Research Paper

Authors: Nwabunkeonye, U.P.
Publication date: 2014

This paper examined the challenges Nigerian women still face in active participation in politics such as discriminatory socio-cultural and religious practices; lack of finance; under-representation of women in governance; unhealthy political environment; political party discrimination; wrong perception of women in politics; lack of family, fellow women and media support; indigenization of women political aspirants; among others.

Authors: Abubakar, M. & ; Ahmad, Z Bn 
Publication date: 2014 In: Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science, Vol 2 (9) pp. 65-71

This paper examined the efforts to increase women's political participation and the obstacles facing women to do so. 

Author: Blackie, M.
Publication date: 2014

This is a rapid desk based study to identify an overview of evidence, agreements, concepts and tools relating to participatory agricultural research. The review was undertaken using both peer reviewed and grey literature from the major development agencies (both multilateral and national), national and international research institutes and think tanks, and regional and subregional research organisations.

Authors: Pruitt, B. & Waddell, S.
Publication date: 2005

This working paper of the Generative Dialogue Project looks at dialogic change processes, which involve people coming together seeking to make positive change through conversation and agreement as an answer to the challenges of globalization.

It zooms in on the case of climate change, followed by an analysis of global change initiatives. It concludes that this new model of organizing will not supplant the existing international system but it is an essential complement to it.

Authors: Kanyinga, K.
Publication date: 2014

This discussion paper examines the challenges of democracy and participation in Kenya; it explores the general promise and failure of Kenya’s hesitant transition to democracy. The paper seeks to find out what went wrong with the project to bring ‘democracy and participation’ to Kenya.

Authors: Moaddel, M. & Jong, J. de
Publication date: 2014

Scholars and analysts widely claimed that the youth played a crucial role in the making of the revolutionary movements dubbed the Arab Spring. There has been little empirical evidence, however, to substantiate this claim and to document how much the younger age groups differ from the older in value orientation in different Middle Eastern countries.

In this paper, the data from the values surveys carried out in the region are analysed in order to assess cross-national variation and trend in the values and perceptions of the youth in several Middle Eastern countries.

Authors: Barrientos, A.; Debowicz, D. & Woolard, I.
Publication date: 2014

The paper examines the growth of antipoverty transfers in Brazil and their role in securing inclusive growth. This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the role of antipoverty transfers in securing inclusive growth. It examines their design, implementation, outcomes, and sustainability. It also sketches their potential relevance to African countries and zooms in on South-South cooperation. 

Author: McGee, R.
Publication date: 2014

When citizens exercise voice, what is it that makes their voices count, or not count? If citizens’ voices count, governments are being responsive. This think-piece zooms in on the research question: "What makes government actors targeted by tech-enabled transparency and accountability initiatives change their behaviour and act responsively?" It investigates what kinds of citizen engagement lead to what kinds of government responsiveness, and what turns government actors into Transparency and Accountability champions. 

Author: Cornwall, A.
Publication date: 2014

With roots in approaches to popular education and participatory action research that place the learner and the ‘beneficiary’ of development at the centre of enquiry and action, the participatory visualisation methods associated with Participatory Rural Appraisal have been widely used as tools for learning and accountability.

In this article, the author reflects on lessons learnt from using these methods in a participatory process evaluation of an educational programme aimed at addressing chronic malnutrition in an East African country.

Authors: Shahrokh, T. & Wheeler, J.
Publication date: 2014 (IDS Evidence Report no 73)

This pilot evaluation explores how citizenship and agency among social activists can be fostered in contexts of urban violence at the local level. The focus of this pilot is to understand how a sense of democratic citizenship and the ability to act on that citizenship at the local level can contribute to reducing different types of urban violence and promote security; and how becoming an activist against violence can contribute to constructing a sense of citizenship.