Timor-Leste December 15, 2011 4:09AM
Energy for All - Timor Leste
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Paolo da Silva for Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is at the forefront of efforts to address the chronic issue of energy poverty in Timor-Leste, the second poorest country in Asia. Mercy Corps’ innovative Energy for All (E4A) programme is taking a market development approach to improve access to solar, clean cookstoves and sustainable fuelwood. In October the E4A Baseline Assessment was completed, a comprehensive analysis of current energy practices and attitudes in the three target districts, consisting of a survey of 570 households and over 20 focus group discussions.
August 23, 2011 3:30PM
Conflict and Economic Development Assessment in Acholiland region, Uganda
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While the links between poverty and conflict are widely recognized, economic development interventions and peacebuilding interventions are often implemented separately. This results in missed opportunities to harness economic development to promote peace and to open the doors to development by reducing violence. To address this gap, Mercy Corps conducted a combined conflict and market assessment looking at the relationship between economic development and conflict in the Acholiland region of Uganda.
The assessment found that a number of economic factors drive land disputes, including limited economic opportunity and the failure of investors to engage with communities in a manner that is transparent and respectful of local values. Land disputes in turn discourage private sector investment and inhibit the productivity of small-scale farms. In line with the World Bank’s 2011 World Development Report on conflict, security, and development, the report recommends a two-pronged approach that simultaneously addresses land conflict and fosters market development through private sector investment.
August 15, 2011 2:36PM
Understanding Poverty and Conflict
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A significant body of knowledge exists on the relationship between poverty and conflict. Research has shown that low per capita income and slow economic growth drastically increase the chances that a country will experience violence. Driven in part by these findings, donors and their partners are implementing increasing numbers of economic development programs in conflict and post-conflict environments, based on the assumption that these will contribute to both poverty reduction and conflict management.
To test this assumption, Mercy Corps implemented the USAID-funded Evaluation and Assessment of Poverty and Conflict Interventions (EAPC) research project. Over the 18 month life of the project, Mercy Corps worked with its field teams in Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Uganda to 1) develop indicators and data collection tools, 2) field test these indicators and tools, and 3) begin to assess several theories of change that inform Mercy Corps’ programs.
Findings from the research project are shared in three key documents:
• Conflict & Economics: Lessons Learned on Measuring Impact, a summary of learning about M&E in conflict-affected environments, including indicator menus and data collection tools.
• A case study highlighting findings from Uganda.
• A case study highlighting findings from Indonesia.
Please contact Jenny Vaughan at jvaughan@bos.mercycorps.org for further information.
Uganda June 29, 2011 2:21PM
Cattle Raiding in Karamoja
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While the links between poverty and conflict are widely recognized, economic development interventions and peacebuilding interventions are often implemented separately. This results in missed opportunities to harness economic development to promote peace and to open the doors to development by reducing violence. To address this gap, Mercy Corps conducted a combined conflict and market assessment looking at the relationship between cattle raiding and economic development in the Karamoja region of Uganda.
The assessment found that economic interests are the primary drivers of cattle raiding, that most raids are conducted by youth for their own personal gain, and that cattle raiding is becoming increasingly commercialized and sophisticated. In addition, the assessment identified a number of systemic market weaknesses that can be addressed in order to provide viable economic opportunities and reduce incentives for raiding. In line with the World Bank’s 2011 World Development Report on conflict, security, and development, Mercy Corps argues for an integrated approach that addresses both poverty and conflict incrementally and in tandem. The report concludes with recommendations for integrating economic development and peacebuilding programming in Karamoja.
June 17, 2011 1:06PM
Agricultural Development Learning Study
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Nearly half of the world’s workforce relies on growing food for their livelihoods . That equals two billion people in the developing world – 400 million smallholder farmers and their families – who are dependent on agriculture. Smallholder farmers grow crops and raise livestock to contribute directly to household food security, and to sell their products in the marketplace earning the income they need to provide for their families.
Despite the important of small-scale agriculture, smallholder farmers remain some of the poorest people in the world. Most live on less than $2 a day. Farmers must contend with poor infrastructure, unfavorable governance, limited access to business services, and a range of daunting laws, regulations and standards. These tough challenges limit their ability to successfully compete in the marketplace, resulting in limited opportunities to raise themselves out of poverty.
Kenya June 1, 2011 11:03AM
Understanding Political Violence among Youth
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What makes youth prone to engage in violent movements? And what program strategies show the greatest potential to mitigate this risk? Mercy Corps recently undertook research to better understand these questions, based on data from its Local Empowerment for Peace (LEAP) project in Kenya. The study sheds light on the debate over whether young people’s economic conditions are a major driver of violence. It provides hard evidence on a number of social, political, and economic factors that influence youth propensity towards violence in Kenya. The findings have clear implications for peacebuilding programs in environments like Kenya where underlying tensions periodically erupt into violent conflict.
Iraq May 31, 2011 11:00PM
Governance Promotion through Conflict Management in Iraq: Final Evaluation
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Since 2009, Mercy Corps has supported The Network of Iraqi Negotiation Experts (NINE): a nationwide network of 87 Iraqi leaders committed to promoting good governance and reconciliation through consensus-based negotiation. NINE members include Sunni and Shia, Arab and Kurd, religious leaders, government officials, and other community members who resolve potentially violent conflicts using negotiation and mediation.
Nepal April 27, 2011 12:07PM
Global Food Crisis Response - Far-Western Nepal
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The Global Food Crisis Response (GFCR) project in Western Nepal began in September 2008 and continued through February 2011. The project took a multi-pronged approach to alleviating the strain put on households by the increase in global food prices.
The overall goal of GFCR Nepal was to improve immediate and medium-term food security, while laying the groundwork for long-term solutions. To attain this goal, Mercy Corps Nepal implemented both short-term interventions (Cash for Work) and longer-term interventions (Agricultural Value Chain Enhancement, Access to Credit) to lay the groundwork for more sustainable resilience.
April 19, 2011 2:05AM
Myanmar Energy Poverty Survey
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Mercy Corps and partners, with the support of the local firm Myanmar Survey Research (MSR), conducted an Energy Poverty Survey in Laputta Township with four foci: i) a Household Energy Poverty Analysis; ii) a review of the experiences of previous community energy and reforestation projects; iii) a market analysis for fuel efficient stoves and saplings in Laputta Township, and iv) a fuel efficiency analysis for the different stoves marketed in Laputta Township. The findings are intended to help guide development of appropriate strategies for Mercy Corps, MSN and EcoDev, as well as any other organisations working on energy poverty reduction in the Ayeyarwady Delta.
April 12, 2011 1:29PM
ICT Business Development
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The research examines the intersection of Palestinian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector capabilities with demands for software outsourcing support by technology companies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. A specific focus is on outsourcing opportunities to Israel; more broadly the aim is to identify means for expanding the Palestinian ICT services export market to Europe and the United States.
The report includes recommendations on implementing this expansion, while bearing in mind the state of the world ICT marketplace, as well as the very real obstacles and challenges of the regional political situation which constrain or limit both the Palestinian and Israeli ability to establish business partnerships. The research demonstrates that opportunity exists for Palestine to expand its ICT outsourcing services significantly through increased deal-flow from Israel and other countries around the world.