UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.unido.org/en/news-centre/news.html

UNIDO Director General LI Yong – Statement on World Water Day
VIENNA, 20 March 2015 – LI Yong, the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), issued the following statement today.

“Water is a key factor input into almost all industrial production processes. UNIDO supports its partners in the efficient and effective use of water resources and the adoption of resource-efficient cleaner production processes through the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, and proactive public-private partnerships for water stewardship and water footprinting.

The underlying principle of UNIDO’s work is that we support our partners in decoupling the use and consumption of resources from economic growth. This allows UNIDO to make a significant contribution to inclusive and sustainable development, not only of industry but also of communities, societies and businesses around the globe.”

UNWTO World Tourism Organization [to 21 March 2015]
http://media.unwto.org/news

18 March 2015
UNWTO strongly condemns attack in Tunisia
UNWTO is deeply saddened and shocked by the attack in the Bardo Museum in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. UNWTO conveys its heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims who lost their lives or were injured, and expresses its solidarity to the people and the Government of Tunisia and to the governments of all nationals who were killed or injured.

ITU – International Telecommunications Union [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/index.aspx?lang=en#.VF8FYcl4WF8

ITU and ETSI agree method to assess energy efficiency of mobile networks
New standard applicable to live radio access networks
Geneva, 17 March 2015 – ITU and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) have agreed a new standard to measure the energy efficiency of mobile radio access networks (RANs), the wireless networks that connect end-user equipment to the core network.

The standard is the first to define energy-efficiency metrics and measurement methods for live RANs, providing a common reference to evaluate their performance. Its application will build uniformity in the methodologies employed by such evaluations, in parallel establishing a common basis for the interpretation of the results.

“Improving the energy efficiency of ICT has become central to all fields of technical standardization at ITU,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. “We are moving towards a world that will host billions of connected devices, things and objects, making energy efficiency essential to the functionality and environmental sustainability of ICT networks.”…

UNESCO [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/for-the-press/press-releases/

20.03.15
Тsunami alert exercise in the Caribbean

19.03.15
Urgent need to manage water more sustainably, says UN report

16.03.15
UNAMI, UNESCO stand behind Iraqi academia in fight against heritage destruction
Baghdad, 15 March 2015 – “The United Nations family shares the great concern of Iraqi archaeologists and heritage experts for the country’s unique patrimony”, said Gyorgy Busztin, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (DSRSG), and Axel Plathe, Director of the UNESCO Office for Iraq, at a meeting today with Salah Flaifil A’Ayed, Dean of the Colleges of Art of the University of Bagdad and professors of its Faculty of Archaeology.

Endorsing the firm condemnation by the College of Arts of the criminal acts carried out by the terrorists destroying antiquities testifying to the Mesopotamian culture, Gyorgy Busztin and Axel Plathe agreed with Salah Flaifil A’Ayaed to support the campaign to protect Iraq’s heritage that was launched through an event at the University of Baghdad last week.

“The United Nations are fully mobilized and stand ready to assist the Iraqi authorities in any possible way,” said Georgy Buzstin…

CBD Convention on Biological Diversity [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.cbd.int/press-releases/

Press Releases/Statements
2015-03-20
Statement of the CBD Executive Secretary, Braulio F. de Souza Dias, on the occasion of the International Day of Forests 2015, 21 March 2015
More than 1.6 billion people worldwide depend on forests to meet their basic needs. The biodiversity of these vast biomes span tropical and temperate areas, and provide the foundation for ecosystem services that support poverty eradication, food security, medicines, energy and clean water. Yet, despite progress made, we still continue to lose forests at an alarming rate. In order to reverse this trend, we need to better value the wide range of benefits that forests provide for society at large.

This year, as we celebrate the International Day of Forests under the theme of “Forests and Climate Change,” we need to also look at the crucial and direct contribution of forests and forest biodiversity to the mitigation and adaption to climate change. This is particularly important as we look ahead to the climate change conference taking place in Paris later this year under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

One specific action that can help is for countries to take into account the role of biodiversity in climate change strategies, among them forest ecosystem restoration, within national voluntary reporting. Ecosystem restoration offers the potential to achieve win-win climate and biodiversity goals, if appropriate measures are taken. Accordingly, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is encouraging Parties, through notification 2015-02-12,1 to make use of existing tools, guidance and information related to biodiversity and climate change.

