PERSPECTIVES

Read these thoughts on the ever-changing paradigms that determine the agendas for how we work towards impact, sustainability, and the SDGs.

This note lists a set of documents identified through a web search for 2019-2020 literature on Doing Development Differently (DDD) and adaptive management, with selected key points highlighted from each.

As this synthesis shows, advisors and technical assistance are still an important component in Danish development assistance. Roles have changed, but it underlines how human resources are essential in delivering on the partnerships and support. Under ambitions of “Doing Development Differently”, advisers – in their various forms - could play key roles in advancing issue-driven, learning-based, and adaptive work approaches. However, sustainability and impact would require some old lessons on institutional development to be addressed.

Normally the goals of providing development assistance have to do with poverty reduction and sustainable development - but ever more often donors mix in aims for their national private enterprises to benefit commercially through the "aid", one way or another. But it seems little is known about if this actually happens in practice, and about how it should happen. This brief sums up some findings from the few evaluations that have addressed this in Danish aid

The private sector is to play a major role in delivering the SDGs: Up to 45% of investments needed in low- and lower middle income countries - or 1,4 trillion USD every year up to 2030 - must be from private sources. That means new private investments in developing countries must double from 8% to 15% per year – not a small feat. But the private sector seems up for the challenge - in fact, a movement seems to have emerged, with firms and investors keen to show they embrace and support the SDGs. As they get down to the actual work of engaging with the SDGs, firms and investors may also face new demands to where they focus and how they work. Hopefully these will not end up being hurdles for the transformation. Here a few thoughts about six key questions it will be critical they tackle to prevent the hurdles from being stumbling-blocks. Published on linkedin January, 2017.

This study reviews lessons on use of "payment for results" in aid to clarify the scope for using payment incentives to boost social, environmental, economic, or other development impacts, of aid. It focusses on three models typically highlighted: Cash-on-delivery, development impact bonds, and conditional cash-transfers. The report sums up experiences of three donors using sich models: the World Bank, DFID and Norway.

Commentary in Danish on "Globalnyt" about the need to strengthen ESG reporting to boost private sector financing for the SDGs.

Man er nået langt med ESG-rapporteringen, men ikke i mål. Hvis den nødvendige private finansiering af SDG’erne skal mobiliseres, bør det ifølge the Business and Sustainable Development Commission være en top-prioritet at forbedre målingen af den private sektors bæredygtighed og samfundseffekt, så den bliver mere retvisende, ensartet og åbent tilgængelig. Der er desuden uafklarede spørgsmål at håndtere: Hvordan bør ”impact” og fordeling spille ind i målingen af firmaernes bæredygtighed og samfundseffekt? Og hvem er egentlige de rette til at bestemme, hvilket ”impact” er det relevante at stile efter? Uanset svarene, er der danske interesser i standarder, der mere retvisende og sammenligneligt viser bæredygtigheden og udviklingseffekten af virksomhedernes forretninger og investeringer. Så derfor en god ide fra dansk side at være med til at bane vejen for bedre ESG-standarder. Se mere i dette indlæg.

De 17 verdensmål har skabt et nyt engagement i vores klodes udvikling og miljø på tværs af befolkningen og sektorer – men er det rettet mod det nødvendige?