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This thesis provides a critical ethnographic exploration of the lives of lesbian and bisexual women in Cuba, through the conceptual framework of gender normativity and homonormativity. It is based on interviews and ethnographic research... more
This thesis provides a critical ethnographic exploration of the lives of lesbian and bisexual women in Cuba, through the conceptual framework of gender normativity and homonormativity. It is based on interviews and ethnographic research with 33 self-identified lesbian and bisexual women and 23 policymakers, officials, academics, and other interlocutors, in Havana, Santa Clara, and Matanzas. Drawing on queer theory, it argues that Cuba’s strong patriarchal binary gender system provides a framework for normativity that lesbian and bisexual women navigate to gain moral respectability and social acceptance. Lesbian and bisexual Cuban women tend to uphold a narrow vision of normative femininity, which produces respectability and desirable social invisibility. Through traditional signifiers of gendered white moral respectability – femininity, having children, avoiding certain public spaces, (same-sex) marriage – women are able to access some level of normative invisibility and social acceptance. In contrast to a view of Cuba as increasingly tolerant and progressive for LGBTI people, this thesis shows that social and political support for lesbian and bisexual women relies on their correct performance of strict feminine norms. These findings resonate with recent literature arguing that Cuban approaches to LGBTI issues promote normalisation and normative incorporation of LGBTI citizens. This research develops the argument that normalisation of sexual diversity is built on a foundation of gender normativity, and excludes those who do not comply with gender norms, bringing a gendered analysis into the story of ‘gay rights’ in Cuba, which is often missing. Alongside other studies on lesbian and bisexual women across the world, this research shows that gender is key to understanding LGBTIQ experiences, shaping what is possible within lifeworlds, what is impossible, and what is aspirational. This contribution to the literature helps demonstrate how LGBTIQ lives are structured by gender norms, and why it is important to consider gender in our work.
This light-touch review of literature on classroom assessments (CA) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia finds that they are rarely implemented effectively. It is extremely common to find references to CA in policy documents but... more
This light-touch review of literature on classroom assessments (CA) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia finds that they are rarely implemented effectively. It is extremely common to find references to CA in policy documents but find that teachers do not use CA in the classroom. Sometimes this is because there is little institutional support for CA, few example materials, and no training, and sometimes this is because teachers do not understand or see the purpose of CA and continue to teach in a top-down manner. Most schooling systems in developing countries have a crippling emphasis on summative exams, and teachers often end up ‘teaching to the test’ whether they want to or not. Parental pressure plays some part in teaching styles, as teachers are under pressure to show parents that they are preparing their children to pass important exams which open the door to the next level of education. Teacher training chronically underprepares teachers for CA; in some cases not giving any training and in others only explaining how to fill in the government-mandated forms. On the other hand, there are examples in the literature of teachers intuitively using CA methods such as questioning, observation and homework, but not naming it as CA.
This report collates literature which contributes to the discussion around whether youth are more likely to benefit from economic transformation in terms of employment and income. Given the emphasis put on young people’s ability to... more
This report collates literature which contributes to the discussion around whether youth are more likely to benefit from economic transformation in terms of employment and income. Given the emphasis put on young people’s ability to innovate and be flexible, are they well-positioned to take advantage of macroeconomic changes? In the time available for this report, no literature was found directly answering the research question posed here, but literature on youth employment, skills, and growth provide some suggestions. The direction of causality between economic growth and youth employment is not clear. Most of the literature takes the perspective that youth can drive economic growth, not that youth stand to specifically benefit from growth. A similar story is told about skills: new skills tend to drive productivity and growth, not that productivity drives a demand for new skills. This is supported by evidence particularly from East Asia, where investment in education drove economic growth. The potential of youth to develop and innovate is widely acknowledged, but this discussion is mostly taking place in blog posts and opinion pieces, without rigorous evidence to support this assumption.
Social protection is increasingly recognised as a key route to reducing children’s poverty and vulnerability. It is assumed to have direct or indirect effects on specific challenges that children face, such as child labour. Child labour... more
Social protection is increasingly recognised as a key route to reducing children’s poverty and vulnerability. It is assumed to have direct or indirect effects on specific challenges that children face, such as child labour. Child labour is not often included as a main aim of social protection, and therefore is not commonly tracked systematically (de Hoop & Rosati, 2014). There is limited evidence which suggests that social protection programmes have successfully reduced child labour. Most of this evidence comes from Latin America, where social protection programmes are well-established and have been measured over the long-term. This report looks at the general evidence on social protection and child labour, and focuses on programmes in Asia.
