'Although developing innovative agricultural technologies may prove crucial, to address the needs of poor farmers, the gap left by private sector neglect must be filled by the public sector. No single intervention can help them all. But reducing poverty, mitigating climate change, and building resilience to climatic and market shocks means empowering these farmers and their communities to identify the investments that will best meet their needs.'

On 30 June 2009, UNDP launched the fourth National Human Development Report for Lebanon – Toward a Citizen's State – which was developed in partnership with the Council for Development and Reconstruction. The elaboration of this report brought together policy makers, intellectuals, activists and academics, representing the social and political diversity of Lebanon.

The report analyzes the political, economic and cultural dimensions of citizenship in the country. First, the report explore more...

The citizens report card on RTI implentation in India is based on personal experiences of the author while interacting with various Public Authorities, CPIOs, Appellate Authorities and the Central Information Commission in India. The author acknowledges the key / multiple benefits of the RTI Act 2005 as envisaged by the Parliament of India . However through this report card the author attempts to bring about the poor implementation of the Act in various Government of India Departments and State more...

'The predicted scale of humanitarian need by 2015 could completely overwhelm current capacity to respond to emergencies – unless the world acknowledges and responds to the growing threat.

Even in daunting economic times, the world can afford to meet future humanitarian needs and fulfil the right to survive of vulnerable people. The skills and resources exist to mitigate the threats from climate-related catastrophic events. Some countries – rich and poor – have already demonstrated the more...

This project focuses on Political Regime Characteristics and Transitions from 1800 to 2007, building on three previous projects. It provides data 163 countries as this is written. George Mason University.

'Saadiyat Island, in the Arabian Gulf, is a 27 square kilometer island consisting primarily of sand and mangrove swamp. Within a decade, if a $22 to 27 billion development plan goes according to schedule, the island will host six international cultural institutions, a performing arts center, a campus of New York University, two golf courses, expensive private residences, a marina, and 29 hotels. Jazeera al-Saadiyat – “the Island of Happiness” – is intended to become an exclusive interna more...

A senior Google executive has said that public sector information technology (IT) budget cuts are provoking interest in cloud computing, but adoption of the media giant’s services in Asia has so far been limited to the education sector…

Governments need to develop strategies to bolster cyber security as their workforces become more mobile, an information security expert has urged. Asian governments need to educate public sector work forces on the risks posed by “the consumerisation of IT” …

This paper examines the making of Agricultural and Rural Development (ARD) policy in Afghanistan. It identifies three broad narratives that have been driving policymaking in the Afghan ARD sector since 2002, each underpinned by different perspectives on policy challenges and how they are to be faced: the “productionist” viewpoint; the “developmentalist” narrative; and a more “market-driven” approach. These competing and unreconciled approaches are examined within the context of the c more...

'Over the past decade the World Bank has promoted pension reforms entailing the introduction of multi-pillar pension systems. Multi-pillar pension reforms typically included the introduction of a second pillar, in which mandatory savings are accumulated in individual accounts. The new second pillars were expected to contribute to the primary objective of a more diversified and sustainable pension system but secondary benefits hoped for - higher savings ratios, faster capital market development a more...