R4D Infrastructure

Poverty and vulnerability in rural China: effects of taxation. CPRC Working Paper No. 156.

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:39:00 GMT

Miscellaneous K. S. Imai, X. Wang and W. Kang 2009 PRC Working Paper No. 112, Chronic Poverty Research Centre, London, UK, ISBN: 978-1-906433-59-8, 27 pp. This paper studies the impact of taxation on poverty and ex ante vulnerability of households in rural China based on national household survey data in 1988, 1995 and 2002. It has been confirmed that i) poverty and vulnerability have reduced significantly with a great deal of geographical disparity, ii) education, land, and access to infrastructure and irrigation facilities are among the key factors to reduce vulnerability, and iii) the highly regressive tax system increased farmers poverty and vulnerability. The abolishment of rural tax since 2006 would thus have a significant negative impact on both poverty and vulnerability of rural households.

Forum encourages best use of public funding for environmental research

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:00:00 GMT

The Environment Research Funders Forum (ERFF) aims to ensure the best possible use of public funding by improving the way environmental research is prioritised, is funded, and informs policy. The Forum brings together the UKs major public-sector sponsors of environmental science to work in partnership to assess research needs and priorities

This is Open Access Week

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:00:00 GMT

This week, 19-23 October 2009, is the first International Open Access Week, which aims to broaden awareness and understanding of Open Access.

Local development in Poland: Case study perspectives.

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:32:00 GMT

Miscellaneous J. Herbst, K. Herbst, H. Ingham and M. Ingham 2005 Working Paper No. 10, 55 pp. This paper reports the findings from three case studies undertaken to provide an in-depth evaluation of how local actors approach the economic development process. The work goes beyond the usual tangible indicators such as unemployment, education, industry mix and infrastructure to also consider the impact that softer factors may have on development. Section 2 outlines the procedure adopted to select the gminas for the case studies. The following three sections then detail the findings for the three local areas. A brief summary and conclusion close the paper.

Urban-Rural Dichotomies in Poland and the EU: Multinational Comparisons and an Exploration of the Polish Small Area Database.

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:13:00 GMT

Miscellaneous Z. Zolkiewski, H. Ingham and M. Ingham 2004 Working Paper No. 4, 59 pp. The focus of attention in this paper is on the smallest official territorial units identified in Poland, namely the NUTS 5 level gminas. The information source employed is the Small Area Database (SADB), assembled by the Polish Central Statistical Office (GUS), for the year 2001. The paper examines housing, community infrastructure, business activity and structure, local amenities, the structure of agriculture, gmina finance and, finally, the environment. Having examined the spatial distribution of each of these indicators in turn, an overall typology based upon their aggregation is then compiled. In this way, it is hoped that further insights can be gained into the location and possible causes of successful and unsuccessful transitions in the Polish countryside and that transferable lessons might be drawn from the research. The results of the exercise will also be used to inform the choice the choice of localities for more in-depth case-study analysis in the next stage of the SURDAR project.

After an introduction, the next section of the paper describes the official delineation of Polish space into its NUTS components and into its rural and urban components. This exercise thereby permits an overview of the structure of the SADB. Confronted with the administrative definitions of the rural-urban status of areas employed within the country, comparisons are made with prevailing international conventions. While these are shown to alter the apparent complexion of Polish space, in truth the alternative definitions are equally arbitrary. There then follows, in Section 3, a summary of the statistical clustering procedure that will be employed to categorise local areas along the seven dimensions to be highlighted in Section 4. This is followed by the aggregate typology of development across gminas that follows from these clustering analyses. A summary and conclusions close the paper.

Weather and Death in India: Mechanisms and Implications for Climate Change

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:33:00 GMT

Miscellaneous R. Burgess, O. Deschenes, D. Donaldson and M. Greenstone 2009 Presentation at NYU, May 5th 2009. 83 pp. This presentation asks the questions: What is the impact of inter-annual variation in weather on health in India with district-level data from 1957-2000?; What are the mechanisms through which exposure to extreme temperatures impact human health in developing countries?; Are there interventions/infrastructure/policies that help mitigate the impact of extreme temperatures?; and What are the implications of all this for the health costs of climate change in developing countries?

Multiple-use water services could advance all Millennium Development Goals

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Research conducted by the DFID-funded RiPPLE (Research Inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile Region) programme shows that adapting water systems for multiple-use could address all the Millennium Development Goals.

Living with Environmental Change (LWEC)

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:24:00 GMT

Completed

Our planet faces unprecedented change. If we continue on our current path, by the end of this century, or earlier, our environment will be in a state that modern humans have never experienced. In parts of the world, supplies of food and water will be at risk and flood defences stretched.

The UK will not be immune. Already we know that tens of thousands can die in European heat waves and that severe storms cause billions of pounds of damage to the economy, disruption to society and individual distress.

