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Development Channel

Issues and innovations in global economic development

New From CFR: John Campbell on Nigeria’s Oil

by Development Channel Staff Thursday, January 31, 2013
A man walks as crude oil spills from a pipeline in Dadabili, Niger state, Nigeria, April 2, 2011 (Afolabi Sotunde/Courtesy Reuters). A man walks as crude oil spills from a pipeline in Dadabili, Niger state, Nigeria, April 2, 2011 (Afolabi Sotunde/Courtesy Reuters).

Today on his blog, CFR senior fellow John Campbell analyzes the Dutch court decision absolving Royal Dutch Shell of liability for four oil spills in Nigeria. As he explains: Read more »

Global Goals for Human Rights and Governance After 2015: Part III

by Terra Lawson-Remer Friday, January 25, 2013
Protesters shout slogans during a rally to support the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) outside the KPK office in Jakarta on October 8, 2012 (Enny Nuraheni/Courtesy Reuters). Protesters shout slogans during a rally to support the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) outside the KPK office in Jakarta on October 8, 2012 (Enny Nuraheni/Courtesy Reuters).

In the last round of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), governance and human rights issues were largely excluded, despite their critical importance to sustainable and equitable development, on the grounds that measurements for governance and human rights were too abstract and difficult to apply across borders. Yet significant scholarship over the past fifteen years makes clear that it is indeed now feasible to include well-designed targets and indicators for these issues in the emerging post-2015 global development agenda.

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Global Goals for Human Rights and Governance After 2015: Part II

by Terra Lawson-Remer Wednesday, January 23, 2013
A teacher conducts a lesson under a makeshift classroom at a relief centre for flood victims at St. Boniface primary school in Idah in Nigeria's central state of Kogi on October 3, 2012 (Afolabi Sotunde/Courtesy Reuters). A teacher conducts a lesson under a makeshift classroom at a relief centre for flood victims at St. Boniface primary school in Idah in Nigeria's central state of Kogi on October 3, 2012 (Afolabi Sotunde/Courtesy Reuters).

Over the past fifteen years a nascent consensus has begun to emerge that some aspects of good governance and human rights are integral to development as both a means and an end. Although in the past it has been difficult for the global community to agree on governance and human rights goals due to both political disagreements and technical uncertainties around measurement, it is indeed technically feasible, and increasingly politically possible on a global stage, to include governance and human rights goals and targets as part of post-2015 development priorities.

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Emerging Voices: Wolfgang Fengler on the Future of Aid to Africa

by Development Channel Staff Friday, January 18, 2013
A stockbroker transacts shares during a trading session at the Nairobi Securities Exchange in Kenya's capital Nairobi on January 11, 2012 (Thomas Mukoya/Courtesy Reuters). A stockbroker transacts shares during a trading session at the Nairobi Securities Exchange in Kenya's capital Nairobi on January 11, 2012 (Thomas Mukoya/Courtesy Reuters).

Emerging Voices features regular contributions from scholars and practitioners highlighting new research, thinking, and approaches to development challenges. This article is from Wolfgang Fengler, the lead economist in the World Bank’s Nairobi office. Here, he addresses the question of how development aid can remain relevant and effective in a changing Africa.

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Global Goals for Human Rights and Governance After 2015

by Terra Lawson-Remer Thursday, January 17, 2013
A woman holds a banner during a protest against all forms of violence calling for respect for the rights of women, in Cartagena, Colombia on July 5, 2012 (Joaquin Sarimento/Courtesy Reuters). A woman holds a banner during a protest against all forms of violence calling for respect for the rights of women, in Cartagena, Colombia on July 5, 2012 (Joaquin Sarimento/Courtesy Reuters).

As the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) draws near, debates about the contours of a new post-2015 development agenda that will best meet the needs of the world’s poor are accelerating. (For a breakdown of the MDGs and post-2015 processes, see previous Question of the Week and Emerging Voices posts.)

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New From CFR: John Campbell on Poverty and the Conflict in Mali

by Development Channel Staff Thursday, January 17, 2013
French troops drive to Segou in Mali on January 16, 2013 (Francois Rihouay/Courtesy Reuters). French troops drive to Segou in Mali on January 16, 2013 (Francois Rihouay/Courtesy Reuters).

Yesterday on his blog, CFR senior fellow John Campbell wrote about the dire poverty facing Malians, a situation only exacerbated by the current conflict. As he notes:

Infant mortality exceeds 10 percent. Life expectancy at birth is among the shortest in the world. Read more »

Question of the Week: Inequality

by Development Channel Staff Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Clothes are seen hanging outside a bus which has been converted into a dwelling for Lu Changshan and his wife, near newly-constructed residential buildings in Hefei, Anhui province on November 12, 2012 (Jianan Lu/Courtesy Reuters). Clothes are seen hanging outside a bus which has been converted into a dwelling for Lu Changshan and his wife near newly-constructed residential buildings in Hefei, Anhui province in China on November 12, 2012 (Jianan Lu/Courtesy Reuters).

Where is global income inequality headed?  

Question of the Week posts review important questions and controversies in global development by providing background information and links to a full spectrum of analysis and opinion. Today’s post discusses global trends in income inequality.

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Emerging Voices: Lisa Martilotta on Women’s Employment in Rwanda

by Development Channel Staff Tuesday, January 15, 2013
A Rwandan woman carries an umbrella for shade at Mulindi, about 60 km (40 miles) north of the capital Kigali on August 5, 2010 (Finbarr O'Reilly/Courtesy Reuters). A Rwandan woman carries an umbrella for shade at Mulindi, about 60 km (40 miles) north of the capital Kigali on August 5, 2010 (Finbarr O'Reilly/Courtesy Reuters).

Emerging Voices features regular contributions from scholars and practitioners highlighting new research, thinking, and approaches to development challenges. This article is from Lisa Martilotta, a principle in Akilah Institute for Women, Rwanda’s first women’s college. She describes her organization’s efforts to link college education to employment opportunities for young women in Rwanda.

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New From CFR: John Campbell on Africa’s Disease Burden

by Development Channel Staff Monday, January 14, 2013
A volunteer health official immunizes a child at a school in Nigeria's capital Abuja, February 1, 2010 (Afolabi Sotunde/Courtesy Reuters). A volunteer health official immunizes a child at a school in Nigeria's capital Abuja, February 1, 2010 (Afolabi Sotunde/Courtesy Reuters).

Last week on his blog, CFR senior fellow John Campbell highlighted ongoing health threats in Africa and warned that they can travel far beyond the continent. As he argues: Read more »

New From CFR: Joshua Kurlantzick on Indonesia’s Infrastructure and Growth

by Development Channel Staff Friday, January 11, 2013
PT Pertamina workers repair an old oil well for reactivation in Tarakan, Indonesia's East Kalimantan province, on February 9, 2011 (Beawiharta Beawiharta/Courtesy Reuters). PT Pertamina workers repair an old oil well for reactivation in Tarakan, Indonesia's East Kalimantan province, on February 9, 2011 (Beawiharta Beawiharta/Courtesy Reuters).

Yesterday on CFR’s Asia Unbound blog, CFR fellow Joshua Kurlantzick suggested that resource nationalism could threaten Indonesia’s economic development. As he argues: Read more »