Resources search

Ripple effects or deliberate intentions?|Assessing linkages between women's empowerment and childhood poverty

JONES, Nicola
MUKHERJEE, Madhuri
GALAB, S
May 2007

Expand view

This paper looks at the impact of women's empowerment on child poverty and well-being. It includes an overview of theoretical literature on women's empowerment and inter-generational poverty transmissions; outlines the research methodology used; presents the findings from research in four districts of Andhra Pradesh; and sets out the conclusions and policy recommendations

Testing a disability schedule for census 2011 : summary report on 26 focus groups

SCHNEIDER, Margie
COUPER, Jacqui
February 2007

Expand view

“"This study uses a series of 26 focus groups to examine the nature of responses to a proposed set of questions developed by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics for use in Censuses. The South African study is aimed at testing these questions with the specific view of using them in the Census 2011. These questions consist of six core questions relating to difficulties people have in doing a series of activities including seeing, hearing, walking and climbing stairs, remembering and concentrating, self-care and communicating. The South African set of questions included a further question on difficulties people have in participating in community activities like anyone else"

Global Fourm update on research for health volume 4|Equitable access : research challenges for health in developing countries

MATLIN, Stephen
Ed
2007

Expand view

This volume reflects the current state of health research in ensuring equitable access. The topics covered range from access to health, innovation and research resources to decision-making and governance. To achieve better health, particularly among the poor and marginalised in low- and high-income countries alike, there is a need to improve health systems and services, to ensure equitable and affordable access to these and to good quality medicines, and to address social inequities that produce and exacerbate poor health. Beyond the treatment of ill-health, much more attention is needed to create the conditions that enable individuals, communities and countries to promote better health

Household survey : a relevant tool for gathering information on disability?

BAKHSHI, Parul
TRANI, Jean-Francois
2007

Expand view

This paper argues that a household cross-sectional survey can provide useful information for policy planning albeit some methodological constraints must be dealt with and some limits are intrinsic to the tool. Despite the need for data on disability in developing countries for policy planning and mainstreaming persons with disability in existing programs of development, very few reliable data collection processes are available, and until the launch of a National Disability Survey in Afghanistan in 2005, stakeholders (Government, NGOs, UN agencies) were basing their programmes on unreliable estimates of prevalence and very few research based analyses

The reporting skills and professional writing handbook : a practical guide for development professionals

KENDRICK, Niel
Ed
2007

Expand view

This is a set of training courses and materials available online. Each module of the eight step programe is designed to help readers acheive effective reporting skills. The topics covered include: data gathering methods, analysis tools, intrepreting information and planning/drafting of formal reports. This resource would be useful for anyone with an interest in development and programme planning and implementation

Five myths about the HIV epidemic in Asia

GODWIN, Peter
et al
October 2006

Expand view

This article raises concerns about a number of misinformed beliefs, or myths, about the HIV epidemic that are widely circulating in Asia, and suggests that if these myths, are allowed to underpin and influence policy and programming and guide immediate action, they have the potential to jeopardise exactly the kind of focused, coherent, evidence-based programme being called for in Asia and the Pacific

Living conditions among people with activity limitations in Zambia : a national representative study

EIDE, Arne H
LOEB, ME
September 2006

Expand view

This report presents the findings of a study about the livelihoods of people with disability in Zambia using both individual data and data from household surveys with and without people with disabilities. The report, one of a series of regional research reports to establish baseline data on living conditions among people in Southern Africa, looks at the fields of health, employment, education, living conditions and services for people with disabilities

Evaluating health research capacity building : an evidence-based tool

BATES, Imelda
et al
July 2006

Expand view

Health research capacity building is essential to the success and sustainability of research programmes. This article describes the development and use of a tool for determining whether the required infrastructure is present in a given setting, and for designing and evaluating capacity-building programmes in health research. It provides an analysis of published models and effective capacity-building principles, together with structured reflection and action by stakeholders at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana

Policy engagement for poverty reduction : how civil society can be more effective