We are confident that we can avoid many of the most seriously damaging consequences of a changing climate and environment, but only if we act with sufficient urgency and make the right choices about the future. Failure to act is likely to be very costly.

The Living With Environmental Change programme, LWEC, is the response of the UK's major funders of environment-related research to this urgent situation.

To explore the predicted impacts of climate change and to promote sustainable solutions through mitigation and adaptation

To manage ecosystems for human well-being and protect the natural environment as it changes

To promote human well-being, alleviate poverty and minimise waste by ensuring a sustainable supply of food and water

To protect human, plant and animal health from diseases, pests and environmental hazards

To make infrastructure, the built environment and transport systems resilient to environmental change and less carbon intensive

To understand how people respond to a changing environment and develop thriving, cohesive and informed communities

The Department for International Development is committed to joining forces with the other Living With Environmental Change partner organisations to develop and implement a 10-year programme in a national and international context. This commitment includes an active contribution towards meeting the Terms of Reference of the Living With Environmental Change Partners' Board.

We will work with the partners to design a set of common strategic objectives and build and implement a research and knowledge-exchange strategy based on the policy needs of each of the countries of the UK and their world-leading strengths in both research and policy development.

In helping to design, build and implement the programme, we are committed to take part, where we can, in a range of co-ordinated approaches, including modifications to our existing and planned activities to align with LWEC objectives; our investment in new activities, improved knowledge exchange, and better communication of capabilities, capacities and needs. To enable this, we will play our part in developing effective working practices between the partners. We are committed to active consideration of formal and visible accreditation of any of our existing or planned activities to LWEC, where appropriate.

Rewarding Achievements in International Development

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:00:00 GMT

DFID, in partnership with Marie Stopes International (MSI) and the Guardian, has unveiled the five finalists of the Guardian Achievements in International Development Award.

Maternal and Child Mortality Development Goals: What Can the Transport Sector Do?

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:59:00 GMT

Miscellaneous J. Babinard and P. Roberts 2006 World Bank, Washington D.C., USA. Transport Paper No. TP-12, 50 pp. The reduction of child mortality and the improvement of maternal health are two of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Child and maternal mortalities continue to represent severe burdens in many developing countries. Every year, 527,000 women in developing countries die of pregnancy-related complications and nearly 4 million children die during their first month (accounting for 40 percent of all deaths under 5 years of age) with nearly all (98 percent) of them in developing countries. The risks of dying from pregnancy-related complications and a child dying under the age of five are highest in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This paper focuses on the ways in which transport and road infrastructure play key roles in the overall delivery of and access to health services, and in the effectiveness of the health referral process. Improved transport and roads for poorly served communities will contribute to reducing maternal and child mortality rates. However, transport interventions which are specifically designed to improve access to health services should be planned as part of a long-term integrated health and transport strategy, thereby ensuring that essential services are both affordable and financially sustainable. Community participation and mobilization are also crucial to ensure that transport arrangements are appropriate and socially acceptable. Improved communications can be an important complement, particularly for emergencies occur. Transport services for newborns need to relate to the arrangements made for mothers.

Preparing a National Transport Strategy: Suggestions for Government Agencies in Developing Countries

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:44:00 GMT

Miscellaneous J. Lee and J. L. Hine 2008 World Bank, Washington D.C., USA. Transport Paper No. TP-19, 67 pp. Most governments find it useful to prepare a National Transport Strategy (NTS) document in order to help guide the development of the countrys transport system in the medium and long term. In this way an NTS can help provide a framework for the development of detailed policy and legislation as well as identifying investment priorities.

The purpose of this report is to assist policy makers and planners in developing countries in the preparation of an NTS. The report highlights lessons that can be learned from NTSs developed by different countries around the world. It draws upon transport strategy and policy documents from 23 countries and from a range of World Bank source material. The aim is not to provide a ready-made strategy document but to identify relevant questions and choices that need to be considered in preparing an NTS. At each stage of the development of the NTS, a checklist of considerations is given, and, where appropriate, examples of good and bad practice are identified.

Within the report particular attention is paid to separately identifying Objectives, Policy Principles and Strategies. Objectives express societys goals, which should reflect the general socio-economic goals of the countrygoals that are shared with other (non-transport) sectors. Policy Principles represent the principles that should govern the pursuit of those goals. They are the guiding philosophy for decisions within the sector. Strategies represent the ways in which goals are to be achieved in line with the policy principles.

A wide range of policies relating to the sector as a whole and to different modes of transport are considered in the report, covering topics such as investment planning, private provision of road infrastructure, transport services, rail infrastructure and operations, ports and multi-modal transport, route service franchising, pricing, cost recovery and taxation. In addition, a series of examples of how strategies can be formulated based on objectives and policy principles are given.