The most common adverse effects that children who grow up in residential care experience include: developmental delays; behavioural problems; attachment disorders; lack of life skills; institutionalisation; and difficulty forming and... more
The most common adverse effects that children who grow up in residential care experience include: developmental delays; behavioural problems; attachment disorders; lack of life skills; institutionalisation; and difficulty forming and maintaining healthy relationships. The literature is extremely clear that residential care should be a last resort for children separated from their parents, following family support, community support, and fostering. As such, the literature strongly supports deinstitutionalisation and reintegration of families whenever possible and provision of extra support to families as the best intervention. Evidence shows that many children can recover from problems experienced in residential care when placed in family care environments, although they have incomplete catch-up compared to their never-institutionalised peers. This paper does not review deinstitutionalisation, but instead provides a few examples of interventions which have improved the quality of care in residential homes, as an immediate response or precursor to deinstitutionalisation.
This report synthesises two previous reports on drivers of migration, and focuses on the evidence on education’s role. The previous reports focused on education and migration in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS), and youth... more
This report synthesises two previous reports on drivers of migration, and focuses on the evidence on education’s role. The previous reports focused on education and migration in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS), and youth employment and education in low and middle income countries. The papers presented below reflect these original criteria, but reframe the studies to draw out the evidence on education as a driver. The report outlines the evidence on when and whether education services make a difference to people’s reasons for moving. This report includes rural-urban migration, regional and international migration, and migration away from fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS). It does not consider migration that is primarily economic, whether regular or irregular.
The Western Balkans remains a region dominated by patriarchal gender norms. The biggest challenge for improving gender equality is changing the mentality of women and men towards traditional gender roles (Petričević, 2012). The literature... more
The Western Balkans remains a region dominated by patriarchal gender norms. The biggest challenge for improving gender equality is changing the mentality of women and men towards traditional gender roles (Petričević, 2012). The literature consistently identifies social attitudes as a barrier to increasing gender equality. Many people are not aware of women’s rights or gender non-discrimination laws (Petričević, 2012). In several areas of gender equality, legal provisions are adequate and conform to UN and international norms. However, these are not always implemented or adhered to in practice, due to lack of capacity, knowledge, resources or social barriers. Standard indicators of gender equality include: female/male school enrolment; literacy rate; unemployment; maternal mortality; life expectancy; adolescent fertility rate; proportion of women in parliament1. Others include violence against women and girls; gender equality policy and legislation. Much of the literature recognises the need to include men and raise men’s awareness about gender issues. Most of the literature on the Western Balkans looks at interpersonal and household gender norms, such as girls’ access to school, women’s work and household decision making. There is also a strong literature on women’s political participation and violence against women and girls. This report provides a brief summary of the main gender issues in the region, as reported in the literature. It is not a comprehensive literature review, but a collection of resources which highlight the key points to consider on gender. Each country has a large selection of resources on its specific gendered issues, which can provide more detail. There is a companion piece to this report which focuses on the relationship between gender and conflict in the Western Balkans. This report sketches the main parameters of gender in the region.
There is general agreement in the literature that getting more girls into school and into higher education should lead to more women in the healthcare workforce, particularly focusing on getting women into better jobs. However, this is... more
There is general agreement in the literature that getting more girls into school and into higher education should lead to more women in the healthcare workforce, particularly focusing on getting women into better jobs. However, this is not supported by much explicit evidence. It is a causal assumption made by policymakers and donors. There is little evidence to suggest that women in the healthcare workforce have made strong contributions to economic development beyond that of the health sector as a whole. This may be because it is too difficult to separate out different demographic groups’ contributions. There is some evidence that women’s presence as workers and leaders has improved attitudes about women and is making some progress towards women’s rights. It is unclear to what extent this is due to efforts to increase girls’ schooling, as few studies examine this causal link. Women are battling an extremely patriarchal work environment and the literature makes strong recommendations that structural and institutional elements are improved, in order for women to reach their economic potential.
