Past Highlights

Continental drifts in a multipolar world - Challenges for Africa-Europe relations in 2019

17 Jan 2019

2019/01 – European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM); research paper; Author(s): Alexei Jones; Lidet Tadesse Shiferaw; Philomena Apiko

This year's ECDPM challenge paper analyses the institutional and political processes and dynamics that will influence the ability of the African Union and EU to work together on issues of common concern in a spirit of partnership between equals. In addition, it identifies windows of opportunities to revamp the EU-Africa partnership in 2019. This paper examines some of those and looks ahead at what to expect in the coming year. We pay particular attention to converging and diverging interests, across member states, between the member states and their respective continental organisations – the EU and the African Union, and between the two continents themselves.

continue: Continental drifts in a multipolar world - Challenges for Africa-Europe relations in 2019 (external link)

The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

03 Jan 2019

2018/12 – Oxford Department of International Development (ODID); research paper; Author(s): Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (Ophi)

The Most Detailed Picture to Date of the World’s Poorest People presents the global MPI 2018, a newly revised index based on a short but powerful list of 10 deprivations. It now covers 105 countries in total, which are home to 77 per cent of the world’s population, or 5.7 billion people. Key findings are:

1.3 billion people live in multidimensional poverty.
83% of all multidimensionally poor people in the world live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Two-thirds of all MPI poor people live in middle-income countries.
Half of the multidimensionally poor are children aged 0-17.
85% of MPI poor people live in rural areas.
46% of those who are multidimensionally poor live in severe poverty.
In 2015/16, more than 364 million people are still MPI poor in India.
In India, 271 million people moved out of poverty in ten years.

continue: The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) (external link)

Mapping Just Transition(s) to a Low-Carbon World

14 Dec 2018

2018/11 – United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD); research paper; Author(s) The Just Transition Research Collaborative

Just Transition — the idea that justice and equity must form an integral part of the transition towards a low-carbon world — is increasingly being mobilized both to counter the idea that protecting the environment and protecting jobs are incompatible, and to broaden the debate to justice-related issues such as the kinds of jobs and societies we envision for the future. This report unpacks the different understandings, narratives and framings of Just Transition that underpin the concept’s growing popularity and uptake. Six short country case studies provide insights into how Just Transition is—or is not—being mobilized on the ground. The report calls for a progressive interpretation of Just Transition to promote transformative change and climate justice for all.

continue: Mapping Just Transition(s) to a Low-Carbon World (external link)

How to spend €89.2 billion: Early developments in international cooperation programming

03 Dec 2018

2018/11 – European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM); research paper; Author(s): Alisa Herrero Cangas; Andrew Sherriff; Mariella Di Ciommo; Sanne Thijssen

In the proposal for its next budget (2021-2027), the European Commission envisages a major restructuring of its external action architecture that reflects the EU’s ambition to pursue a more strategic, political and interest-driven external action. It includes the creation of a ‘Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument’ (NDICI) worth €89.2 billion, and of global scope. Up to 75% of funds are intended for political cooperation with partner countries and regions. This discussion paper by the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) is an initial analysis of how the EU institutions are currently preparing for the next bilateral programming process. While there have been a number of encouraging developments, some potential policy-to-practice gaps need to be addressed early in the process, to ensure that the NDICI fulfils all of the EU’s external action aspirations.

continue: How to spend €89.2 billion: Early developments in international cooperation programming (external link)

The Brown to Green Report 2018

03 Dec 2018

2018/11 – Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales (IDDRI); Overseas Development Institute (ODI);

The Brown to Green Report 2018 is the world’s most comprehensive review of G20 climate action. It provides concise and comparable information on G20 country mitigation action, finance and vulnerability. It gives an overview of all G20 countries, whether – and how well – they are doing on the journey to transition to a low-carbon economy. The report draws on the latest emissions data from 2017 and covers 80 indicators on decarbonisation, climate policies, finance and vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. Providing country ratings, it identifies leaders and laggards in the G20. Developed by experts from 14 research organisations and NGOs from the majority of the G20 countries, the report covers 80 indicators

continue: The Brown to Green Report 2018 (external link)