Throughout the report, consultation and transparency in the preparation of an NTS are stressed. It is believed that that an NTS is far more likely to be successfully implemented if the process of preparation is open to public scrutiny. The report concludes with a broad assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of NTSs reviewed for the report.

Evaluation Implications of Sub-optimum Pricing

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:48:00 GMT

Miscellaneous 2005 World Bank, Washington D.C., USA. Transport Note No. TRN-23, 10 pp. This note focuses on three specific ways in which sub-optimal pricing can impact on transport infrastructure project benefits: through congestion and overcrowding (Section 1); through overpricing and loss of user benefits (Section 2); and through financial deficits which have implications for the rest of the economy (Section 3). Sections (1-3) of the Note seek to give practical advice on each situation, including how to approach the economic analysis of the situation, and the key implications for project appraisal.

If pricing policy is not known with certainty at the time of the appraisal, then alternative pricing policies must form part of the risk and uncertainty analysis. This is covered in Section 4. Conclusions are given in Section 5.

Low Volume Rural Roads

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:35:00 GMT

Miscellaneous 2005 World Bank, Washington D.C., USA. Transport Note No. TRN-21, 9 pp. The objective of this note is to advise on an appropriate economic appraisal methodology that should be used for the assessment of Low Volume Rural Roads that is roads upon which less than 200 motorised vehicles per day travel. The primary objective of such roads is the provision of basic access, which is the minimum level of infrastructure required to sustain socio-economic activity. Accordingly the provision of basic access is often viewed as a basic human right similar to the provision of basic health and basic education.

Section 1 of this note sets out the reasons that Low Volume Rural Roads require a slightly different consideration from other transport projects. Section 2 discusses the approaches to economic evaluation that can be used for low volume rural roads, whilst Section 3 presents the manner that the consumer surplus method can be extended to account for the characteristics of low volume rural roads. Section 4 contains a summary of the main points of the note.

Evaluation of Public Sector Contributions to Public-Private Partnership Projects

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:31:00 GMT

Miscellaneous 2005 World Bank, Washington D.C., USA. Transport Note No. TRN-20, 9 pp. This Note provides guidance on the diversity of options for public private collaboration in the transport sector, not only in the funding and provision of infrastructure but also in relation to transport services and other activities that were once considered as exclusively for the public sector.

Projects With Significant Expected Restructuring Effects

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:23:00 GMT

Miscellaneous 2005 World Bank, Washington D.C., USA. Transport Note No. TRN-19, 7 pp. This Note focuses on the economic evaluation of conventional infrastructure investments, and specifically on two types of projects which may result in significant economic restructuring relocation of economic activities, generation of new activities, or changes in the way that current activities are undertaken. The two examples used, new urban rail lines and major new barrier crossings serve simply as examples of a much wider issue. The issue considered is that whenever projects bring about a large step change in transport costs, there is a stimulus for a reorganisation of economic activity outside the transport sector. For example, a manufacturer may change the source of their raw materials or relocate their production, a retailer may centralise their operations to serve a larger market area, or a farmer may change their crops to a more marketable combination and hire labour.

Computer modelling could help to reduce the human cost of cyclones

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Research carried out following Cyclone Nargis which caused extensive flooding and loss of life in Myanmar in May 2008 is being used to develop software to predict the extent of of future storm surges

DFID releases a new project database

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Information about projects funded by DFID, ranging from emergency aid for countries affected by conflict or humanitarian crises, to ongoing support to improve health, education and sanitation in the poorest countries, is now available online.

TB Alliance

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:11:00 GMT

Current

Purpose of engagement:

The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TBA) was founded as a not-for profit organisation in response to a global declaration to address a 40-year gap in drug development for TB (the Cape Town Declaration) in 2000. As a product development public private partnership (PDP), the TBA is a virtual drug development enterprise, bringing together expertise from academia, government, and the private sector.

Sixty years after the discovery of the first effective antibiotic against TB, the disease remains a major infectious cause of death worldwide, second only to HIV and AIDS. In 2006, TB claimed 1.7 million lives and over 9.0 million new cases were recorded. Existing therapy has serious shortcomings that limit its ability to adequately address the disease. TB control programs do not reach everyone who needs them, especially in countries with weak health systems. A significantly shorter drug treatment regimen for TB would have a directly attributable benefit to reducing poverty on a global scale. Improved therapies would save millions of lives by increasing compliance, speeding time to cure and overcoming resistance. A shorter and simpler treatment would therefore not only help those currently under treatment, but also allow healthcare workers to reach more patients and reduce the burdens to the health care infrastructure.

TBA's research efforts play a significant role towards progress for Millennium Development Goal 6, to combat HIV and AIDS malaria and other diseases, with a particular emphasis on TB and the coinfection of TB and HIV. The ultimate beneficiaries of improved, simplified and shortened TB treatments are TB-affected populations across the globe, but in particular those in low-income countries. About 90% of TB and TB-related deaths occur in low-income countries.

