id21 viewpoints

id21 viewpoints aim to give everyone involved in international development the opportunity to express their views on policy issues and share their work with id21's international audience.

Latest id21 viewpoints

GM crops ten years on
Ian Scoones, from the STEPS Centre, Institute of Development Studies, asks: What have we learnt over the last 10 years? How do we get beyond the stalemate of the pro versus the anti fundamentalisms of the GM debate? What are the realistic prospects of a pro-poor gene revolution? Download a PDF

Desirable tourism in Nigeria?
Could Nigeria benefit from a boom in tourism, similar to other African countries? Using Badagry as a case study, Oladayo Ramon Ibrahim identifies important opportunities for tourism growth, focusing on the role of culture and the environment in sustainable tourism development.

Revitalising the sustainable livelihoods approach
The Livelihoods Network's ESRC-funded seminars bring together researchers, policymakers and practitioners to explore the theoretical development and practical application of Sustainable Livelihoods Approaches (SLAs). Following the first seminar in October 2008, Ian Scoones, Robert Chambers, Caroline Pinder, Roland Hodson, Jane Clark and Diana Carney, David Sanderson, Zuo Ting and representatives of Khanya-aicdd reflect on lessons learnt and future prospects for livelihoods approaches to development. Download a PDF version

id21 viewpoints 2008
The world comes to Nanjing for the World Urban Forum
The November 2008 World Urban Forum brought together leading urban planners, policymakers, researchers and practitioners from around the world. Geoffrey Payne argues, however, that major donors are not doing enough to address the challenges of urban growth. Download a PDF version

HIV and AIDS, food prices and the need to build bridges between health and agriculture
The many potential impacts of rising food prices have been widely discussed and reported. Stuart Gillespie, from the International Food Policy Research Institute, argues that the impacts on people with HIV and AIDS need much greater attention. Download a PDF version

Indigenous peoples and ICTs
Roger Harris is an independent consultant working for the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for poverty reduction and rural development in Asia. He considers the contribution ICTs can make to the development of indigenous peoples and approaches to improve their access to ICTs. Download a PDF version

The balance of resources for mitigating climate change
Alex Morrell, a Climate Change Analyst currently studying at Dundee University, discusses how imbalances in resource allocation, including for climate change mitigation, are symptomatic of current economic and political systems.Download a PDF version

The importance of rice for reducing poverty in Tanzania
Abiud Kaswamila, at the College of African Wildlife Management in Tanzania, demonstrates the importance of selling rice as a cash crop in a poor region of Tanzania. Download a PDF version

Meeting the needs of healthcare providers
Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Co-director of the Global Healthcare Information Network and Coordinator of HIFA2015, argues that the Millennium Development Goals are achievable, but only if we focus on the needs of healthcare providers. Download a PDF version  

id21 viewpoints 2007

Putting farmers first?
In July 1987, some 50 social and natural scientists met at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex in the UK for a workshop on ‘Farmers and Agricultural Research: Complementary Methods’. It later became known as the ‘Farmer First’ workshop, following the publication of the landmark book. 20 years on, IDS is hosting a ‘Farmer First Revisited' workshop from 12-14 December. IDS Fellow, Ian Scoones, asks: What lessons have been learned?

What we don't know about violent conflict
Patricia Justino, Director of MICROCON, argues that existing conflict research and policy's overwhelming focus on the national, regional and international levels neglects the micro-level issues and limits our understanding of conflict processes.

Conservation and human displacement: what should conservation NGOs do?
Kent H. Redford and Eva Fearn, from the Wildlife Conservation Society Institute, respond to recent criticism of the role conservation NGO's have played in human displacement from protected areas.
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A 100-day agenda for a new Zimbabwe
Adam Smith International's new report sets out a 100 day agenda for a post-Mugabe Zimbabwe, which include clear actions for a new regime and Western governments who will need to step in quickly to help that government rebuild Zimbabwe.Download a PDF version

Porcupines, bees and yams – sustainable agriculture in Cameroon
Gilbert Njodzeka, a member of Green Care Shisong, identifies some of the factors behind a successful locally-driven agricultural programme in Cameroon. Download a PDF version