Efforts to conserve and restore forest ecosystems can profoundly contribute to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets, as well as other internationally agreed goals, such as the four Global Objectives on Forests of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), the post-2015 sustainable development agenda, including in particular the proposed Sustainable Development Goal 15, and such initiatives such as the Bonn Challenge of the Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration…

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2015-03-19
Message of the CBD Executive Secretary, Braulio F. de Souza Dias, on the occasion of the World Water Day, 22 March 2015 “Water and sustainable development”
Water is one of our most precious natural resources. Ensuring a clean, healthy and sustainable water supply is now the highest of natural resources management issues. The most recent edition of the Global Risks report of the World Economic Forum1 places global water crises as the top risk in terms of impact and among the top ten in terms of likelihood. Water is also tied to many of the other top ten risks.

The importance of water to sustainable development is well recognized. In order to function, all terrestrial ecosystems, including coastal areas, require water to be available and of sufficient quality.

However, ecosystems supported by biodiversity provide water-related services and are critical for sustaining water in order to meet human needs. For example, wetlands, forests and grasslands act as natural water infrastructure. Their conservation and sustainable management provide important tools for ensuring the availability of water, including during the extremes of droughts and floods, as well as helping maintain water quality. Better management of soil health and soil biodiversity, as well as natural infrastructure in farming landscapes are also key for achieving water security, and also underpin food security and disaster risk reduction. If we make better use of this natural infrastructure, we will deliver improved and more sustainable water security, economic performance and increased resilience in the face of climate change.

This year’s World Water Day theme, “Water and sustainable development”, coincides with the ongoing discussions in the United Nations of the post-2015 development agenda and the adoption of a set of new sustainable development goals and targets expected later this year. I am pleased to see that this agenda, still under discussion, already recognizes the importance of water in proposed Goal 6 (“Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”). It is particularly notable that its target 6.6 (“by 2020 protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes”) recognizes the role of ecosystems in achieving the goal. This target builds on discussions held under the Convention on Biological Diversity leading up to the adoption in 2010 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and, in particular, the incorporation of water into Aichi Biodiversity Target 14 (By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous and local communities, and the poor and vulnerable). The role of ecosystems in underpinning water was also clearly recognized in the outcomes of the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)…

DFID [to 21 March 2015]
https://www.gov.uk/government/latest?departments%5B%5D=department-for-international-development

Oxford University and UK Government to lead research to improve global water supply
Published 20 March 2015 Press release DFID

African Union [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.au.int/en/

Mar.20.2015   AUC and the Ethiopian Government Agree to Co-Organise the e-Learning Africa Conference in May 2015

Mar.20.2015   Celebration of the International Day of Forests (IDF), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Mar.18.2015   The African Union strongly condemns the heinous terrorist attack in Tunisia

Mar.18.2015   The Republic Niger to Host the First African Girls’ Summit on Ending Child Marriage in Africa

Mar.17.2015   AUC hosts the first task force Meeting on the Pan African Virtual University

ASEAN [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.asean.org/news

ASEAN Moves Sectoral MRA on Good Manufacturing Practices Forward
JAKARTA, 18 March 2015 – Healthcare, which includes the pharmaceutical sector, is one of 12 priority sectors for ASEAN economic integration. In line with this, an ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Inspection for Manufacturers of Medicinal Products had been identified as a priority initiative. Thus, an ASEAN MRA Taskforce on GMP Inspection was formed in 2005 to work towards the signing of a pan-ASEAN MRA on GMP Inspection, in tandem with the creation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015.

World Trade Organisation [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

19 March 2015
Azevêdo underscores WTO commitment to trade programme for poorest countries
Director-General Roberto Azevêdo, in closing the Enhanced Integrated Framework’s (EIF) ‘Global Platform’ meeting at the WTO on 19 March 2015, said that “we can take pride in the fact that the EIF is becoming more flexible, more efficient, more effective and more adaptable, to the specific needs of the least developed countries”. He urged participants to “continue working together to ensure that the second phase of the EIF is the major success story that we all want to see”.

IMF [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.imf.org/external/news/default.aspx
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

IMF Co-Hosts Conference on Financial Inclusion in Central Africa
Press Release No. 115
March 16, 2015
The Central Bank of Central African States and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will co-host a conference on March 23, 2015 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, to examine the prospects and policy options for promoting financial inclusion in Central Africa.