The TBA's goal is to enhance TB treatment and thereby improve the health of poor populations suffering from TB. The TBA's purpose is to accelerate the development of new anti-tuberculosis drug regimens that shorten and/or simplify treatment, are effective against multi-drug resistant TB, can be administered together with anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) and address both active and latent forms of the disease. The resulting medicines must be accessible, affordable to all in need, and promptly adopted for field use.

DFID engagement Strategy/DFID line:

Support for the TBA support fits within the DFID Research Strategy 2008-13 and the AIDS strategy. Because of the interaction between TB and HIV, TB has become the leading cause of death among people with HIV, while infection with HIV is an important risk factor for a latent TB infection to convert to active TB. Further investment in research and development of new drugs to help combat tuberculosis was strongly articulated in a DFID TB and malaria consultation (Set out in the DFID Practice paper; The Challenge of TB and Malaria Control, December 2005.).

DFID's support for TB control aims to eliminate TB as a global health problem, and to meet MDG 6 (target 8) "to have halted and begun to reverse the incidence of TB by 2015".

To accelerate the development of new anti-tuberculosis drug regimens that shorten and/or simplify treatment, are effective against multi-drug resistant TB, can be administered together with anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) and address both active and latent forms of the disease. The resulting medicines must be accessible, affordable to all in need, and promptly adopted for field use.

The largest single portfolio of potential TB compounds ever assembled.
A robust worldwide network of partners from industry, academia, and other research organizations.
It is the only organization that is constructively engaging other TB drug sponsors to plan for future combinations of novel TB drugs that will create significant improvement in TB drug therapy.
Maintains close communications with virtually all organizations and individuals with significant activity in TB drug R&D, even in the absence of formal collaborations.
Two drugs in late stage clinical development.
Moxifloxacin, in Phase III development, is one of the most advanced clinical development programs for the treatment of active TB in over forty years.
Identifying clinical trial capacity gaps, developing registration-standard trial and laboratory capacity in many high-burden countries, and defining and addressing regulatory issues specific to TB drug development with relevant authorities.
Is making the regimen rather than single drugs the unit of development. Testing of the first set of experimental combinations is already underway.
Two preclinical studies aimed at identifying candidate biomarkers of treatment efficacy.
Laying the groundwork to facilitate adoption and availability of TB drugs once they are developed.

Communications vacancies at DFID

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:00:00 GMT

DFID is seeking applicants for four posts in the Communications Team in its Policy and Research Directorate

The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases Research (TDR)

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:52:00 GMT

Current

Purpose of engagement:

The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), based at WHO, is an independent global programme of scientific collaboration. Established in 1975 and co-sponsored by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO), it aims to help coordinate, support and influence global efforts to combat a portfolio of major diseases of the poor and disadvantaged. The programme places a strong emphasis on research with practical application and developing countries have a voice in the management of the research.

TDR's new vision is for "An effective global research effort on infectious diseases of poverty, in which disease endemic countries play a pivotal role". They have developed a comprehensive, ambitious ten year strategy which seeks to respond to the challenges of the current research environment and to make the collective global research effort more effective and responsive to research priorities in Disease Endemic Countries (DECs), recognising the DECs' role in priority setting to ensure relevance, sustainability and optimal health impact for the poor. TDRs activities are underpinned by 3 strategic functions under the new strategy: (i) stewardship for research on infectious diseases of poor populations (ii) Empowerment of researchers and public health professionals from disease endemic countries (iii) research on neglected priority needs that are not adequately addressed by other partners.

TDR's goal is to have the priority setting, research and development led and managed by scientific leaders in the countries where the diseases and problems occur. TDR's purpose is to provide a collaborative framework and information service for research partners; empower scientists from disease endemic countries as research leaders; and support research on neglected priority needs.

DFID engagement Strategy/DFID line:

Combating poverty related infectious diseases is central to the attainment of MDG 6, to combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases, although progress in this area will advance all of the MDGs. Research into tropical diseases is aligned with many DFID strategies and policies, and has been identified as a critical global research priority.

DFID's Research Strategy 2008-2013 reflects DFID's firm commitment to speed up progress towards the health MDGs by continuing to research ways of fighting TB, malaria, HIV/AIDS and other neglected diseases.

To provide a collaborative framework and information service for research partners; empower scientists from disease endemic countries as research leaders; and support research on neglected priority needs. 1. Evidence to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of ACTs for home management of Malaria in community settings in Africa, including safety and effectiveness of rectal artesunate. This is informing scaled up distribution and administration of malarial treatment at the periphery of the health system.

