Evaluating UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) with big data techniques

UNESCO has commissioned the evaluation of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) to ECOPER. UCCN is a city network established by UNESCO with the purpose of promoting the use of culture and creativity in member cities as a driver for sustainable urban development. In many areas of international cooperation, networks are considered a powerful engine …

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Report on the future of the European Financial Architecture for Development

The European Parliament (EP) has published its report on the proceedings of its workshop on the future of the European Architecture for Development (EFAD). The workshop, held on 7 February and requested by the EP’s Committee on Development (DEVE), was informed by two briefings written by external experts earlier this year, one of whom was …

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Online training in trade and gender

UNCTAD has published ECOPER’s report on a cluster of trade and gender capacity building projects In trade, women often do not benefit from the same opportunities as men, and trade policies designed without taking into account gender-specific outcomes can contribute to the widening of gender gaps. In order for gender equality to be achieved, policymakers, …

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Bilbao’s IV Master Plan for International Cooperation

ECOPER has been commissioned to lead the design of the Bilbao Municipal Government’s 4th Master Plan for International Development Cooperation. The design process will be participative and the new plan will reflect the lessons learned during the evaluation of the 3rd Master Plan, which was carried out by ECOPER this year. Workshops will be held …

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UNCTAD subprogramme on globalization, interdependence and development

ECOPER has begun the independent evaluation of UNCTAD’s Subprogramme 1. This subprogramme aims to advance inclusive and sustainable development, sustained growth, full employment and decent work for all through evidence-based policies and strategies at national, regional and international levels. The evaluation aims to help UNCTAD identify key lessons on strategic positioning, portfolio planning, management arrangements …

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Good practices in government-development NGO practices

ECOPER has begun a study to identify good practices in relations between governments and development NGOs. Commissioned by the Spanish network of NGOs, the Coordinadora, the research is being conducted at a time when the new ‘Framework for relations between NGOs and the Government of Spain’ is being adopted. It aims to analyse political, legal …

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Micro credits and cash transfers as development tools

This month the report ‘Cash for Development: The use of microcredits and cash transfers as development tools’ was published by the European Parliament Committee on Development. It was co-authored by ECOPER consultants, following a meta-evaluation of previous studies on cash-for-development tools.The report aimed to provide an overview of cash transfers and microcredits as poverty reduction instruments in order to inform EU development policy ahead of the EU’s reshaping of development finance tools in the 2021-27 period. The study considered the current level of EU support for cash transfers and microcredits, and the efficiency and design of the support provided.

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ECOPER report on SDG investment project published

UNCTAD’s 2014 World Investment Report advocated for a ‘Big Push’ for investment in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This month, UNCTAD published ECOPER’s final evaluation report for the project ‘Investment promotion partnerships for the development, marketing and facilitation of bankable SDG projects’, which forms part of this drive. The project connects with one of the action …

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