Mid-term Review of the Angola Programme of Norwegian People\u27s Aid

This report reviews how the Programme of Norwegian People\u27s Aid has adapted to reach the objectives it has set for its work for the period from 2004 to 2007. The strategy for 2004-2007 focuses on land and resource rights and democratic rights and participation, and is organised within two programmes, mine action (85% of resources) and development (15%). The evaluation focuses on two different programme areas: The Mine Action Programme: The programme was established in 1995 and specialises in demining and surveying. The period reviewed has been successful on several counts: the number of square metres cleared per year has increased dramatically, cost efficiency has improved, and efforts to achieve socio-economic objectives have been strengthened through the use of aid money. Yet a number of improvements could be made like: making better use of information collected in the Task Impact Assessments (TIA) process, by improving TIA questionnaires and using narrative data for statistical analysis, include women in TIA survey teams, let TIA teams collect data on women\u27s versus men\u27s perceptions and needs. The Development Programme: The programme works in the three provinces and runs activities within land and resources rights, democratic rights and participation, and in relation to building the capacities of partner organisations. With regard to activities on land and resources rights, the programme is well on track towards reaching its aims regarding agricultural development. More effort is needed, however, to reach aims related to land rights and community self-organisation and empowerment

Community Driven Development in Contexts of Conflict. Concept Paper Commissioned by ESSD, World Bank

Violent conflict represents not only a significant barrie r to development; it also wipes out efforts to improve the situation. Experience from many developing countries has shown that Community Driven Development (CDD) programmes have been particularly effective in establishing or expanding essential social services and physical infrastructure at the local level. However, using CDD approaches in a conflict context as a means in post-war rehabilitation represents new challenges. When carried out in contexts of past or persistent conflict, CDD projects are confronted with some major challenges: •communities where projects are set may be deeply divided; •power is unequally distributed; •lines between combatants and civilians may be blurred; •a need to address past traumas may give rise to calls for inquiries or trials; and •economic recovery and basic services may be urgently needed. Nonetheless, the point of departure in this paper commissioned by the CDD unit of the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD) Network of the World Bank, is that participatory and demand-led development approaches might potentially address three critical concerns in conflict contexts: •The need for speedy and cost-effective delivery of reconstruction assistance. •The need to improve the state-citizen relationship. •The need to create alternative forms of community organisation that foster reconciliation between factions of the society

Aid to Judicial Reform: Norwegian and International Experiences

Creating a viable judiciary and strengthening its democratic functions has been a main concern of both national governments and donors over the last two decades. This report attempts to chart and systematise the efforts that have gone into the area of judicial reform. That includes various efforts at improving the functioning of a country’s legal system, both in terms of fairness and efficiency. The report places Norwegian development assistance to judicial reform (which is of relatively new date, but of increasing magnitude and importance) in a broader context by systematically looking at how various donors – multinational, governmental, and non-governmental - have operated in this field. The analysis covers which sectors of the judiciary have been targeted for reform and why; what channels have been used; and what the lessons learned so far are. Experiences from Latin America and Africa are highlighted. The case studies of Norwegian assistance to Guatemala and Ethiopia open up for more in-depth reflections on what works and what does not work when external donors set out to help governments reform their judiciaries

Aid to Judicial Reform: Norwegian and International Experiences

Creating a viable judiciary and strengthening its democratic functions has been a main concern of both national governments and donors over the last two decades. This report attempts to chart and systematise the efforts that have gone into the area of judicial reform. That includes various efforts at improving the functioning of a country’s legal system, both in terms of fairness and efficiency. The report places Norwegian development assistance to judicial reform (which is of relatively new date, but of increasing magnitude and importance) in a broader context by systematically looking at how various donors – multinational, governmental, and non-governmental - have operated in this field. The analysis covers which sectors of the judiciary have been targeted for reform and why; what channels have been used; and what the lessons learned so far are. Experiences from Latin America and Africa are highlighted. The case studies of Norwegian assistance to Guatemala and Ethiopia open up for more in-depth reflections on what works and what does not work when external donors set out to help governments reform their judiciaries

Community Driven Development in Contexts of Conflict. Concept Paper Commissioned by ESSD, World Bank

Violent conflict represents not only a significant barrie r to development; it also wipes out efforts to improve the situation. Experience from many developing countries has shown that Community Driven Development (CDD) programmes have been particularly effective in establishing or expanding essential social services and physical infrastructure at the local level. However, using CDD approaches in a conflict context as a means in post-war rehabilitation represents new challenges. When carried out in contexts of past or persistent conflict, CDD projects are confronted with some major challenges: •communities where projects are set may be deeply divided; •power is unequally distributed; •lines between combatants and civilians may be blurred; •a need to address past traumas may give rise to calls for inquiries or trials; and •economic recovery and basic services may be urgently needed. Nonetheless, the point of departure in this paper commissioned by the CDD unit of the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD) Network of the World Bank, is that participatory and demand-led development approaches might potentially address three critical concerns in conflict contexts: •The need for speedy and cost-effective delivery of reconstruction assistance. •The need to improve the state-citizen relationship. •The need to create alternative forms of community organisation that foster reconciliation between factions of the society