2. Validation of several 'quality-assured syphilis diagnostics, getting them on to WHO procurement lists which has led to a negotiated reduction in price, and initiation of their scaled up use e.g. in clinics, including antenatal clinics, in Africa, and countries from several other regions including Brazil and China . The availability of quality assured syphilis diagnostics has also given a significant boost to the concept of globally eliminating congenital syphilis (we have the situation in many countries where relatively high cost PMTCT allows the birth of HIV-free children, only for them to die of congenital syphilis for want of a shot of penicillin costing a few cents).

3. Community directed interventions for distribution of ivermectin (operating under APOC) can be used for an integrated approach to deliver multiple interventions in harmony and coherence with national health systems and under their auspices , including vitamin A distribution, bednet distribution and home management of malaria. In the latter case this led to doubling childrens access to treatment within 24 hours in districts where the integrated approach to community directed interventions were implemented. The APOC infrastructure currently reaches 60 million people so the strategy can be readily scaled up. The concept is being implemented as policy in many African countries.

4. Availability of new drugs and validation of quality assured diagnostics for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) , developed and validated with investigators under the auspices of the Indian Medical Research Council, led to an MoU between governments of India, Nepal and Bangladesh to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis from the Indian sub continent by 2015 . TDR is working with these governments and SEARO to coordinate research support for this elimination effort.

5. Capacity development and regional networking for ethical review has led to regional and national forums for the discussion of ethical review issues. In SE Asia and former Soviet states this has led to legislative changes to protect human subjects in research.

Solutions to rural transport problems in South East Asia

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Road construction approaches developed under the DFID-funded South-East Asia Community Access Programme (SEACAP) are helping to solve problems of rural transport in South-East Asia

DFID call for a synthesis of policy and research lessons from Latin America

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:00:00 GMT

DFID seeks to engage a consortium to capture and communicate some of the key policy and research lessons from Latin America

DFID Research Programme on Sanitation and Hygiene - Call for Expressions of Interest

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:00:00 GMT

DFID has issued a call for expressions of interest in leading a research programme on improving access to and uptake of adequate sanitation and hygiene.

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI)

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:56:00 GMT

Current

Purpose of engagement:

The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) is a not-for-profit foundation whose mission is to ensure the development of safe, effective, accessible, preventive HIV vaccines for use throughout the world. IAVI was established in 1996, and was the first product development public-private partnership (PDP) to target the neglected diseases of disproportionate impact on the worlds poor. Since its foundation it has enabled the development and evaluation of a wide range of candidate vaccines.

There are no AIDS vaccines available at the moment and the last two years have yielded disappointing research results as potential vaccines being tested have not been effective and trials have been stopped early. IAVI is one of the organisations leading the global research effort to understand the basic science and find innovative approaches to the development of potential AIDS vaccines.

DFID engagement Strategy/DFID line:

Funding for IAVI fits within the DFID research strategy to address the need for new or improved products to combat diseases of the poor and the DFID AIDS strategy with its focus on treatment and prevention. Development of new prevention technologies for HIV will help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, notably to combat diseases such as AIDS, reduce poverty and child mortality, and improve maternal health.

To ensure the development of safe, effective, accessible, preventive HIV vaccines for use throughout the world Advancing six HIV vaccine candidates to testing in human trials. Evaluation of two additional vaccines.

Conducting 20 trials in 11 countries.

Setting up the first global scientific consortium to address key challenges impeding AIDS vaccine R&D.

Building a strong clinical and laboratory network throughout East & South Africa and India.

HIV studies funded by IAVI have provided opportunities for over 80,000 people to receive HIV prevention and treatment services.

Building infrastructure, providing equipment, support and enhancement of communications and IT, capacity built for clinical and lab staff and community workers and administrative and financial staff.

International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM)

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:11:00 GMT

Current

Purpose of engagement:

The International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) is a not-for-profit foundation whose mission is to prevent HIV transmission by accelerating the development and availability of safe and effective microbicides for use by women in developing countries. An effective microbicide will not only protect women against HIV inflection, but also interrupt the cycle of transmission from and to men and to newborns by preventing infection in the mothers.

There are no effective microbicides available at the moment although a number of different compounds have been tested. A DFID-funded trial, the microbicide development programme, will report its results at the end of 2009. IPM is one of the organisations leading the global research effort to test the next generation of microbicides will be based upon antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs.

IPM is a not-for-profit foundation, set up in 2002 to act as a small pharmaceutical/biotechnology company. IPM has scientific collaborators across nine countries, spanning the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Advocacy and access programs run across a similar range of settings.

DFID engagement Strategy/DFID line:

Funding for IPM fits within the DFID research strategy to address the need for new or improved products to combat diseases of the poor and the DFID AIDS strategy with its focus on treatment and prevention. Development of new prevention technologies for HIV will help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, notably to combat diseases such as AIDS, reduce poverty and child mortality, and improve maternal health.

To prevent HIV transmission by accelerating the development and availability of safe and effective microbicides for use by women in developing countries. Securing royalty-free licenses from a number of leading pharmaceutical companies.

