life. The programme’s approach holds that the best-placed actors to deliver improved water and sanitation are the country’s government, civil society and private sector, who are held accountable by the citizens they serve in promoting the quality and sustainability of services. The programme addresses water and sanitation challenges in urban and rural settlements of Kenya, strengthening the capacity of county governments, water-user associations and water utility companies to provide safe, sustainable services; developing and piloting innovative solutions; and working with other civil society partners to call for policy changes that address the needs of the most vulnerable people. This document particularly focuses on the question of whether water ATMs are a sustainable solution to water supply.
- Topic:
- Water, Infrastructure, Innovation, and Sustainability
- Political Geography:
- Kenya and Africa
52. Working in Partnership With Others: Facilitating Changes in Livelihoods in Rwanda
- Author:
- Ian Goodrich
- Publication Date:
- 06-2017
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- The programme has four main objectives: Employment and value chain development. Enhancing the enabling environment for agricultural markets and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Strengthening citizen participation in government decision making related to the agriculture sector. Strengthening women’s economic leadership. This document focuses on these areas and how the programme has addressed the government’s ban on the use of plastic bags, which created an obstacle for small-scale producers.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Development, Gender Issues, Governance, Leadership, Participation, and Value Chains
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Rwanda
53. Young Couples in Good Times and in Bad: Social Norms that Perpetuate Violence Against Women and Girls Among Young Tunisians in Peri-urban Areas
- Author:
- Saskia van Veen, Salma Jrad, and Galand Soufia
- Publication Date:
- 07-2017
- Content Type:
- Research Paper
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Around half of women in Tunisia have experienced some form of violence in their life. Over 90% of the population thinks women should be discreet to avoid violence in public spaces. From the perspective of Oxfam and dozens of women’s rights organisations, social norms that legitimise gender inequality and violence are rooted in the deeply entrenched belief – found, to some extent, in every country – that men and boys are more valuable than women and girls. ENOUGH, a worldwide Oxfam campaign, aims to replace harmful social norms with more positive ones that promote gender equality and non-violence. To better understand how social norms are constructed among young people in Tunisia and how they influence behaviour, Oxfam Tunisia conducted formative research by interviewing 40 young men and women and analysing the results with experts, NGOs and bloggers working on violence against women and girls (VAWG). From the research and subsequent analysis in a workshop, three social norms were identified as drivers of violence: women should not strive for equal decision-making status in their relationship; women should prioritise home and family over public or professional life; and women should behave in public in a way that respects male domination. This research will inform the development of the ENOUGH campaign in Tunisia, sharpening its focus on changing the norms that underlie VAWG.
- Topic:
- Civil Society, Gender Issues, Gender Based Violence, and Norms
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Tunisia
54. New Actors, New Models, New Outcomes? African Countries’ Engagement with China and other Development Partners in Achieving the SDGs and Agenda 2063
- Author:
- Chris Alden
- Publication Date:
- 07-2017
- Content Type:
- Research Paper
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Understanding how Africa can engage with global development partners to provide more effective support for implementation of the SDGs and Agenda 2063 is crucial to realizing the continent’s development aspirations. This report provides a detailed assessment of the key development platforms – the SDGs, Agenda 2063 and FOCAC. It examines how Africans can mobilize around a Common African Position on Implementation of the SDGs and Agenda 2063 at the level of national governments, regional economic communities and the African Union – with an aim to improve coordination and cooperation in best practice for development between emerging and traditional partners.
- Topic:
- Development, International Trade and Finance, Regional Cooperation, Sustainable Development Goals, and Regionalism
- Political Geography:
- Africa, China, and Asia
55. Transparency is More than Dollars and Cents: An Examination of Informational Needs for Aid Spending in Sierra Leone and Liberia
- Author:
- Aria Grabowski
- Publication Date:
- 09-2017
- Content Type:
- Research Paper
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Transparency in international aid is not just about fulfilling a requirement based on people’s right to access information, but also about making aid more effective. Transparency can help improve coordination and planning, enable accountability, and build trust. Accomplishing these goals can be a challenge when there are many partners involved in channeling funds through a complicated web of service delivery without clear public information explaining who did what where. This research looks at the information needed by in-country development stakeholders with an emphasis on accountability actors including civil society organizations, charities, government workers, and the media. To collect this information, semi-structured interviews were conducted in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The majority of interviewees wanted information about financial resources and the channels they flowed through, and all respondents wanted information on the services provided and where the work was happening subnationally, suggesting that these two sets of information may be the most important. Unfortunately, information on subnational locations and services provided is infrequently available through open aid data portals, implying a need to update what aid information is shared.
