Showing papers in "Development Policy Review in 2014"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that the aim of transforming the performance of smallholder agricultural production is driven by the twin imperatives of economic growth and political control, and that there are tensions between the objectives of stimulating agricultural growth and extensively penetrating society and winning elections, and these may reduce the returns to this investment.
Abstract: This article argues that, in Ethiopia, the aim to transform the performance of smallholder agricultural production is driven by the twin imperatives of economic growth and political control. The agricultural extension programme – the largest and fastest growing in the continent – has been central to this strategy, and the unparalleled investment in the extension system has been driven by these twin imperatives. However, there are tensions between the objectives of stimulating agricultural growth, on the one hand, and extensively penetrating society and winning elections, on the other, and these may reduce the returns to this investment. Implications are drawn for wider debates on the reform of agricultural extension.
105 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors draw on the experiences of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay by distinguishing between short-term outcomes and policy changes, which are more important for long-term performance.
Abstract: Has the past decade of sustained economic growth and political transformations reversed Latin America's historical failure to secure market and social incorporation? To address this question this article draws on the experiences of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay by distinguishing between short-term outcomes – which may depend on benign international conditions – and policy changes, which are more important for long-term performance. It highlights the overall success of both Brazil and Uruguay and shows that the other countries have made more progress in terms of social than market incorporation.
83 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a special issue sponsored by UNU-WIDER focusing on key governance challenges related to addressing gaps in urban service delivery in sub-Saharan Africa is presented, highlighting how and when such dynamics become problematic for the delivery of urban services, and offer important implications for the donor community.
Abstract: This is an introduction to a special issue sponsored by UNU-WIDER focusing on key governance challenges related to addressing gaps in urban service delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. First, due to decentralisation policies in much of Africa, the provision of services is often transferred to sub-national authorities. But complex layers of administration and high levels of poverty deprive local governments of adequate resources. Secondly, opposition parties now control a number of African cities, a situation known as ‘vertically-divided authority’. Consequently, central governments do not always have an incentive to help municipal governments improve their performance. Case studies of Senegal, South Africa and Uganda highlight how and when such dynamics become problematic for the delivery of urban services, and offer important implications for the donor community.
81 citations
TL;DR: This paper reviewed the literature concerning the emergence of developmental states in Africa and gave an overview of debates on the usefulness of the "East Asian model" for sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting how historic developmental states were often the product of trial and error rather than a grand plan.
Abstract: This article reviews the literature concerning the emergence of developmental states in Africa and gives an overview of debates on the usefulness of the ‘East Asian model’ for sub-Saharan Africa. The conclusion highlights how historic developmental states were often the product of trial and error rather than a grand plan; the concept of a developmental state therefore often works less as a model and more as a ‘buzzword’ with its own uses and effects.
57 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors highlight both the potential and the limitations of competitive politics in promoting reform and the collective-action challenge that can confront reform of agriculture-sector institutions in Kenya.
Abstract: In March 2004 the Kenyan government set out its Strategy for Revitalising Agriculture (SRA). Eight years later, almost no progress had been made. The SRA experience highlights both the potential and the limitations of competitive politics in promoting reform and the collective-action challenge that can confront reform of agriculture-sector institutions. The December 2002 election had created a window of opportunity for issue- and performance-based politics in Kenya. However, the new government coalition began to unravel soon after attaining power, and the return to ethnically-based patronage politics – illustrated here in relation to agriculture – undermined the SRA's chances of success.
53 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined service provision by Kampala City Council and recent reforms to recentralise control over the city and found that partisan politics undermines service delivery in Kampala in several ways.
Abstract: Uganda, like other African countries, has implemented reforms to decentralise political authority to local governments and reintroduce multi-party elections. This combination creates opportunities for national partisan struggles to emerge in local arenas and influence local service delivery. This article examines service provision by Kampala City Council and recent reforms to recentralise control over the city. It finds that partisan politics undermines service delivery in Kampala in several ways, including through financing, tax policy, and even direct interference in the policies and decisions made by the City Council.
51 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a literature review of mobile phone usage in developing countries is presented, which analyses how mobile phones impact upon assets through facilitating asset substitution, enhancement, combination, exchange and forms of disembodiment.