Developing promising ARVs as microbicide candidates. This has expanded the pipeline, both in number and potential mechanisms of action.

Developed new drug delivery models such as vaginal rings, vaginal tablets and films, and has developed analytical methods to test these formulations.

Established a clinical trial material (CTM) manufacturing facility.

Strengthened and/or expanded clinical infrastructure capacity at 15 research centres.

Completed 15 human studies at a number of locations with an additional 12 studies planned for 2009.

Established ethical guidelines for IPM clinical trials.

Raised the profile of microbicides through a network of advocacy organisations and high-profile champions to place microbicides on the global agenda (UNGASS, MDG Review, and G8) as well as the national agenda in many donor countries.

Built strong partnerships with funders and established an efficient organization.

Support to the World Conference of Science Journalists 2009

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:18:00 GMT

Current

The WCSJ is held every 2 to 3 years and attracts over 600 journalists from more than 50 countries around the world, including from developing countries where there is little infrastructure for supporting specialised training in science reporting. The conference allows journalists from around the world to network, and to learn and report on global scientific issues and to discuss todays challenges in order to raise the standards of the profession worldwide.

To allow journalists from around the world to network, and to learn and report on global scientific issues and to discuss today's challenges in order to raise the standards of the profession worldwide.

Provide journalists from developing countries with training and opportunities to learn about, and report on, research that is relevant to development.
Enable developing country journalists to network with counterparts from developed countries, thereby encouraging lasting professional contacts between journalists, scientists or other experts, and with editors who may provide new work opportunities.
Draw the attention of the world's media to development issues and the strategies that DFID is spearheading in order to address these.
Showcase the success of DFID-funded projects such as the WFSJ peer-to-peer mentoring programme (SjCOOP), and the Science and Development Network through participation of key individuals in workshops and discussion panels.

See the website http://www.wcsjnews.org/

Protecting the water rights of indigenous Mexicans

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:00:00 GMT

In Mexico, the flow of water from mountainous areas to the cities connects a variety of people and businesses. Researchers from the DFID-funded Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability have promoted new relationships based on the common interests of major users of water resources: indigenous ranchers, rural and urban municipalities and the petrochemical industry

What can be done to beat urban poverty?

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT

DFID-funded research by Practical Action has improved understanding of the impact of different approaches to urban poverty reduction through research and sharing the experiences of Southern-based NGOs

Better roads for Africa

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:00:00 GMT

The Global Transport Knowledge Partnership is helping inform people about new ways to build sustainable road transport in Africa

Transport Research Support to the World Bank for Inclusive Growth (TRS)

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:51:00 GMT

Current

Between 2001 and April 2007, DFID supported the Transport and Rural Infrastructure Services Learning and Sharing Partnership (TRISP) a collaborative programme with the World Bank for knowledge management and dissemination which focused on issues affecting transport and rural infrastructure services in developing countries. TRS will use learning and experience gained from TRISP to focus on key emerging research issues in the transport sector and the application of lessons learned from them.

TRS has five components; funding is provided for

"Discrete knowledge products" which get existing knowledge on transport and social responsibility into use in the transport sector.
"Flagship knowledge products" to generate new knowledge and which support institutional activities that stimulate mainstreaming of new approaches.
A Lead Infrastructure Specialist to work within the World Bank
Improving the Bank's advice to Governments dealing with the Economic Downturn
Enabling the Bank to maximise the contribution of transport to long-term sustainable growth

The Goal of the programme is to promote sustained, inclusive economic growth opportunities by strengthening social responsibility in planning and implementing access and transport services for poor people in developing countries.

Its Purpose is to enable Transport Sector interventions which are supported by the World Bank and other development partners to contribute more effectively to sustainable growth and respond better to the needs of all groups of poor.

1. Implementation of existing and innovative sustainable transport practice (policies, technologies and processes) promoted through leadership of the WB Transport for Social Responsibility thematic group and other networks.

2. Effective synthesis, sharing and dissemination of good practice and policy guidelines for all outputs (incl. social responsibility) through WB and other knowledge networks.

3. Discrete knowledge products which get existing knowledge on transport and social responsibility into use in the transport sector.

4. Flagship knowledge products to generate new knowledge and which support institutional activities that stimulate mainstreaming of new approaches.

5. Specialist inputs to the Transport Unit program with particular reference to delivering growth and poverty reduction in the poorest countries.

Innovative techniques in rural road access open up areas for more food production

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:00:00 GMT

DFID's research programme SEACAP in South East Asia produces solutions for regional planning and local participation

African Community Access Programme (AFCAP)

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:49:00 GMT

Current AFCAP funds applied research to rural access problems, communicates the research outcomes to stakeholders, and supports the mainstreaming of the research results into practice. A six-month inception phase was completed in December; projects are now in operation or in planning in several sub-Saharan African countries.