- Topic:
- Ebola, Transparency, Public Health, and Pandemic
- Political Geography:
- Africa, Liberia, and Sierra Leone
56. Mapping and Monitoring WASH Facilities: Integrating Mobile Data Collection and GIS Tools for Better Monitoring in Tanzania
- Author:
- Hillman Agung
- Publication Date:
- 09-2017
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Oxfam has been piloting the combined use of mobile data collection and geographic information systems (GIS) tools to better monitor water, sanitation and hygiene facilities as part of its work to support Burundian refugees in Tanzania. This case study describes how, as well as building capacity among staff, the pilot enabled the generation of timely and accurate data to support programme activities.
- Topic:
- Infrastructure, Data, Maping, and Mobile Network
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Tanzania
57. Improving Coordination through Mapping: Using GIS to Map Community Boreholes in South Sudan
- Author:
- Paul Evans
- Publication Date:
- 09-2017
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- In South Sudan, Oxfam has introduced the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to map water and sanitation facilities across conflict-hit Wau. This case study explains how this has enabled Oxfam and partners to better monitor and coordinate activities – and has the potential to maximize opportunities to develop sustainable water sources.
- Topic:
- Science and Technology, Water, Infrastructure, Sanitation, Geography, Maping, and Hygiene
- Political Geography:
- Africa and South Sudan
58. From Early Warning to Early Action in Somalia: What can we Learn to Support Early Action to Mitigate Humanitarian Crises?
- Author:
- Emma Feeny
- Publication Date:
- 10-2017
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- More than three years after it was initiated in the aftermath of the 2011 famine, the early-warning, early-action trigger mechanism for Somalia remains a work in progress. This paper looks at how the mechanism has functioned during the 2016/7 drought crisis response, uncovers a widespread consensus about the value of the tool, and explores the challenges involved in developing the dashboard, generating support and putting in place an accountability framework. It looks for learning around the effectiveness of such tools, which could potentially support similar models in other countries. This paper also highlights suggestions from a range of stakeholders regarding actions that might support greater buy-in to the dashboard and broader collaboration at all levels, helping ensure the mechanism meets its aim of facilitating decision making for early action, thereby better protecting the people of Somalia.
- Topic:
- Human Rights, Famine, Humanitarian Crisis, and Disaster Management
- Political Geography:
- Somalia and Africa
59. Turning Water into Wellbeing: How an Irrigation Scheme Changed Lives in a Zimbabwean Dryland
- Author:
- Solomon Mombeshora and Martin Walsh
- Publication Date:
- 10-2017
- Content Type:
- Research Paper
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Climate change is putting increasing stress on the livelihoods of people living in the world’s drylands. Smallholder irrigation has long been seen as a means of improving food security in areas with unpredictable rainfall, and is now being promoted as part of climate change adaptation strategies. The Ruti Irrigation Scheme in Zimbabwe was begun by Oxfam in 2009 with these objectives in mind. This report examines the findings of two evaluations of the project and shows that the irrigation scheme has had more significant social and economic impacts than those measured by a quantitative study alone. However, the positive impacts for wellbeing have not been as extensive as originally hoped – having been affected by extreme weather events and the decision to reserve scarce water for use by sugar estates further downstream. This suggests that while smallholder irrigation schemes can provide important local benefits, these are threatened not only by the usual difficulties associated with their implementation, but also by the greater challenges posed by climate change and the resource conflicts that are being exacerbated as a result. These are problems which require significant changes in policy and practice at catchment-wide, national, and international levels.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Climate Change, Water, Famine, Infrastructure, and Food Security
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Zimbabwe
60. Is IMF Tax Policy Progressive?
- Author:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Publication Date:
- 10-2017
- Content Type:
- Commentary and Analysis
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- The IMF has significant influence on the tax policies of developing countries through advice and conditionality, technical assistance and by setting global standards and analyzing global trends. Its rhetoric has become more progressive in recent years. This paper assesses the IMF’s tax advice to developing countries based on five country case studies (Ghana, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Peru, Senegal) over the period 2010 to 2015 and supported by a desk study of public IMF documents. It finds that there is a gap between the IMF’s commitment to leveraging fiscal policy to fight inequality, and its actual tax advice to developing countries.
- Topic:
- International Cooperation, Inequality, Tax Systems, IMF, and Progressivism
- Political Geography:
- Africa, South America, Nicaragua, Mozambique, Senegal, Peru, and Ghana