DEVELOPMENT: Crucial Role for EU at Accra Meet on Aid

As the world's largest provider of development assistance, the European Union is bound to play a prominent role at a Sep. 2-4 international conference on boosting the effectiveness of aid in Accra, Ghana.

Q&A: "Political Power Is Still Very Masculine"

For women's rights and women's empowerment groups, the 3rd High Level Conference on Aid Effectiveness in Accra, in September, and the U.N. Conference on Financing for Development in Doha, in December, are opportunities to advance financing for gender equality issues.

DEVELOPMENT: Decades of Bad Policies Brewed a "Perfect Storm"

When the Cold War ended following the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent dismantling of the Soviet Union, there was widespread political euphoria about de-militarisation, global peace, a decline in military spending and economic prosperity.

GLOBALISATION: West’s Loss of Gulf Funds East’s Gain

As politically motivated restrictions on investments by oil-rich countries intensify in the West, the sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) of the Gulf countries could opt to invest in Asia and other emerging markets despite attractive valuations in the slowing U.S and European markets.

G8: Climate Change High On Summit Agenda

The leaders of the world's most industrialised nations are now arriving in Japan for the Group of Eight (G8) Summit, Jul. 7-9. In the northern mountain resort of Lake Toyako they will confront challenges of climate change, the food shortage, and development, especially in Africa. Other agenda items are likely to include Japan’s recent bilateral summit with Hu Jinatao of China, as well as measures to control rising global fuel prices and nuclear proliferation.

DEVELOPMENT-GHANA: No Place to Lay Their Heads

Agbogbloshie Market is a vibrant market in the heart of Accra, Ghana's capital, where one can buy almost anything. But the market is also the stage for a sad tale of many who gain nothing from the commercial bustle: hundreds of young girls from the northern part of the country who work as porters in Accra's markets.

DEVELOPMENT: 'Aid From New EU Members Disregards Women'

Foreign aid budgets administered by the European Union's most recent entrants do not pay sufficient heed to the needs of women in poor countries, a series of new studies has found.

Q&A: Tough Talk On Reaching Goals

The director of the Millennium Campaign, Salil Shetty, is an angry man. Last year he was confronted with the climate change issue and now it is the global food crisis.

DEVELOPMENT: Women Leaders Ask Where Is Our Money

Even though seven out of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) impact on women, both donors and governments receiving aid overlook the need to make resources available for gender empowerment.

DEVELOPMENT: Civil Society For Aid That Works For Poor

With a high level meeting on aid effectiveness set to take place later this year in Accra, Ghana, participants at the eighth CIVICUS Assembly here in the Scottish capital want donors to stop dictating how aid should be used, and instead let it be driven by the needs of the people it is intended for.

DEVELOPMENT: Civil Society Warns Food Crisis Can Eat Into MDG Gains

Progress that has already been achieved towards Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) may be reversed due to the current global food crisis, it is emerging at the eighth CIVICUS World Assembly.

DEVELOPMENT: Food Crisis Mortgages Children's Future

The devastating impact of rising food prices is expected to hit most of the world's 2.2 billion children the hardest - particularly in developing nations.

LABOUR-BOLIVIA: Infusing Business with Youth, Innovation

Cotillones El Sol organises parties in Tarija, in southern Bolivia. Nancy Martínez, the 23-year-old manager and owner of the six-month-old company, already employs several other young women.

TRADE-GHANA: Non-Traditional Exports Are Booming

Impressive growth in exports from Ghana to the rest of the world has been witnessed over the past few years as more and more Ghanaians explore production in non-traditional sectors.

DEVELOPMENT-AFRICA: Major Increase in Aid from Spain

Spain’s development aid to Africa has increased significantly since socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero took office in March 2004.

DEVELOPMENT: 'Aid Must Budget for Women'

Women's rights will be further marginalised if gender equality is not funded by explicit budgeting, women and civil society groups say.

FINANCE: Inflation to Overshadow Aid at G8 Talks

Inflation is to dominate two-day talks of wealthy nations' finance ministers despite warnings that millions of people face death because of a shortfall in development aid.

DEVELOPMENT-GHANA: Women Ideal Shea Butter Producers

"Wherever I went, they laughed at me and called me 'Habiba the empty mouth.' I was always embarrassed," says 45-year-old Habiba Alhassan. "I could not afford to smile; I could not open my mouth in public, when I took photographs I had to close my mouth so that I wouldn't look ugly."

Q&A: 'Development Aid Is No Panacea'

Celine Tan is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Birmingham. Her doctoral research has focussed on development financing, in particular its impact on global governance and international relations.

DEVELOPMENT: Japan's More Is Not Enough

Japan is receiving kudos for what UN Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro has called the country's "strong commitment to Africa's development."

ECONOMY-CAMBODIA: Resource Curse or Blessing?

Cambodia is facing a natural resource boom, prompting donors and non-government organisations (NGOs) to warn that without measures to improve financial transparency, promote better governance and curb corruption, the potential windfall could be squandered.