Abstract: Mobile phones are spreading rapidly in developing countries, but research conceptualisations have been lagging behind practice, particularly those that link mobile phones to livelihoods. This article seeks to fill this gap in two ways. First, by means of a literature review which analyses how they impact upon assets – through facilitating asset substitution, enhancement, combination, exchange and forms of disembodiment. On this basis key roles for mobile phones are defined within livelihood strategies. Secondly, the analysis demonstrates the shortcomings of the livelihoods framework for understanding technological innovation; its agriculture-oriented understanding of assets; its silence on the developmental role of information and on user appropriation of technology; and its narrow categorisation of impact. Ways of addressing these shortcomings are suggested, pointing towards areas of future research and application.
49 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify the windows of opportunity open to Indian firms, with the following findings: (i) the catching-up process by Indian IT firms can be classified as a three-stage ‘body shopping-offshoring-global delivery model’, comparable with the three steps in original equipment, own-design and own-brand manufacturing.
Abstract: type="main"> Indian IT service firms are successfully competing with world leaders and research on the industry is emerging. Providing analysis at firm rather than industry level, this article identifies the windows of opportunity open to Indian firms, with the following findings: (i) the catching-up process by Indian IT firms can be classified as a three-stage ‘body shopping–offshoring–global delivery model’, comparable with the three steps in original equipment, own-design and own-brand manufacturing; (ii) the window of opportunity for Indian firms was primarily the techno-economic paradigm shift, and secondarily the government's regulation and support of the industry; and (iii) Indian firms initially partially re-invented their own path by offshoring and created their own global delivery model, gradually moving to higher value-added services.
49 citations
44 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the political incentives that have driven the implementation of the Malawi FISP and demonstrate the importance of political incentives in determining subsidy outcomes and how they can change dramatically over time.
Abstract: The Malawi FISP resurrected debates about the role of subsidies in African agricultural policy. Recent literature has highlighted the social and political interests that influence the distribution of input‐subsidy vouchers, often tending to reduce the efficiency with which such programmes contribute to poverty reduction. Taking the FISP as a case study, this article examines the political incentives that have driven programme implementation. Two streams of rents associated with the FISP were used to generate support for the first‐term government of President Mutharika (2005–9), with very different implications for programme efficiency. One then stopped abruptly in 2009. The Malawi case demonstrates both the importance of political incentives in determining subsidy outcomes and how they can change dramatically over time.
43 citations
TL;DR: The potential of PEA to improve development effectiveness depends on how far it addresses the micro as well as macro politics of aid and permits a finer-grained engagement between analysis and action as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Recognising that aid effectiveness critically depends upon the quality of host-country institutions and policies, international aid agencies have sought to inform their activities through more systematic political-economy analysis (PEA). In this article, three analytical frameworks for PEA are compared, contrasted and critically appraised in the light of reflections by PEA practitioners and recent theoretical debate about development management. The article finds that the potential of PEA to improve development effectiveness depends on how far it addresses the micro as well as macro politics of aid and permits a finer-grained engagement between analysis and action. This requires more reflexivity on the part of those who commission and produce PEA, and further movement from intervention to interaction modalities for aid delivery.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the political incentives for successful agricultural transformation in Rwanda and found that the political economy of agricultural policy in Rwanda is distinguished by a capacity for learning from errors as well as a seriousness about implementation that are not widely observed elsewhere in the region.
Abstract: In Africa as in Asia, will successful agricultural transformation happen first in countries whose rulers are driven by concerns to avert fundamental rural-based political threats? This article explores this question with reference to Rwanda, where the political incentives are found to be different from those in comparable African countries. Whilst this did not immediately lead to the adoption of an appropriate agricultural strategy, following a major shock and some serious rethinking, policy has now turned a corner and the results are promising. This experience has revealed that the political economy of agricultural policy in Rwanda is distinguished by a capacity for learning from errors as well as a seriousness about implementation that are not widely observed elsewhere in the region.
TL;DR: In this article, a number of such relationships based on an empirical examination of donor dynamics in Norway, the UK and Canada are discussed. But, to date, there have been only limited attempts to relate donor organisational factors to aid effectiveness goals.
