Strengthening Women's Citizenship: the experience of Sierra Leone
By (14/08/2008)
Strengthening the citizenship of poor women and ensuring their rights and participation in governance represents a major challenge for the development community. This is particularly difficult in fragile states where customary governance is strong and the formal state is weak. However, the case of Sierra Leone demonstrates that processes of state-building can be used to strengthen women’s citizenship and provide women with new rights and opportunities for participation in decision-making.

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The aid effectiveness agenda and decentralised cooperation
By (30/07/2008)
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| Atelier Teee, Flickr |
Decentralised cooperation represents approximately 15 percent of total Spanish ODA. To its significant quantitative reach must also be added the important institutional development which it has experienced in recent years through autonomous legislation, strategic planning, the creation of new agencies and the opening of new offices and expatriation of personnel.
Democratic ownership and mutual accountability
By (22/07/2008)
2008 is a milestone for delivery on the promises of more aid, more equal donor-recipient relations and a more inclusive process of development policy-making in the South. This conference series brought the international debate to Spain and contrasted Spanish aid reform with that of the international mainstream.
Brazil as a new international development actor
By (15/07/2008)
Brazil’s position in the global system is marked by different factors: Being aware of its hybrid position between the North and the South, and the external perceptions that identifies Brazil as an important and crucial country for the regional stability and development (concept anchor country launched for example by the German Development Agency), Brazil projects its global identity as a “voice” for the developing world in crucial international debates. In this context, Brazil refuses to be seen as a donor, but identifies itself as a partner for development.
Financing for gender equality
By (18/06/2008)
The 52nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in February and March 2008 made the integration of gender perspectives in international development aid a priority. Taking a civil society standpoint, this comment article explores the key issues being negotiated and proposes courses of action to move forward with the promotion of gender equality.

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