Like earthquake aftershocks, the on-going repercussions of the stock market plunge triggered by the US subprime mortgage meltdown continue to shake financial and banking institutions. Governments and multilateral organisations alike are devoting all their energy and ingenuity to fighting this crisis, shelving the handling of other crises till later.
However, while the financial markets panic, the [...]
“Ideas for Development” is an international Blog meant to stimulate debate on development issues. It brings together a set of senior professionals engaged in this sphere through their careers and personal convictions. This Blog aims at offering a new forum for open discussion and interaction between scholars, students, professionals of various backgrounds and the public at large. Together, they can share information, viewpoints and visions for the future with the common goal of advancing the cause of development.
Is the international community likely to forget the food and energy crises in the rush to deal with the financial one?
Author : Abdou Diouf
Date : November 14th, 2008Last comment the : 15 Nov-08
Live from the EDD: “How will the financial crisis affect the South, and how can European Aid help developing countries face this challenge?”
Author : ID4D (multi-author)
Date : November 5th, 2008Last comment the : 20 Nov-08
Exchange with the members of the blog, live from the 3rd edition of the European Development Days, Europe’s first meeting of development cooperation practitioners and decision-makers that will take place in Strasbourg on the 15-17 November. On this occasion, laptop computer will be available on the French Presidency stand so you will be able to [...]
Population and natural resources: managing pressure
Author : Jean-Michel Severino
Date : November 3rd, 2008Last comment the : 6 Nov-08
Demographic growth, industrialisation and the increase of demand resulting from higher living standards is exerting growing pressure on the world’s natural resources. The effects of climate change are also showing their first impacts on some of the regions of the world that are least equipped to manage them. How can these pressures be handled on [...]
Fighting climate change for the sake of the poor
Author : Rajendra Kumar Pachauri
Date : October 7th, 2008Last comment the : 19 Nov-08
Over the last 18 months or so there has been a major surge in the spread of public understanding on the subject of climate change, particularly in respect of human actions being a cause for changes in the earth’s climate system. However, this increase in awareness has not yet translated into action at the global [...]
The Right Solutions at the Right Time
Author : Josette Sheeran
Date : October 1st, 2008Last comment the : 11 Nov-08
Although the United Nations always has crises to solve, delegates at this year’s UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York seemed to have an exceptional number on their plates. With America’s financial turmoil creating a bleak backdrop, the gathering seemed to hum with palpable angst about the future. One world leader after another strode to [...]
The Oil Price Opportunity
Author : Kemal Dervis
Date : September 22nd, 2008Last comment the : 28 Oct-08
Oil prices have gone down in recent weeks from the peak reached in mid-summer, but they are still much higher than at the beginning of the decade. With high oil and coal prices, there are stronger incentives to use less fossil fuels. Alternative energies become financially more attractive. These developments can bring about reductions in [...]
Doha and the WTO after the July collapse
Author : Supachai Panitchpakdi
Date : September 12th, 2008Last comment the : 23 Sep-08
The failure of the recent WTO Ministerial to achieve its objective of agreeing on modalities for negotiations in agriculture and NAMA is a setback for the Doha Round. The latest in a series of failed attempts, the breakdown of the July talks has led to concerns about the demise of the entire Round. A recent [...]
Give Beijing Some Breathing Space
Author : Achim Steiner
Date : August 19th, 2008Last comment the : 9 Sep-08
Images of the Beijing sky-line, seemingly bathed in a soup of smog and haze have been never far from the world’s TV screens over recent days and weeks.
International reporters with hand-held air pollution detectors have been popping up on street corners checking the levels of soot and dust.
Everyone seems keen to prove that the city’s [...]
Aid for Trade Global Review
Author : Pascal Lamy
Date : December 3rd, 2007Last comment the : 1 Aug-08
Sorry that it has taken me a bit of a while to get back to you on the issue of Aid for Trade. I have just been able to sit down after a busy week discussing with WTO members and Heads of International Organisations on this topic.
It was never going to be easy to bring [...]
Blog launch: Watch the video of the press conference
Author : webmaster
Date : October 24th, 2007
Watch the video of the press conference held on October 21st in Washington (French and English).
The New International Aid Architecture: New Players, New Challenges, Old Problems?
Author : Donald Kaberuka
Date : October 16th, 2007Last comment the : 29 Sep-08
1. Twenty years ago, 22 members of the OECD/DAC accounted for 95% of total aid to developing countries. Today, aid to developing countries is delivered via more than 150 multilateral agencies, 33 bilateral members of the OECD/DAC, at least 10 non-DAC [...]