Abstract: Donors have lagged behind aid recipients in adhering to the principles of aid effectiveness. Explaining the reasons for this demands greater awareness of organisational attributes within donor entities. To date, there have been only limited attempts to relate donor organisational factors to aid-effectiveness goals. This article elaborates on a number of such relationships based on an empirical examination of donor dynamics in Norway, the UK and Canada. Donor effectiveness provides an important lens through which to build a robust post-Busan global partnership.
TL;DR: This paper explored the evolving role of competitive electoral politics in agricultural policy-making and found that democratic pressures for pro-poor agricultural policy remain weak, which may help explain the limited delivery thus far on commitments to the CAADP.
Abstract: In theory, democratisation, which has proceeded unevenly across Africa during the past two decades, should encourage pro-poor agricultural policy, as the majority of voters in many countries remain rural and poor. This article draws on case studies of recent policy change in six African countries, plus a review of the literature on political competition and voting behaviour, to explore the evolving role of competitive electoral politics in agricultural policy-making. It finds that democratic pressures for pro-poor agricultural policy remain weak, which may help explain the limited delivery thus far on commitments to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). However, exogenous factors – most strikingly, sustained threats to regime survival – can create positive incentives for agricultural investment. The implications for participants in agricultural policy processes are explored.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used the Discovery Early Career Research Award grant number DE120100401 to investigate the effect of early career research on the early career development of women in Australia.
Abstract: The research was supported by funding through the Australian Research Council's Discovery Early Career Research Award grant number DE120100401.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors draw on research on Brazil's technical co-operation and its health dimension to compare the Brazilian model with established aid-effectiveness' principles and discuss the appropriateness of the latter as standards against which to appraise emerging donors' cooperation.
Abstract: type="main"> Emerging economies emphasise horizontality and mutual opportunity in their relationship with developing countries, promising an alternative to the failings of traditional North-South co-operation. This article draws on research on Brazil's technical co-operation and its health dimension to compare the Brazilian model with established aid-effectiveness' principles and to discuss the appropriateness of the latter as standards against which to appraise emerging donors' co-operation. The analysis shows that, despite progress towards greater dialogue between traditional and emerging donors, the ‘aid-effectiveness’ framework still falls short of capturing the idiosyncrasies of South-South co-operation and therefore offers an incomplete international standard on how best to conduct development co-operation.
TL;DR: The district of Kodagu, also called Coorg, in the Western Ghats of India produces 2% of the world's coffee, the expansion and intensification of which have reduced the forest cover by more than 30% in 20 years as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The district of Kodagu, also called Coorg, in the Western Ghats of India produces 2% of the world's coffee, the expansion and intensification of which have reduced the forest cover by more than 30% in 20 years. Innovative actions are therefore urgently required to link economic development and biodiversity conservation, and stakeholders are exploring three strategies to add value to coffee from Coorg and prevent further biodiversity erosion: registration of trademarks; geographical indications; and environmental certification, via eco-labels. This article analyses their respective strengths and weaknesses and discusses the synergies between them. (Resume d'auteur)
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the chain for cashmere, all stages of which have gravitated to China, and the impacts on rural development, especially for herders in remote pastoral regions.
Abstract: Growth and internationalisation of the Chinese economy have reconfigured the global value chains of many commodities with important implications for industry and rural and regional development both in and outside China. This article analyses the chain for cashmere, all stages of which have gravitated to China, and the impacts on rural development, especially for herders in remote pastoral regions. Traditionally a high-value product, cashmere has become increasingly generic and adulterated over the past decade. More formal and closer integration of Chinese actors into the global industry and re-orienting policy from supply-side intervention to the enforcement of standards would enhance the competitiveness of Chinese cashmere in international fibre markets.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the impact of party politics on service delivery in urban areas controlled by opposition parties in Senegal under the former President, Abdoulaye Wade, and found that the central government deliberately reduced the autonomy of local government under conditions in which the latter could be held accountable for good service delivery and increase autonomy when local government could be targeted for poor performance.
Abstract: Focusing on the case of Senegal under the former President, Abdoulaye Wade, this article examines the impact party politics has on service delivery in urban areas controlled by opposition parties. Senegal's decentralisation process provided opportunities for the central government to deliberately reduce the autonomy of local government under conditions in which the latter could be held accountable for good service delivery and increase autonomy when local government could be targeted for poor performance – actions manifested through backtracking on political decentralisation, undermining fiscal decentralisation, and augmenting administrative ambiguity. The case offers useful implications for donors involved in decentralisation and urban service-delivery projects in opposition-controlled cities.