Should we dump the North-South lens?
Jon Tinker, executive director of Panos Canada, looks at whether the North-South paradigm should become a thing of the past.
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Ecotourism: an innovative conservation and development strategy or a celebration of poverty?
Jim Butcher, a lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University, questions how much ecotourism really benefits poor communities.
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Challenging the IMF on education: why caps on teachers
need to be lifted
David Archer, Head of International Education at ActionAid, looks at how the IMF has contributed to teacher shortages in developing countries.
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Biofuels, climate change and GM crops – who is benefiting?
Rod Harbinson, head of the Environment Programme at Panos London, looks at some of the controversy regarding genetically-engineered biofuels, and their suggested role in fighting climate change.
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Tackling the tax havens
John Christensen, Director of the Tax Justice Network, argues that developing countries lose around $385 billion annually as a result of tax dodging and tax competition - more than twice the amount required to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals.

The innovation of medicines: addressing medical needs worldwide
Christopher-Paul Milne and Brian Young from Tufts University's Center for the Study of Drug Development (USA) call for greater support to innovation projects that focus on the development of medicines for neglected diseases in developing countries.

id21 viewpoints 2006

Poverty, AIDS and hunger
Breaking out of Malawi’s poverty trap
Malcolm Blackie introduces a new book that examines how Malawians find ways to tackle the interlinked problems of HIV and AIDS, hunger and poverty.

A quiet radicalism?
Rights-based work in repressive states
Sunit Bagree, a consultant on human security and governance with ActionAid International, writing in a personal capacity, argues that international NGOs should do more to challenge oppressive governments whilst minimising risks to staff, partners and programmes.

Questioning climate change - is it really dangerous and fossil-fuel induced?
Sonja Boehmer-Christiansen from Hull University's Department of Geography and Editor of Energy & Environment questions climate change.

Using the virtual world to achieve real world gains in livestock care
Sue Welburn and Mark Eisler from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, UK, introduce AUVEC, a project to increase e-learning amongst animal health professionals in Africa.

Do institutions block agricultural development in Africa?
Juan R. de Laiglesia from the OECD argues that institutions, rules and constraints are hindering the development of many of Africa's farmers.

The absence of older people in development
Valerie Lipman, Visiting Fellow at the University of Bristol (Medical Research Council) and formerly with Age Concern for many years.

Brain drains in context
Ronald Skeldon, Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty, University of Sussex, May 2006

Achieving food security?
Ian Scoones, Institute of Development Studies, May 2006

Local government is key in development
Samantha Page, formerly with the UK Local Government Alliance for International Development, April 2006

Tree plantations and climate change - avoiding responsibility in Ecuador
Patricia Granda, Acción Ecológica, April 2006

Making migration work
Richard Black, Director, Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty, University of Sussex, March 2006

Litigating for climate justice
Peter Roderick, Co-Director, Climate Justice Programme, March 2006

id21 viewpoints 2005

Listening and learning are crucial in the response to HIV and AIDS
Ingrid Young, Eldis/HRC Resource Guides - December 2005

World Summit on the Information Society - What did it achieve for ICTs and Development? What did it ignore?
Richard Heeks, University of Manchester - November 2005

MDGs mask injustice and inequality in Latin America
Kepa Artaraz, University of Chester - November 2005

Will blogs change development thinking?
Tim Harford and Pablo Halkyard, World Bank - October 2005

Can mining industry codes replace government regulations?
Rory Sullivan, Insight Investment, UK - October 2005

Private education is good for poor people in Africa and Asia
James Tooley, University of Newcastle, UK - September 2005

Making poverty history?
Laurence Taylor, Consultant and trainer in development planning and evaluation - July 2005

Getting to grips with development in rural China
James Keeley, Institute of Development Studies, UK - May 2005

Chemical cure - pesticides in developing countries
Jerry Cooper, Natural Resources Institute, UK - April 2005

id21 viewpoints 2004

The dangers of small arms availability
Martin Griffiths, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Geneva - November 2004

The role governments and development organisations could play in minimising the negative effects of arms trade
Jane Chanaa, Oxfam GB - October 2004

Critical examination of the World Bank World Development Report 2005
Geoffrey Payne, GPA, UK - August 2004

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