COURT, Julius
June 2006

Expand view

This briefing paper draws on a report by Julius Court and others entitled 'Policy engagement: how can civil society be more effective', also published by ODI. It examines the role of civil society organisations in poverty reduction strategies and looks at ways to enhance their influence on the policy making process. Inadequate knowledge about the policy making process, lack of resources, insufficient capacity and policy makers' mistrust of CSOs are the main obstacles to their full engagement in policy making. Effective approaches should entail: campaigning and implementation of pilot projects aimed at improving adverse political contexts; rigorous mapping and assessment of political contexts; identify critical policy stages; provide relevant and objective evidence; use effective communication methods and strategies; apply network approaches; engage in systematic capacity building

A strategy to enhance the global research effort in maternal and child health : the Mother-Child International Research Network

HAMILTON, Richard
March 2006

Expand view

This article presents the mission and objectives of the Mother-Child International Research Network. The network aims to support and bring together researchers and research institutions working in the field of mother and child health in low-income countries, facilitating access to scientific debate and opportunities for collaboration. The network's website www.mother-child.org holds scientific updates, distance-learning activities and weblog facilities and is designed to support health communication and exchange and increase exposure to a wide international audience

The participation scale : measuring a key concept in public health v4.1

VAN BRAKEL, Wim H.
et al
February 2006

Expand view

This is a report of a study, carried out in Nepal, India and Brazil, to develop a scale to measure (social) participation for use in rehabilitation, stigma reduction and social integration programmes. The report concludes that the Participation Scale is reliable and valid to measure client-perceived participation in people affected by leprosy or disability

Best practices in scaling up case study : Uganda, using a simple survey method for evidence-based decision making at the district level

NSABAGASANI, Xavier
et al
2006

Expand view

This document provides a case study of the Uganda Program for Human and Holistic Development (UPHOLD), and its use of the Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) survey method. LQAS is used to collect district and sub-district data. This document highlights its importance, the country context before LQAS, the methodology behind it, results, steps in the scale-up process, best practice, lessons learned and challenges. The Ugandan government is currently considering expanding use of the LQAS into every district

Can communities influence national health research agendas? A learning process leading to a framework for community engagement in shaping health research policy

BATISTA, Ricardo
et al
2006

Expand view

This paper is a record of a consultation on 'Communities Matter' which reviewed case studies of successes and failures of community and civil society engagement, participation and action in health research. The group discussion focused on opportunities and obstacles for communities to engage in health research. It analysed strategies that can be applied to increase a community’s voice in health research, and looked at the concepts, definitions and frameworks that can be used for promoting, advocating and supporting community engagement in health research

The employment of persons with disabilities : evidence from national sample survey

MITRA, Sophie
SAMBAMOORTHI, Usha
December 2005

Expand view

"This paper reports on the employment of persons with disabilities in India based on recent data from the National Sample Survey. The study shows that the employment rate of persons with disabilities is relatively low compared to that of the all India working age population, with great variations across gender, urban/rural sectors and state. A multivariate analysis suggests that employment among persons with disabilities is influenced more by individual and household characteristics than human capital"

Framework for the assessment of ICT pilot projects : beyond monitoring and evaluation to applied research

BATCHELOR, S
NORRISH, P
2005

Expand view

This publication is aims to help all stakeholders in ICT pilot projects to gather the rigorous evidence needed to make forward looking judgments and decisions about ICT for development projects. It explores both the need of pilot projects to implement a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system that will ensure the pilot fulfils its developmental purpose for its clients and beneficiaries, and the need of pilot projects to put in place evidence based research for proof of concept (how the pilot could contribute to development priorities and how it might be taken to scale from a forward looking perspective). It then presents steps that a project manager should undertake to ensure an effective evaluation process

Tools for policy impact : a handbook for researchers

START, Daniel
HOVLAND, Ingie
October 2004

Expand view

"This handbook presents work in progress on tools for policy impact, specifically geared towards the needs of researchers. "The handbook is particularly targeted at civil society organisations, or the parts of them, whose activities involve gathering evidence, doing research, learning lessons or advising on strategy for social, environmental and economic development in the North and South"

Human subject regulations decision charts

OFFICE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTIONS (OHRP)
September 2004

Expand view

These graphic aids are a guide to help decide if a research activity involving human subjects needs to be reviewed by an institutional review board (IRB) under the requirements of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The charts specify the following: whether an activity is research that must be reviewed by an IRB, whether the review may be performed by expedited procedures, and whether informed consent or its documentation may be waived. This document is useful for institutional review boards (IRBs), investigators, and others who are conducting research with human subjects

Pages

E-bulletin