TL;DR: The authors examined how decentralization policies and inter-party politics have affected urban service-delivery responsibilities and resources in South Africa and found that service delivery does not appear to be worse off in Cape Town than in Johannesburg, even though the former is controlled by the opposition Democratic Alliance.
Abstract: Focusing on the case of South Africa, this study examines how decentralisation policies and inter-party politics have affected urban service-delivery responsibilities and resources. Service delivery does not appear to be worse off in Cape Town than in Johannesburg, even though the former is controlled by the opposition Democratic Alliance. While there have been political attempts to undermine the authority of its officials, the fiscal elements are protected by a relatively strong and well-managed department of finance. Consequently, both donors and the national government steer money towards Cape Town because they know it can deliver on its obligations.
TL;DR: In 2003, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs undertook a decentralisation of the management of bilateral aid to the embassies in major partner countries as discussed by the authors, and discussed certain intra-organisational dynamics and extra-organised pressures influencing "donor effectiveness".
Abstract: In 2003, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs undertook a decentralisation of the management of bilateral aid to the embassies in major partner countries. However, while decentralisation appears to live up to the principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, the specific delegation of responsibilities as well as the political context of aid management may jeopardise the intended contribution to effective development co-operation. This article explores some factors potentially limiting the usefulness of decentralised aid management in the Danish case, and discusses certain intra-organisational dynamics and extra-organisational pressures influencing ‘donor effectiveness’.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors assess the Fair Trade pricing model for coffee and investigate the ability of minimum prices and a social premium to reduce price risk and remedy inequalities and highlight some of the challenges involved in controlling prices.
Abstract: This article assesses the Fair Trade pricing model for coffee, investigating the ability of minimum prices and a social premium to reduce price risk and remedy inequalities. It highlights some of the challenges involved in controlling prices. Inequalities exist among Fair Trade-certified farmers; some are poorer than others, and the poorer ones typically produce less coffee. If Fair Trade succeeds in its aim of raising the prices received by farmers, this will benefit more those farmers producing greater volumes of coffee and who are typically less vulnerable. In addressing inequalities, the Fair Trade social premium is superior to minimum prices.
TL;DR: The success of this international assistance regime has been positive but modest, given the overwhelming needs of African cities as discussed by the authors. But African cities are increasingly finding solutions both co-operatively and on their own.
Abstract: Sub-Saharan African cities have been growing at historically unprecedented rates. Since the early 1970s, they have received considerable international assistance, involving a succession of major thematic objectives. The main agency involved in urban assistance has been the World Bank. But as its goals have changed, it has been obliged to operate increasingly through a decentralised, more democratically structured local-government system. Overall, the success of this international-assistance regime has been positive but modest, given the overwhelming needs of African cities. Still, African cities are increasingly finding solutions both co-operatively and on their own.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that French influence, the sequence of regional liberalisations, and an ideological shift at the World Bank opened up political space for Burkina Faso to propose alternative and more moderate liberalisation reforms, in this case, the inclusion of a producers' organisation in cotton governance rather than a privatisation of cotton-sector activities.
Abstract: The literature characterises African states as unable to subvert pressure from the World Bank to liberalise their economies. This article contradicts this narrative by showing how Burkina Faso adopted a cotton-sector liberalisation plan that retained significant state control. It argues that French influence, the sequence of regional liberalisations, and an ideological shift at the World Bank opened up political space for Burkina Faso to propose alternative and more moderate liberalisation reforms – in this case, the inclusion of a producers' organisation in cotton governance rather than a privatisation of cotton-sector activities. Heavy involvement in the formation of the producers' organisation allowed the Burkinabe state to retain control of its cotton sector, paradoxically, via the full implementation of its liberalisation reforms.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented the findings of a study that analyzed the Indian bay leaf (Cinnamomum tamala) Nees and Eberm value chain (VC) in Uttarakhand, India and Udayapur, Nepal.