The Conference Finance for All: Promoting Financial Inclusion in Central Africa will aim to discuss the impact of financial inclusion on growth and poverty reduction. Access to financial services can play a critical role in reducing inequality and supporting inclusive growth. However, only about half of the world’s population has access to financial services, and that access is unequally spread across regions, countries, income levels and gender. In most of Central Africa, access is comparatively low.

The event will bring together more than 200 participants from government, academia, civil society and banking. It will focus on the policy challenges facing the countries of the Economic Community of Central Africa States (ECCAS) as they seek to increasing access to financial services for all while managing policy challenges and supervisory risks…

World Bank [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

World Bank Statement on Bardo Museum Attack in Tunisia
TUNIS, March 19, 2015—World Bank Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer Sri Mulyani Indrawati issued the following statement today: “On behalf of the World Bank Group I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to the people and government of Tunisia. I am deeply saddened by the horrific attacks that occurred at the historical Bardo museum in Tunis. As an example of a successful democratic transition, Tunisia stands as a beacon for the region. Since 2011, Tunisians have passed hurdle after hurdle and proved their deepest commitment to transform their country in a peaceful way. This attack, which occurred during my visit to Tunisia, will only strengthen our resolve to stand by the Tunisian people and support the government in creating shared and equitable growth.”…
Date: March 19, 2015

The Renewable Electricity Grid: The Future Is Now
These approaches include strengthening interconnections between areas, diversifying the contribution of different renewable energy sources from various locations, and building up complementary generation and demand response technologies. The report builds upon previous reports on the topic published by the World Bank and other international organizations, by focusing on the important role that natural gas and energy storage can play in integrating variable renewable energy sources. With their fast start-up times, natural gas-fired power generation technologies have an edge over other conventional generation options such as nuclear or coal in that they can ramp up and down quickly, providing power as needed to balance variations in wind and solar inputs. Likewise, energy storage options have the potential to address most of the challenging aspects of integration…
Date: March 18, 2015

Improving Living Conditions for Marginalized Roma
This handbook is the latest addition to a growing library of knowledge and is designed to help prepare and implement effective interventions for improving the living conditions of disadvantaged Roma at the local level. By focusing on the integration of interventions in the four areas of housing, employment, education, and health care, this handbook reinforces the idea that a collective approach to engagement can be more effective than a sector-by-sector silo approach.“ Poverty and exclusion among Roma present a number of multi-faceted challenges,” notes Kosuke Anan, Senior Social Development Specialist at the World Bank and author of the Handbook, “interventions in a diverse number of areas, from health to education to employment, are all necessary to help improve the living conditions of Roma. But what we find is that coordination among these programs can significantly increase their effectiveness…
Date: March 18, 2015

World Bank Boosts Fisheries in Mauritania and Guinea, Contributing to the Ebola Recovery
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2015 – The World Bank Group’s (WBG) Board of Executive Directors today approved a total of US$22 million to strengthen the management and governance of fisheries as well as improve the handling of fish that is brought to shore in Mauritania and Guinea. Today’s project that focuses on these two countries is a component of the ongoing West Africa Regional Fisheries Program (WARFP), a nine-country, multi-phase series of projects approved by the World Bank in 2009 to ensure the productivity of West African water’s wealth of fish resources is maintained at its best level. The other countries under implementation included in the program are Cabo-Verde, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. “Fisheries are a key contributor to food security, nutrition and job creation for Guinea and Mauritania, who are among the poorest and most vulnerable in the world. Fish and fish products accounts for an average of 17.9% of animal protein…
Date: March 16, 2015

World Bank Group Statement On Cyclone Pam
SYDNEY, March 15 2015 – We are deeply concerned for the people of Vanuatu in the face of the devastation caused by Cyclone Pam. We are waiting for official casualty reports and stand ready to help. The World Bank’s disaster risk management (DRM) team is monitoring the situation closely. The priority at this stage will be for the humanitarian and relief agencies to provide emergency assistance. “Our hearts go out to the people of Vanuatu in the wake of the devastation from Cyclone Pam. Vanuatu is ranked as one of the world’s most at-risk countries to natural disasters because of its vulnerability and exposure to cyclones,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. “Cyclone Pam is a devastating reminder of the risks of disasters and we will be working closely with the Government to provide any necessary support. “The World Bank Group is now looking at every possible avenue and working with partners to support the people of Vanuatu…
Date: March 15, 2015