The EU and the corporate impunity nexus

09 Nov 2018

17 Oct 2018 - 2018/10, Transnational Institute, Research Paper

This report includes a collection of case studies illustrating how corporate impunity works and highlighting the failures of current approaches, particularly to address human rights violations and provide effective remedy to affected peoples and communities. The studies reveal a pattern where European corporations outsource their worst impacts to the Global South, with the help of the architecture of impunity that legitimises and legalises the operations of Transnational Corporation (TNCs). At the core of this architecture is the infamous investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system, a private arbitration system that allows TNCs to sue states whenever they consider that their future profits are threatened by new measures or policies aiming at improving social and environmental protection.

continue: The EU and the corporate impunity nexus (external link)

Promoting Fair and Equitable Research Partnerships to Respond to Global Challenges

09 Nov 2018

2018/09 – Development Policy and Practice, the Open University (DPP); research paper; Author(s): Collaborative partners

The Rethinking Research Collaborative (RRC) is an informal international network of academics, civil society organisations and social movements, international NGOs, and research support providers who are committed to working together to explore the politics of evidence and participation in knowledge for international development. It aims to encourage more inclusive, responsive and transformative collaboration to improve the production of useful research for social justice and global development. Working in partnership is increasingly encouraged in the international development research sector. This new report and learning resources offer fresh insights into how collaboration works in practice and how it might be improved.

continue: Promoting Fair and Equitable Research Partnerships to Respond to Global Challenges (external link)

SDG progress: fragility, crisis and leaving no one behind

09 Nov 2018

2018/09 – Overseas Development Institute (ODI); research paper; Author(s): Emma Samman, Paula Lucci, Jessica Hagen-Zanker, Tanvi Bhatkal, Amanda Telias Simunovic, Susan Nicolai, Elizabeth Stuart and Charlotte Caron.

"People caught in crisis – those living in conflict, and those who are displaced within their own countries or across borders – often fall through the cracks of different authorities’ responsibilities or are explicitly excluded by governments in their national and sectoral plans. Without the concerted efforts of the international community to address the needs of people caught in crisis we will not achieve the SDGs for all, and the gap between this marginalised group and the rest of the world will grow." This study, examines country level progress against the SDGs and makes projections as to how much more effort will be needed to reach them by 2030.

continue: SDG progress: fragility, crisis and leaving no one behind (external link)

Darfuri migration from Sudan to Europe: from displacement to despair

21 Aug 2018

2018/09 – Overseas Development Institute (ODI); research paper; Author(s): Susanne Jaspars and Margie Buchanan-Smith Details

Significant numbers of Sudanese, many from Darfur, have made the journey from Sudan to Europe in search of safety and a better life. While there has been significant interest in Sudan as a transit country for migration from Africa to Europe, little attention has been paid to Sudan as a source of migrants and refugees. Yet the Sudanese were the fifth, sixth and seventh largest categories of migrants and refugees arriving in Italy in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. This study documents for the first time the experiences of young Darfuris fleeing Sudan for Europe. It aims to deepen understanding of the trends, drivers and causes of migration and displacement from Darfur. The report also explores the impact of migration to Europe on families and communities left behind, and on the wider political economy of Darfur.

continue: Darfuri migration from Sudan to Europe: from displacement to despair (external link)

Tackling the triggers of violence-induced displacement - The contribution of the African Peace and Security Architecture and African Governance Architecture

21 Aug 2018

Read more: Tackling the triggers of violence-induced displacement - The contribution of the African Peace and Security Architecture and African Governance Architecture (external link)

2018/09 – European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM); Discussion Paper 228; Author(s): Anna Knoll; Lidet Tadesse ShiferawDetails

Displacement induced by violence affects the African continent disproportionately.The African Union (AU) has developed two key continental instruments to potentially address this issue. The first is the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), for the prevention and management of conflicts. The second is the African Governance Architecture (AGA), that promotes democratic governance in the continent. The AU makes use of these two instruments to tackle governance, peace and security challenges, which are often at the heart of violence-induced displacement. The links between APSA and AGA activities and how these can reduce or alter the triggers of violence-induced displacement have not yet been explored in-depth. This paper tries to understand whether and how the interventions by the AU and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) contribute to addressing the triggers of violence-induced displacement. It clarifies the concept of triggers of violence-induced displacement, looks at selected case studies and highlights factors that seem to contribute positively to reducing triggers of violence-induced displacement. Moreover it offers some suggestions on how the APSA and the AGA could better respond in the future.

continue: Tackling the triggers of violence-induced displacement - The contribution of the African Peace and Security Architecture and African Governance Architecture (external link)

Return to top of page