Abstract: This article presents the findings of a study that analysed the Indian Bay Leaf (Cinnamomum tamala) Nees and Eberm value chain (VC) in Uttarakhand, India and Udayapur, Nepal. The results show that bay-leaf VCs are loosely integrated and consist of stakeholders with asymmetrical power relations and different priorities. Traders in India dominate the chains and inappropriate standards lead to the exploitation of small producers and inequity in the chain. Policy measures are suggested for improving co-ordination and competitiveness in the bay-leaf VC which could be applied to the NTFP sector as a whole.
TL;DR: The authors proposed a framework for assessing places appropriate for place-based policies, using the examples of Canada, Chile and Peru, in order to identify places with the highest returns in contributing to social welfare.
Abstract: Place-based policy is both ubiquitous and widely criticised The conventional economic case against place-targeted interventions is strong, relegating its application to a narrow range of cases of immobile labour resources, market imperfections and/or other externalities However, both internationally and domestically, equity considerations lead to policies and programmes for disadvantaged regions and their populations Budget constraints and accountability suggest a selection or ‘triage’ process targeting places with the highest returns in contributing to social welfare Furthermore, the challenges facing rural areas may be fundamentally different in developed from developing countries This article proposes a framework for assessing places appropriate for place-based policies, using the examples of Canada, Chile and Peru
TL;DR: In this paper, a re-orientation in support is proposed, moving the focus beyond elite state actors and institutions and bringing citizens back into the process of state building and transformation, and evidence is presented to show that current support, while consolidating the authority of local political elites, reinforces political and horizontal inequalities thereby paving the way for further disaffection and conflict.
Abstract: While, in theory, decentralisation offers many benefits – increased efficiency and
effectiveness of public service provision, reduced horizontal inequalities, and an associated
consolidation of the social contract between states and their citizens, empirical evidence of
these benefits remains limited. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Burundi in 2011, this
paper argues that the current donor emphasis on institution building alone as a support to the
Burundian process proves insufficient. Evidence is presented to show that current support,
while consolidating the authority of local political elites, reinforces political and horizontal
inequalities thereby paving the way for further disaffection and conflict. Reflecting back to
the initial aims of the process, a re-orientation in support is proposed, moving the focus
beyond elite state actors and institutions and bringing citizens back into the process of state
building and transformation.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present evidence from a case study of decentralised education-system reform in Guinea, revealing a wide range of influential dynamics outside the technical realm and corroborate the argument for "good-fit" alternatives to traditional governance approaches and concrete measures to better capture the constructive and disable the destructive effects of informality on development.
Abstract: type="main"> For twenty years, technocratic planning and management approaches have dominated good-governance reforms in developing countries. This is true even for newer ‘participatory’ and ‘citizen-driven’ reforms that still struggle to engage with powerful informal forces affecting public service delivery. This article presents evidence from a case study of decentralised education-system reform in Guinea, revealing a wide range of influential dynamics outside the technical realm. These corroborate the argument for ‘good-fit’ alternatives to traditional governance approaches and concrete measures to better capture the constructive and disable the destructive effects of informality on development.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compare three Latin American countries, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Mexico, and find remarkable variety both in the structure of the remittances market and the actors involved in micro-finance and in the role governments play.
Abstract: type="main"> The potential of migrant remittances to foster access to financial services for low-income households has been largely unexplored. Comparing three Latin American countries – the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Mexico – this inter-disciplinary study links research on remittances and microfinance with multi-actor governance approaches. While the context of high remittance-dependence provides similar challenges in all cases, it finds remarkable variety both in the structure of the remittances market and the actors involved in microfinance and in the role governments play. It explains the diverging success of MFIs in remittance markets by pointing to the interplay of for-profit, non-profit and state actors embedded within the specific market structures of each country.
TL;DR: Based on data from the Philippine-Malaysia maritime border that focus on the trade in high-value live reef fish, the authors points to the need to situate such cross-border activities more closely within the context of local perspectives and priorities.
Abstract: Weakly regulated natural-resource trading activities in the remote borderlands of developing countries are commonly viewed both as a means of improving economic development and as a way of smuggling valuable natural resources. Based on data from the Philippine-Malaysia maritime border that focus on the trade in high-value live reef fish, this article points to the need to situate such cross-border activities more closely within the context of local perspectives and priorities. A locally-grounded perspective is necessary in order to understand the context of social-development challenges that mediate both macroeconomic and environmental policy outcomes.