Amref Health Africa [to 21 March 2015]
http://amref.org/news/news/

Water shortage and Trachoma – A double burden for women and children in Samburu
Published: 20 March 2015
Every morning before sunrise, women and children in Kenya’s Samburu County embark on an arduous journey, one that takes them miles away from their homes in search of water. By then, the men and…

Let’s integrate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene into public health interventions for sustainability, says Amref Health Africa
Published: 20 March 2015 Marie Kinyanjui
International World Water Day 2015 The 2015 World Water Day comes at a time when the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are being assessed and the international community is defining new Sustainable…

Walking together – Pairing tradition and modernity to improve maternal health care
Published: 18 March 2015 Marie Kinyanjui
A study carried out in pastoral communities in Kenya shows that maternal health outcomes can be improved by encouraging traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to work with skilled health workers. The two-year study, a collaboration…

Using Movies to Train Health Workers
Published: 18 March 2015
Amref Health Africa launches new partnership with Medical Aid Films Amref Health Africa and Medical Aid Films are delighted to announce an exciting new partnership to deliver essential training for nurses and midwives in…

International Rescue Committee/IRC  [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index

The IRC statement on confirmed case of Ebola in Liberia’s capital
March 20, 2015 by The IRC
NEW YORK—Confirmation today of a new case of Ebola in Monrovia – the first in 17 days – re-emphasizes the need for strict infection prevention control at all health clinics and hospitals in Liberia. Health care workers at Redemption Hospital’s emergency ward, managed by the International Rescue Committee, had the infection prevention and control resources they needed to respond to this case in a way that minimized the risk of infection. Such protection measures must be in place across the board.
The Montserrado Consortium, led by the IRC, has deployed contact tracers and case investigators to contact and monitor all of those who have come in contact with this patient so as to do everything they can to ensure that this remains an isolated case, without further risk of transmission

Quoted: U.S. must do more to ease Syrians’ suffering
March 20, 2015 by The IRC
“In the face of a dismaying political stalemate on the big questions of war and peace, there is every reason to use one of the few tools to ease the suffering of Syrians that is wholly within the power of the West. It is well past time for the United States and other Western countries to commit to a dramatic boost in the resettlement of Syrian refugees. Resettlement will not end the war, but it can rescue some of the most vulnerable victims of the fighting — the raped and tortured, at-risk women and children, those with acute medical needs.”
– David Miliband, the International Rescue Committee’s president, in a March 19 opinion piece in The Washington Post: U.S. should boost resettlement of Syria refugees. Miliband recommends three essential steps the United States refugee resettlement program should take to help the most vulnerable Syrians…

ICRC – International Committee of the Red Cross [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/index.jsp

Ending Ebola requires continued resources and “the right words”
News release
20 March 2015
The Ebola epidemic in West Africa, which has affected thousands of people and left deep scars on whole communities and countries, was confirmed one year ago. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement says complacency and silence are now the greatest enemies in defeating the disease, and today it is launching an international awareness-raising campaign centred on using “the right words” to help end the disease.

Pakistan: Proper handling of the dead eases the suffering of the bereaved
News release
19 March 2015
Peshawar (ICRC) – Handling the dead with respect and dignity was the theme of a five-day course run by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which drew to a close today in Peshawar. The event was an opportunity to share best practices and highlight the importance of accurate identification.

Central African Republic: Hundreds of families torn apart by conflict
News release
18 March 2015
Hundreds of people in the Central African Republic have no news of their loved ones following the conflict and other armed violence in the country. The ICRC, working closely with the Central African Red Cross Society, is pursuing its efforts to help these people trace and contact their relatives.

Nepal: Humanitarian law handbook ready for launch
News release
16 March 2015
Kathmandu (ICRC) – A handbook for parliamentarians and other civilian authorities will be presented at a ceremony in Kathmandu tomorrow. It is written in both Nepali and English.

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/press/press-releases

Selected Press Releases/Field News
Press release
Fighting to Get New TB Treatments to Those in Need
March 20, 2015
endTB will provide access to new anti-TB drugs for more than 3,000 people and run clinical trials to identify safer and more effective treatments.

Press release
Multi-drug Resistant TB Strain in Swaziland Not Detectable by Most Advanced Rapid Diagnostic Tests
March 19, 2015
Doctors Without Borders and research center in Borstel, Germany, publish findings in New England Journal of Medicine.