Programme Goal: Sustained economic development, poverty reduction and improved livelihoods of the rural poor through more effective, efficient and equitable access to socio-economic opportunities (employment, healthcare, education, etc.).

Programme Purpose: To create sustainable access for rural communities to external opportunities and services (including health, education, employment, markets and social and political networks).

Best practice on Rural Roads Technology mainstreamed in Africa
Evidence of impact of appropriate rural road technology disseminated
Sustainable ownership mechanisms for construction and maintenance of local road systems
Knowledge and research capacity in Africa improved and key knowledge disseminated and adopted
Status of improving access to basic infrastructure for poor in Africa reviewed and further developed

AFCAP has made substantial progress in establishing a robust research programme for the rural transport sector in Africa. National co-ordinators have been appointed in Mozambique, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya, national steering groups have been identified, initial projects have been developed, and contractors for these projects are being procured.

Discussed with International Institute of Water and Environment Engineering of Ouagadougou University possible development of a short course for rural road engineering. There is potential to collaborate with KNUST in Ghana and the opportunity to offer course material across the French West African region.

Letters of Agreement have now been secured with the governments of Mozambique, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya. AFCAP is supporting study tours for the Ethiopian Road Authority and a strategic planning workshop in Tanzania.

Managing climate risk in South Africa's Western Cape

Thu, 22 May 2008 01:00:00 GMT

A team of researchers led by the University of the Free State is working to give planners and farmers access to improved climate information and a range of options to help them prepare for a water-scarce future

South East Asia Community Access Programme (SEACAP)

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:29:00 GMT

Completed

Sustainable and affordable rural access is a necessary precondition for expanding social and economic opportunities for rural women and men, thereby enhancing pro-poor growth and poverty alleviation efforts.

SEACAP was a poverty-targeted transport initiative within the Global Transport Knowledge Partnership (gTKP) framework. It was aimed at improving the sustainable access of people in rural communities to health, education, employment and trade opportunities, with projects in Cambodia, Laos PDR, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

SEACAP provided funding for applied research to solve rural access problems. It communicated information about the research outcomes to stakeholders, and supported the mainstreaming of the solutions.

The programme identified and supported the uptake of low cost, proven solutions for rural access. Focused on the needs of poor women and men, it aimed to maximise the use of LOCAL resources, including labour, materials, enterprise and most ingenuity.

Goal: Livelihoods of poor and vulnerable peoples in SE Asia improved sustainably.

Purpose: Sustainable access to health, education and trade for rural communities, creating pro-poor growth

The overall relationship between improved rural access and reduced rural poverty is well established. The main contribution that SEACAP has made is improving the sustainability of investments in rural transport.

SEACAP did not select target communities. It worked through other programmes that were investing in rural transport infrastructure. Reports from these programmes indicate that the investments were reducing poverty in the targeted communities.

The impact of SEACAP on poverty reduction efforts will increase with time as the approaches developed are increasingly rolled out.

SEACAP contributed to the sustainability of rural access in all three target countries. This was done by influencing the stakeholders to use appropriate technologies and assisting with the development of key building blocks such as policy, strategy, standards and specifications. The SEACAP supported policies and strategies in Vietnam and Cambodia are leading to enhanced local participation nationwide.

*Best practice on road technology mainstreamed in SE Asia.
*Evidence of effect of appropriate rural road technology disseminated.
*Sustainable ownership mechanisms for construction and maintenance of local road systems.
*Knowledge and research capacity in SEA improved and key knowledge disseminated and adopted.
*Status of improving access to basic infrastructure for the poor in Cambodia reviewed and further work proposed.

The Project was completed on 30/06/2009.

The Project Completion Report made the following comments:

SEACAP has improved knowledge about what constitutes good practice in the construction of rural access. However, this information still needs to be more fully disseminated amongst all those involved in funding, planning and implementing rural transport in SEA to provide a sustainable basis for lasting strategic change.

SEACAP has made progress at the level of formulating improved practice, standards and specifications. But "mainstreaming" of this framework into influencing investment decisions is a long way from complete and deserves continued support. Considerable risks remain that this knowledge is not absorbed and that outputs such as standards and specifications can still be ignored by practitioners on the ground - through ignorance or perverse incentives - thereby continuing inefficiencies in the choice of rural road technologies.

SEACAP has made a considerable body of relevant knowledge on rural road construction and maintenance accessible. This has been achieved through a combination of original research based on existing knowledge and good practice. These outcomes of research have been disseminated through a great variety of mechanisms, to the academic world in the region, to government and to development partners. However, as yet this has not been "mainstreamed" to the extent that had been the original intention. It is therefore too early to state that SEACAP has contributed to improving access to health, education and trade.

