What do small women’s rights organisations want from INGO funders? Less red tape and a seat at the table

Laura NormanGender, Innovation, Women's Economic Empowerment

In the first of a series of blogs for International Women’s Day, Laura Norman and Mona Mehta set out three things women’s rights organisations want from international NGOs – and how Oxfam is responding with an innovative fund that aims to give women activists real power to do what’s best for their communities

A fresh approach to visual communications in development: allow me to illustrate

Isabelle KermeenActive citizenship, Rights

2020 brought many surprises. At the beginning of the pandemic, the last thing I expected was to be coaching voice actors down a crackly line to a recording studio in Afghanistan. My organisation, Integrity Action, was producing an animated video to showcase one of the impact stories from our work – this was part of our shift, over recent years, …

Women’s land rights on paper are not enough

Pubudini WickramaratneGender, Land rights

Land is critical to our daily lives. It is intrinsically linked with our identity, dignity, livelihoods, food, housing, education and health. Secure land rights are essential to sustainable and equitable economic development as well as to social and political development. This holds true, especially for women.  For women to have secure land rights, the legal and policy framework must recognise …

Low costs, high risks, and empty promises? The price of oil in East Africa

Andrew BograndClimate Change, Land rights, Natural Resources

If constructed, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) would become the world’s longest heated pipeline. Communities that will be impacted are worried about their land, money, environment, and future. Oxfam is urging project developers and the governments of Uganda and Tanzania to listen to these communities and take immediate action.

Putting people’s voices first

Deborah SambuICT4D, Methodology, Research

Using innovative research approaches, Africa’s Voices Foundation share how they use technology to reach the hardest to reach.  Development and governance should be led by the views of those who are affected by its implementation. This is our goal as Africa’s Voices Foundation. By using innovative research approaches, we help to open communication channels between organisations and communities, so that …

Taxation conversation over the airways

Sue MooreICT4D, Inequality, Tax

Based on conversations with those involved, Sue Moore reflects on a recent programme to encourage discussion on how the government spends taxes in Kenya and improve understanding of tax compliance behaviour. Tax is a hot topic for Kenyans with many public conversations around how the government raises and spends this revenue. Kenya’s constitution recognises the right to public participation in …

Solar pumps, the simple solution we’ve been looking for?

Brian McSorelyWater, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Brian McSorely introduces to solar pumps, the developments he’s seen over his career and his hopes for the technology for the future. Whilst World Water Day is a time to remind ourselves of the injustice that up to one billion people still lack access to safe water, this year I am going to focus on the positive achievements that I’ve …

Addressing equity through taxation: A view from Kenya

Martin NapisaInequality, Tax

Tax revenue is a vital source of funding for essential services such as infrastructure, health and education. In Kenya tax revenue has increased in recent years but Martin Napisa, from the Kenyan National Taxpayers Association argues that action should be taken to make the tax system more effective and fair. n recent years, the icy state of the world economy …