Press release
Syria: MSF-Supported Hospital Treats Victims of Chlorine Gas Attack
March 18, 2015
PARIS/NEW YORK, MARCH 18, 2015—A chlorine attack in northwestern Syria on March 16 killed six people and poisoned a further 70, according to reports by Syrian doctors in the region in contact with the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

Partners In Health [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.pih.org/blog

Mar 18, 2015
Haiti’s University Hospital Celebrates Second Anniversary
Now celebrating its two-year anniversary, University Hospital in Mirebalais is a boon for the region and the country following the January 12, 2010 earthquake ▸

Mar 17, 2015
Dr. Paul Farmer: ‘Redoubling Our Efforts’
[T]he everyday health conditions faced by the poor across much of West Africa are nothing if not a disaster. Redoubling our efforts in Sierra Leone and Liberia, while supporting the Guinean effort as we are able, should be the next step for PIH and its partners.

Mar 16, 2015
Dr. Gary Gottlieb Joins PIH
Dr. Gary L. Gottlieb is the new CEO of Partners In Health…

SOS-Kinderdorf International [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/about-sos/press/press-releases

20 March 2015
Syria’s ‘lost generation’ of children now suffering year 5 of war
As the brutal conflict in Syria enters its fifth year, over 12.2 million people there need life-saving humanitarian assistance. Almost half of them are children who now face a fifth year of being denied their rights to safety, education, health care and protection.
“Amid the horror and despair of a fifth year of conflict in Syria, it is children and young people who are suffering most. They are being killed and injured, tortured, displaced, and deprived of their right to safety, education and a future. Many have lost parental care. Large numbers have no care at all,” said SOS Children’s Villages International CEO, Richard Pichler.

He added: “UNICEF has assessed that more than five-and-a-half million children are currently in need of humanitarian assistance in Syria. There are almost two million refugee children outside the country. It is no exaggeration to speak of a ‘lost generation’. SOS Children’s Villages and other organisations are acting, but what will it take for this shameful suffering to end?”

SOS Children’s Villages’ first Emergency Response Programme in Syria provided support for more than 88,500 children – most of them Internally Displaced Persons – between 2013 and 2014…

EHLRA/R2HC [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.elrha.org/news/elrha

Syria Evaluation Portal for Coordinated Accountability and Lesson Learning
Published on 19/03/2015
Maintained by the ALNAP secretariat, in cooperation with the Coordinated Accountability and Lessons Learning (CALL) Initiative, the aim of this portal is to optimise collective learning around the Syria crisis in order to improve international emergency response.

This portal aims to provide a single platform, bringing together a wide range of information, data, discussion and analysis. This will be of interest to those involved in operations, policy and learning and evaluation.

The portal will be of particular interest to those involved in evaluation and learning and will provide up-to-date information about ongoing and planned evaluations, as well as other learning activities. The aim of this is to promote and share learning in order to enhance a common understanding across organisations and sectors. Sharing key information will also enhance the harmonisation of evaluation activities. The intention is that this will become a repository of data that can be used for reflection and lesson learning.

Organisations involved in operations, policy or learning related to the Syrian crisis are invited to submit documents which may help achieve these aims. For more information, please click here.

GAVI [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.gavialliance.org/library/news/press-releases/

Children in Bangladesh to benefit from dual vaccine introduction
More than three million children to be protected against polio and the leading cause of pneumonia (joint press release Gavi, UNICEF, WHO, GPEI)

Geneva/Dhaka, 20 March 2015 – Two new life-saving vaccines are being introduced tomorrow into Bangladesh’s national immunisation programme thanks to support from Gavi, UNICEF, WHO and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners.

More than three million children will benefit from pneumococcal vaccine (PCV), which protects against one of the leading causes of pneumonia, and the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) as part of the Polio Eradication & Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018.

“Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of child mortality in Bangladesh, accounting for 22 %1 of deaths of children under the age of five so the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine will have a major positive impact on child survival,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Globally, pneumococcal disease takes the lives of half a million children under the age of five each year, the vast majority of whom live in developing countries.

“We strongly believe that introduction of PCV and IPV in the national immunisation schedule will have a major impact on the reduction of under-five mortality and morbidities. Given the commitment and determination shown by the Government and partners, UNICEF is confident that this momentous effort will make a significant and sustained contribution to child survival in Bangladesh through ensuring equitable access to all children,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Representative, Bangladesh…

ODI [to 21 March 2015]
http://www.odi.org/media

Research Reports and Studies
Ghana, the rising star: progress in political voice, health and education
Research reports and studies, March 2015
Amanda Lenhardt, Alina Rocha Menocal and Jakob Engel
Ghana has achieved remarkable progress in human development over the past 20 years while undergoing one of the most successful transitions to multi-party democracy in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper explores the factors that have contributed to progress in both the provision of basic services (notably in health and education) and greater political voice for citizens.

