Is there a role for donors in helping to change restrictive gender norms?

by Gillian Brown Reducing gender gaps and removing barriers to gender equality are good for economic and social development of countries, communities and families – the evidence is irrefutable: see, for example, here and here. Governments across the Southeast Asia region have made commitments to this effect, and donors have adopted different strategies and approaches to support them in …

Continue reading Is there a role for donors in helping to change restrictive gender norms?

Hanging out in men’s bathrooms: is it time to rethink what ‘evidence’ means in international development?

What constitutes ‘sufficient evidence’ for aid program and policy makers to take decisions – about budgets, activities and so on – in aid and development? Have been talking about this with academics, officials, NGOs, project managers and donors for a number of years now. Ever since working with The Asia Foundation (TAF) where the question …

Continue reading Hanging out in men’s bathrooms: is it time to rethink what ‘evidence’ means in international development?

The one that Australian aid forgot? Trying to put the R back in MERL

By Priya Chattier and Lavinia Tyrrel Spent last week at the second of three workshops on how to better use research in aid and development[1]. Lots of good discussion, but seemed we were all tip-toeing around the elephant in the room: does anyone else care about this (prioritising research and analysis in aid) other than …

Continue reading The one that Australian aid forgot? Trying to put the R back in MERL