Development projects too often assume there is a simple structure of local governance. But innovative research based on people in Mozambique, Myanmar, and Pakistan writing diaries reveals how in fact their lives are governed by many competing informal and formal actors. Katrina Barnes of Oxfam and Colin Anderson of the Institute of Development Studies on key dilemmas this complexity raises for practitioners
What drives active citizenship?
by Rik Linssen and Saskia van Veen Mobilising citizens to raise their voices and hold those in power to account for their actions is one of the main ways Oxfam fights poverty and inequality. Oxfam amplifies the voices of those living in poverty and injustice. By mobilising citizens in various modes of collective action (for example, signing a petitions, contacting …
Improving data quality with digital data collection
Emily Tomkys Valteri, Alexia Pretari and Simone Lombardini share practical tips to help improve quality in survey data collection, and introduce the latest case study in the ‘Going Digital’ series. Sometimes survey data doesn’t add up: two household members are married to each other and yet have different marital statuses, consent statements have not been fully read, percentages of income …
Global innovations in measurement and evaluation
In the latest for our Real Geek series, Ruth Gripper from NPC delves into the latest innovations for measurement and evaluation. If I asked you what were the most exciting developments in measurement and evaluation today—things that are going to shape practice in the years to come—could you pick a list? Exploring innovations in measurement and evaluation Call it brave …
Putting responsible data into practice
Rachel Hastie and Amy O’Donnell introduce Oxfam’s new responsible data training resources and their launch event. 90% of the data in the world today has been created in the last two years. Possibly the greatest challenge of the information age is how to manage data properly. As data is increasingly used for needs assessments, feedback, accountability and monitoring; management of …
Out in the open: Oxfam’s impact evaluation survey data now available for download
Through the effectiveness reviews, Oxfam collects a large amount of individual and household survey data. In this blog, we explain why we are making these data available, and where to find them. e talked about this in previous blogs and presentations, and I am happy to finally be able to announce that the individual and household survey data we collected …
Practicing partnership: reflections from South Africa
LEARNING: Partnerships in development communities require different approaches and practices depending on the relationship between organisations. Oxfam Australia’s former South Africa Country Director introduces a discussion paper which reflects on a trip where he met with 40 different partner organisations. Partnership is an important idea for the development community. Uncomfortable with the very obvious power differentials that are inherent …
Working with partners: what’s it all about?
LEARNING: What does working in partnership mean for Oxfam and the vulnerable people we seek to help? Audrey Lejeune, Programme Learning Adviser and Yo Winder, Global Partnerships and Accountability Adviser, introduce a series of learning papers on working with partners. You probably know that Oxfam works with others to fight poverty and inequality around the world. But who are these …
How did we do? Using technology to gather humanitarian feedback
NEWS: Often the most valuable beneficiary feedback is given informally and face to face. That’s why Oxfam is exploring new ways of helping staff to digitally record comments received as they go about their work as Emily Tomkys, ICT in Programme Officer, reports. A study into complaints related to humanitarian interventions by Baños Smith in 2009 revealed that ‘All participants …