Service characteristics and engagement with citizens
Research reports and studies, March 2015
Richard Batley and Joseph Wales
Despite significant progress in a range of public services over the past two decades, in many developing countries the average citizen continues to suffer from gaps in provision and poor performance of even the most basic services. This briefing note aims to provide some practical guidance on how different services can offer differing opportunities and challenges for improving service performance through increased accountability and, especially, citizen engagement.

Patterns of progress on the MDGs and implications for target setting post-2015
Research reports and studies, March 2015
Laura Rodriguez Takeuchi and Emma Samman, with Liesbet Steer
A range of analysis shows that progress towards development goals is rarely linear. This paper seeks to examine the true patterns of progress on the MDGs, exploring seven indicators – one representing each of the first seven MDGs. The resulting analysis asks how targets can be set in a non-linear world with countries at different stages of development, with a view towards target setting post-2015 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Intra-household inequalities in child rights and wellbeing: a barrier to progress?
Research reports and studies, March 2015
Laura Rodriguez Takeuchi
This paper attempts to measure the extent of inequality between boys and girls within households and its contribution to overall levels of inequality in child wellbeing. It proposes a new methodology to measure inequality among boys and girls within households, attempting to correct the lack of analysis of the distribution of inequality within households.

Security progress in post-conflict contexts: between liberal peacebuilding and elite interests
Research reports and studies, March 2015
Craig Valters, Erwin Van Veen and Lisa Denney
This report synthesises findings from two country case studies on how security improvements have been achieved in the challenging post-conflict contexts of Liberia and Timor-Leste. It also draws on wider literatures on liberal peacebuilding and the role of elites, which have polarised debates over how countries achieve peace.

The surprising fall in oil prices since mid-2014. What does it mean for food and agriculture?
Food price updates, March 2015
Steve Wiggins and Sharada Keats
ODI’s Food Price Updates focus on tracking international prices of key staple cereals maize, rice, and wheat, and provide commentary on events in markets that affect these prices. They also follow international food and commodity price indices. This update focuses on the effect of falling in oil prices on food prices and food security.

Unlocking the triple dividend of resilience – why investing in DRM pays off
Research reports and studies, March 2015
Thomas Tanner and Jun Rentschler
This paper finds that investing in disaster risk management (DRM) yields real benefits in both the short and long term, enabling forward-looking planning, long-term capital investments, and entrepreneurship. DRM investments generate co-benefits in addition to avoided loss and damage, when a disaster strikes.

Manufacturing progress? Employment creation in Sri Lanka
Research reports and studies, March 2015
Bruce Byiers, Florian Krätke, Priyanka Jayawardena, Laura Rodríguez Takeuchi and Anushka Wijesinha
This study, written in collaboration with ECDPM, aims to explain the employment progress achieved in Sri Lanka from 1990 to 2010. This period has seen a drastic reduction in unemployment, and improved working conditions, particularly for women, accompanied by structural transformation away from agriculture towards manufacturing and services. The drivers of employment progress in quality, quantity and access are examined in terms of policies affecting demand for and supply of labour.

Work in progress: productive employment and transformation in Uganda
Research reports and studies, March 2015
Bruce Byiers, Laura Rodríguez Takeuchi and Anna Rosengren with Dr Moses Muhwezi, Dickson Turyareeba, Joyce Abaliwano, Bernard Wabukala and Ramathan Ggoobi
Since the 1990s Uganda, a small, landlocked country, has experienced the initial phases of economic transformation, accompanied by important employment progress. The country has seen a significant expansion in the share of wage employment, particularly during the 2000s, with private, non-agricultural wage employment experiencing one of the fastest growth rates in Africa. Overall labour productivity has more than doubled from 1990 to 2010. This study, written in collaboration with ECDPM, aims to explain this progress.

Working for economic transformation
Research reports and studies, March 2015
Bruce Byiers, Tom Berliner, Francesca Guadagno and Laura Rodríguez Takeuchi
A key challenge for developing countries is to generate more and better job opportunities for all parts of the population. What does this mean in practice, in the context of economic structural transformation?