Making Impact Evaluation Matter
Over the last week, 3ie staff in Delhi, London and Washington were busy coordinating conference logistics, finalizing the program, and putting the last touches to their presentations. This is usual preparation for a conference but this one is going to be different. Why? Because the participant mix–of more than 500 people–is balanced among policymakers, program managers, implementers, and researchers.
Good Governance Central to Asia’s Transformation
There is no universal strategy for pursuing a triple bottom line of high, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth, but better governance is an imperative.
Unlocking Myanmar’s Potential
Economic and political transition is never an easy process for any country and it will be no different for Asia’s fast awakening tiger, Myanmar.
Pushing the Boundaries for Women
Fifteen years ago I was working for a nongovernment organization (NGO) in Bangladesh documenting stories of training and economic empowerment of communities. A common recurring theme in virtually all the communities was the gender stereotyping in skills training programs.
Engagement Between Governments and CSOs: Are We Getting Results?
States are increasingly recognizing that constructive engagement and collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs) is an important ingredient to achieving better governance.
Getting Ready for the Post-2015 SDGs: Join the E-Dialogue
The new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are expected to bring a stronger focus on longer-term durability of development gains as opposed to the current approach which sees decision-making targeted at the shorter term. At present, businesses main focus is annual balance sheets; for development organizations it is annual results reporting; and for democracies there's cyclical elections.
Is Asia Ready for Social Impact Bonds?
Raising finance for projects which are socially important but have little appeal to hard-nosed investors has been a major challenge for governments and donor agencies in the past. But now a new instrument has been developed which offers a fresh way forward—Social Impact Bonds.
We are All Advocates
About twenty years ago I was working for a well-known nongovernment organization (NGO), campaigning on many issues from access to affordable drugs for HIV/AIDS patients, to advocating for fair trade for small farmers. When asked what I did I explained about my advocacy for social justice. “Oh so, you’re promoting communism?” was the response.
Window of Opportunity Still Open on Climate Action
A set of reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the last of which was released on November 2, 2014, sets the scene for governments to renew their efforts on the issue through ambitious commitments for a comprehensive climate agreement in Paris in December 2015.
Ebola: The Weakest Link Jeopardizes Everyone
More than a year ago, I was in Liberia as part of a team looking into its health system and health financing reforms. The country was still recovering from long years of civil strife. But Liberia was eager to be one of a growing number of countries which were aspiring to and pursuing universal health coverage (UHC).