No baseline measurements on poverty were made under SEACAP. Beneficiary target communities were not defined in the Project Document. But SEACAP has contributed significantly to the level of knowledge about cost effective rural road construction technologies in SEA. This knowledge has been distributed widely amongst decision makers and practitioners.

Considerable progress achieved with the formulation of policy, standards and specifications representing the outcome of SEACAP-funded research. Some of these accepted into law or decree.

The outcomes of SEACAP research have been disseminated through numerous appropriate channels, including (a) academic world in SEA; (b) relevant government departments controlling rural infrastructure at central and provincial level; and (c) donor community.

Rural Transport Strategy in Viet Nam, and "Inter Ministerial and Program cooperation for Rural Transport Development. Road Law and Rural Road Policy in Cambodia re-formulated and approved at technical level; suitable for adoption by Cabinet. Road policy in Lao PDR already in place.

Considerable interaction with main development partners involved in road sector in all three project countries. However, adoption of technologies agreed by Government at strategy or specification level not necessarily followed by all donor funded programmes.

Training delivered down to local (district and commune) level in road construction and maintenance techniques. Funding presents main risk.

SEACAP has interacted considerably with local research institutions, and has increased or improved the profile of applied research in road construction issues. However, with present availability of skills and priorities for spending, it is not likely that a SEACAP-style research programme would continue without external funding, management and encouragement.

SC 2 (Transport Mainstreaming Partnership for Cambodia) reviewed many aspects of rural transport.

TB Alliance

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Current Purpose of engagement:

The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) was founded as a not-for profit organisation in response to a global declaration to address a 40-year gap in drug development for TB (the Cape Town Declaration). As a product development public private partnership (PDP), the TB Alliance is a virtual drug development enterprise, bringing together expertise from academia, government, and the private sector.

Tuberculosis (TB) kills nearly two million people a year - 5,000 people a day - mainly in the poorest communities in the developing world. TB control programs currently reach only three million people worldwide. A significantly shorter drug treatment regimen for TB would have a directly attributable benefit to reducing poverty on a global scale. Improved therapies would save millions of lives by increasing compliance, speeding time to cure and overcoming resistance. A shorter and simpler treatment would therefore not only help those currently under treatment, but also allow healthcare workers to reach more patients and reduce the burdens to the health care infrastructure.

The current TB Alliance drug pipeline consists of eight drug discovery projects and two drugs in clinical testing. Over the next five years, the TB Alliance aims to cut TB treatment times from six months to two to three months, by developing new drug regimens that combine better and faster acting drugs. The TB Alliance's research efforts are crucial for progress on Millennium Development Goal 6 "to combat HIV/AIDS malaria and other diseases" and the overall goal towards poverty reduction.

The TB Alliance's goal is to enhance TB treatment and thereby improve the health of poor populations suffering from TB. The TB Alliance's purpose is to accelerate the development of new anti-tuberculosis drug regimens that shorten and/or simplify treatment, are effective against multi-drug resistant TB, can be administered together with anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) and address both active and latent forms of the disease. The resulting medicines must be accessible, affordable to all in need, and promptly adopted for field use.

DFID engagement Strategy/DFID line:

DFID's support for TB control aims to eliminate TB as a global health problem, and specifically to achieve specific milestones. DFID is committed to meeting MDG 6 (target 8) "to have halted and begun to reverse the incidence of TB by 2015". The interpretation of target 8 is that the incidence rate of all forms of TB should be falling by 2015.

TB Alliance support fits within the DFID 2005-2007 research funding framework, as TB is one of the three "killer diseases" emphasised in the framework and also because of the interaction between TB and HIV. TB has become the leading cause of death among people with HIV, while infection with HIV is an important risk factor for a latent TB infection to convert to active TB. Further investment in research and development of new drugs to help combat tuberculosis was strongly articulated in the recent DFID TB and malaria consultation.

Supporting the TB Alliance helps the UK to fulfil the G8 commitment to support the mechanism of public private partnerships to produce new drugs for "killer diseases" including TB. To accelerate the development of new anti-tuberculosis drug regimens that shorten and/or simplify treatment, are effective against multi-drug resistant TB, can be administered together with anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) and address both active and latent forms of the disease.

Water management in drought-affected North East Brazil

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Enabling long-term sustainable use of land and water, through management by local communities

Involving the poor in urban development

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Livelihoods of micro entrepreneurs should be taken into account in infrastructure and service development

Mitigating diffuse agricultural pollution

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Investigating the impacts of diffuse agricultural pollution on water quality and on livelihoods in intensively irrigated tropical and sub-tropical areas

Get ready to rumble...

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Development of an early warning system by DFID-funded researchers could help poor people in Central America farming the rich soils on the slopes of volcanoes

Time is money for poor rural travellers too

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Travel time savings associated with transport projects in developing countries are often underestimated as benefits to rural economies