Many studies conclude that a similar combination of barriers across various contexts work together to create low care-seeking behaviour and demand for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services: cost; cultural,... more
Many studies conclude that a similar combination of barriers across various contexts work together to create low care-seeking behaviour and demand for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services: cost; cultural, gender, and traditional norms; lack of knowledge and education; quality of service; and geographical inaccessibility. The same barriers are frequently identified across a broad range of literature and different countries, and the evidence is consistent and strong. There is a large amount of literature from South Asia, and a considerable amount from Sub-Saharan Africa. Most studies highlight that barriers are best addressed by considering them holistically and in the way that different factors intersect to combined effect. Prioritising one barrier over another may not achieve positive results. Community-level approaches including decision-makers and men are also recommended, to overcome intersecting barriers. Additionally, supply- and demand-side barriers often work in tandem, and where possible, multiple levels of the health system as a whole should be taken into account. This review examines evidence on socio-cultural and other barriers affecting demand for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services in developing countries. This review focuses on nine different aspects as the barriers: gender, views of childbirth as natural, religion and superstition, education, knowledge and tradition, low quality care and lack of trust in service providers, cost, distance and accessibility, community-level barriers, and language.
Joint commissions have often been central to facilitating refugee returns, although they are not always integrated into peace processes. Commissions are often set up as standalone arrangements, with little detail given in peace agreements... more
Joint commissions have often been central to facilitating refugee returns, although they are not always integrated into peace processes. Commissions are often set up as standalone arrangements, with little detail given in peace agreements about how they should operate. Separating refugee return commissions from peace agreements is sometimes seen as a core problem with peace agreements. Joint commissions almost always have the involvement of UNHCR, usually as a high-level leader. Commissions can be strongly affected by national and international politics, bilateral donors’ strategic interests, and other political issues, making them contested spaces which do not always contribute to peacebuilding.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights have become an important topic of discussion in the development sector in recent years. Moving from the provision of HIV and AIDS care for the disproportionate number of LGBT... more
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights have become an important topic of discussion in the development sector in recent years. Moving from the provision of HIV and AIDS care for the disproportionate number of LGBT people affected, through to same-sex marriage legalisation, the landscape has shifted to promote an LGBTI-inclusive approach in many areas. This is supported by a series of international and national human rights provisions affirming all people’s rights to nondiscrimination, freedom of expression and freedom from violence. In some contexts, these changes have been possible due to shifts in social norms towards greater tolerance and acceptance of LGBTQI people. Norm change has largely been the result of long-term and increasingly visible and vibrant activist engagement, drawing on strategies such as media coverage, peer interventions, ally-building and institutional training. This guide reviews some of the literature on the norm changes that are leading to greater acceptance of and less discrimination towards LGBTQI people, focusing on low income countries in the global South.

This topic guide is primarily intended for policy-makers and practitioners who may not be familiar with a queer theory approach to norms. It provides an overview of some important ideas and ways of thinking about how gendered social norms affect LGBTQI people in developing countries, moving the discussion beyond a rights-based approach to be more inclusive of all kinds of non-normative sexualities and genders. The guide aims to summarise the main theoretical points of a queer approach to gender norms, to identify the key issues and challenges affecting LGBTQI people, and to provide some examples of where norm change has happened.
This article draws on interviews with 17 self-identified lesbian and bisexual women living in Havana, Cuba, focusing on state support for their family relationships. It examines some of the tensions and contradictions between... more
This article draws on interviews with 17 self-identified lesbian and bisexual women living in Havana, Cuba, focusing on state support for their family relationships. It examines some of the tensions and contradictions between international and national policy, and societal norms, some of which support LGBT people, and some of which do not. In many ways, Cuba is progressive and has actively protected women’s rights. However, non-heterosexual and gender non-conforming women appear to have been somewhat overlooked in the gains of the Revolution, as there are few specific policies protecting their rights. The key policy points participants raised were the need for same-sex marriage and the lack of assisted reproduction for those in same-sex relationships. Nonetheless, Cuba’s traditional non-nuclear family forms also provide some social space for LGBT parents and queer families.
