United Nations University » Research & Policy Briefs

What is the (New) Deal with Fragile States?

stephan — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:41:33 +0000

Poor governance and lack of state capabilities in around 45 countries pose a threat to global security and development. The involvement of the international community is required to help these states break out of their lowdevelopment–high-conflict traps. Recent years have seen a number of notable initiatives, including a “New Deal on Fragile States” announced in November 2011 by the g7+ and their international partners. This Policy Brief casts some light on this New Deal from the perspective of the UNU-WIDER research project “Fragility and Development”.

Environmental troubles in Mid-East Gulf region growing due to rapid coastal development

stephan — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:39:14 +0000

Valuable fishery and other marine resources, and a broad range of services freely provided by the Gulf’s ecosystems, are at risk of being lost. This policy report analyses opportunities for demonstrating leadership in environmental stewardship, and the extent to which the region has responded.

Research Capacity Development for Environmental Management in Cambodia: Outlining a Multi-Sector Approach

stephan — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:46:33 +0000

Cambodian academic institutions’ insufficient research capacity has been stalling the advancement of the nation’s much-needed environmental planning and management. Drawing on the project “Multi-Sector Involvement for Research Capacity Development in Cambodia”, which promoted small-scale research activities at the Royal University of Phnom Penh in 2009–2011, in this brief we suggest that research capacity development in Cambodia needs to take a multi-sector approach that builds on:

the recognition of the influence of non-governmental organizations on research;
the link between research and public policy; and
inter-university networking.

The brief concludes by exploring the potential application of this approach to research capacity development in LDCs in a broader context.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries

stephan — Thu, 26 May 2011 00:45:38 +0000

How does innovation impact on development? How, and under what conditions, do entrepreneurs in developing countries innovate? And what can be done to support innovation by entrepreneurs in developing countries? This policy brief addresses these questions and explains the relationship between entrepreneurship, innovation and development. Policy lessons are drawn from historical, cross-country and individual country experiences.

Maximizing the Impact of UN Security Council Resolution 1325: 10 Years On

butuzov — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 19:46:12 +0000

Over the past decade the critical importance of women’s participation in peace processes and policies has been recognized through numerous international institutions, resolutions and state commitments—including UN Security Council resolution 1325 (SCR 1325), adopted in October 2000. A limited number of states have adopted SCR 1325 action plans, and a set of global indicators to track implementation was finally approved by the Security Council on 26 October 2010. Despite the promise of SCR 1325, many experts and advocates have been disappointed with the progress made by states and by the UN system.

This brief assesses the 10 years since the adoption of SCR 1325, identifying lessons learned and emerging best practices, as well as shortcomings. It suggests what can be done to energize and advance the implementation of SCR 1325 in the near future, and recommends ways in which new actors can contribute to this process, including the newly-established UN Women.

Satoyama–Satoumi Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Assessing Trends to Rethink a Sustainable Future

butuzov — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:42:38 +0000

The Japan Satoyama Satoumi Assessment (JSSA) is a study of the interaction between humans and terrestrial–aquatic ecosystems (satoyama) and marine–coastal ecosystems (satoumi) in Japan. The study examines and analyses changes which have occurred in these ecosystems over the last 50 years and identifies plausible alternative futures of those landscapes in the year 2050 taking into account various drivers such as governmental and economic policy, climate change, technology, and socio-behavioural responses. This brief suggests that the health of satoyama and satoumi ecosystems is interlinked with human well-being and biological diversity. Recommendations for policymakers based on the study’s findings are also presented here.

The Global Impact of the Southern Engines of Growth: China, India, Brazil and South Africa

butuzov — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 07:21:32 +0000

This Policy Brief focuses on links between the developing countries of Brazil, India, China and South Africa and the global economy, with a special emphasis on the implications of China’s spectacular growth on developing economies and the rest of the world. The issues considered include changing patterns in trade, capital flows, and commodity prices. Both positive and negative impacts are identified and implications for international governance and foreign policies of various nations are explored.

Enhancing Development through Policy Coherence

butuzov — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 07:19:14 +0000

Policy coherence implies that donors in pursuing domestic policy objectives should avoid adversely affecting the development prospects of poor countries. To achieve policy coherence donors and multilateral institutions need to ensure security and political stability; foresee the impacts of macroeconomic policies on developing-country growth; increase both market access and capacity-building for developing economies; support governance structures that help to maintain financial stability; and improve aid effectiveness in developing countries. In this regard, the completion of pending international commitments, such as the Doha Development Round, is fundamental. The monitoring and evaluation process for policy coherence also remains a challenge.

Promoting Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries: Policy Challenges

butuzov — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 06:32:36 +0000

This policy brief provides some fresh perspectives on the relationship between entrepreneurship and development, and considers policy design issues. It reports on the UNU-WIDER two-year research project “Promoting Entrepreneurial Capacity”, which aimed to understand whether and how entrepreneurship matters for development, how it could derail development, how entrepreneurs function in high growth as well as in conflict environments, and how female entrepreneurship differs across countries at various stages of development.

Towards a Human Security Approach to Peacebuilding

butuzov — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 06:37:15 +0000

In recent decades, international peacebuilding and reconstruction after civil wars have managed to promote stability and contain conflict in many regions around the world, ending violence and enabling communities to rebuild their lives and societies. However, the peacebuilding record indicates that there are problems related to the effectiveness and legitimacy of peacebuilding, especially related to the promotion of liberal democracy, market reform and state institutions. This brief considers these limitations and argues that a new human security-based approach may offer insights for a more sustainable form of peacebuilding.