Since June 2010, rising and volatile food prices have driven 44 million more people into extreme poverty. Three quarters of the world's poor live in rural areas, and most are involved in farming. For this reason, bolstering agriculture in devel

Climate Change and International Development

Jun 30th, 2017

A quarter of the population of developing countries still live on less than $1.25 a day. One billion people lack clean drinking water, 1.6 billion lack electricity. Yet these are the people who will bear some 75 to 80 percent of the costs of da

HIV and AIDS in the Developing World

Jun 30th, 2017

UNAIDS and the World Health Organization estimate that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognised in 1981, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in recorded history. Health statistics show that the poore

Food Security and the Global Food Crisis

Jun 30th, 2017

Having food security means that all members of a household have continuing access to nutritious and safe food. It’s estimated that 1 billion people worldwide are hungry all the time. Two hundred million, or one third of these malnourished peopl

Intervening in Conflict Settings

Jun 30th, 2017

Building peaceful nation-states which respond to the aspirations of their citizens takes strong leadership, both international and domestic. The international community has an important role to play in assisting countries to avoid, contain and

Microfinance and International Development

Jun 30th, 2017

Poor people, particularly those in developing countries, face countless challenges when it comes to accessing financial services. Credit may be available through informal channels that are usually insecure and come at a high cost to borrowers.

Maternal and Child Health

Jun 30th, 2017

Health-related Millennium Development Goals have proved to be among the most challenging to achieve, especially in terms of reducing child and maternal mortality rates. Most regions of the world are off track. Every year nearly 11 million child

Women's Role in International Development

Jun 30th, 2017

During the past few decades, women’s and girls’ education and health levels have improved in most poor countries. In low-income countries, more than 37 million girls have been enrolled in primary school since 1995, improving girls’ enrollment r

Global Poverty in the Aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis

Jun 30th, 2017

A meaningful path out of poverty requires a strong economy that produces jobs and good wages; a government that can provide schools, hospitals, roads, and energy; and healthy, well-nourished children who are the future human capital that will f

Education in a Changing World

Jul 15th, 2012

It's now well established that a quality education can offer a vital leg-up in life....but are we getting it right for those in the developing world? Which skills are most valuable in a changing world? How do we ensure education quality and rel

Oceans and Fisheries

May 15th, 2012

Oceans are our life blood. They cover 71 percent of the Earth's surface and provide half of our oxygen, much of our food and regulate climate, and are a vital source of income and livelihoods in Pacific Island countries. But our oceans are at r

Aid Effectiveness

Apr 12th, 2012

We're considering a number of pressing questions relating to development effectiveness on the back of the Australian Aid Review, as Australia looks to increase its aid budget to 0.5% of its national income by 2015. Does aid work? Does it reach

Poverty and Livelihoods

Nov 9th, 2011

Jobs, or the lack of them, is one of the most pressing issues of our time in both developed and developing countries. In developed economies unemployment is soaring; in developing countries the number of young people is on the rise; a lack of a

Gender and Development

Oct 6th, 2011

While some gender gaps have closed many remain -- even in rich countries. Nearly four million women are "missing" each year in developing countries; women are more likely to be unpaid for the work they do; women everywhere tend to earn less tha

Law and Justice

Sep 1st, 2011

Fair, effective and legitimate justice institutions underpin access to resources and essential services, and are therefore a key focus for development. The question is how, and in what forms, these institutions can and should be supported.

Development and the Private Sector

Jul 8th, 2011

For men and women throughout the developing world, the chance to run a business or get a good job can offer a way out of poverty. In almost all developing countries, most new jobs are created by the private sector. But, creating the kind of env

Development in the Pacific

Apr 7th, 2011

There are nine million people scattered across the Pacific region, which spans one third of the globe’s surface but accounts for less than two percent of its land. In development terms it is one of the most diverse regions in the world. However

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