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What is the overall impact of multilateral organisations on humanitarian outcomes? What roles do the different multilateral organisations play at national, regional and international levels? What evidence is there of the impact of... more
What is the overall impact of multilateral organisations on humanitarian outcomes? What roles do the different multilateral organisations play at national, regional and international levels? What evidence is there of the impact of multilateral organisations on: 1. Mortality, 2. Morbidity, 3. Protection, 4. Food security, 5. Resilience. What indicators are available to measure impact in these five areas? According to these indicators, what are the trends?
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What is the evidence on how different donor funding instruments incentivise CSOs? Focus on CSO investments in knowledge, learning, partnerships, collaboration and innovation; priorities and objectives of CSOs; and the expansion of... more
What is the evidence on how different donor funding instruments incentivise CSOs? Focus on CSO investments in knowledge, learning, partnerships, collaboration and innovation; priorities and objectives of CSOs; and the expansion of different types of CSOs.
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Irregular migration is the movement of people that takes place outside the regulatory norms of the sending, transit and receiving countries (IOM definition), although there is no universally accepted definition. These campaigns generally... more
Irregular migration is the movement of people that takes place outside the regulatory norms of the sending, transit and receiving countries (IOM definition), although there is no universally accepted definition. These campaigns generally occur in countries of origin and are not intended to stop migration, but rather to inform of the risks and dangers of irregular routes, smuggling or trafficking (Pécoud, 2010).  Understanding the decisions to leave is therefore a key part of their success.

There is extremely little evidence on the impact and effectiveness of these campaigns, with no publically available evaluations. Even where they are evaluated, attributing reduced migration to a specific programme is difficult. Anecdotal narratives in the literature suggest that information campaigns have very limited effects on migrants’ decisions to leave, as other factors play a more important role in this decision. Conditions of poverty, inequality, conflict and lack of economic opportunities at home, and reports from trusted social networks about conditions abroad, play a much stronger role in migrant decision-making.
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This annotated bibliography covers 80 studies that include some evidence of inclusive outcomes. The studies range across sectors, such as the political sphere, health, and education; across groups, such as people with disabilities, women... more
This annotated bibliography covers 80 studies that include some evidence of inclusive outcomes. The studies range across sectors, such as the political sphere, health, and education; across groups, such as people with disabilities, women and ethnic minorities; and across indicators, such as increased growth, school enrolment, and policy changes.

Several types of intervention stand out as being effective for social inclusion: inclusive education for children with disabilities; community-driven development; including women (and others) in political processes; and social protection.
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There is a limited evidence base on the changes after the Arab uprisings. A great deal of literature focuses on democratisation. Literature from the first few years after 2011 tends to be optimistic about potential change, while the later... more
There is a limited evidence base on the changes after the Arab uprisings. A great deal of literature focuses on democratisation. Literature from the first few years after 2011 tends to be optimistic about potential change, while the later literature often notes reversals or unfulfilled opportunities.
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This Topic Guide aims to answer the question ‘What is the interaction between social development issues and human development outcomes?’ An individual’s right to lead a long and healthy life, to be educated and to enjoy a decent standard... more
This Topic Guide aims to answer the question ‘What is the interaction between social development issues
and human development outcomes?’ An individual’s right to lead a long and healthy life, to be educated
and to enjoy a decent standard of living cannot be realised without addressing social development issues.
This is because these issues determine individuals’ access to resources – who gets what, where, and how.
This in turn affects whether human development is inclusive and equitable or perpetuates inequalities
and exclusion.
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Provide a literature review of various approaches to transporting books and curriculum materials to schools in low-resource and fragile settings.
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What evidence is there for comprehensive sexuality education in lower and middle income countries? What measurable outcomes have been associated with delivering CSE? What are the most effective strategies for implementation at scale?... more
What evidence is there for comprehensive sexuality education in lower and middle income countries? What measurable outcomes have been associated with delivering CSE? What are the most effective strategies for implementation at scale? (e.g. in relation to gender, age, content, involvement of parents, political buy-in etc.) What challenges are there to applying such approaches in policy and practice?
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This brief literature review collates evidence on the major facets of irregular migration through and from North African countries, including considerations of: the impact of underlying challenges on irregular migration; whether North... more
This brief literature review collates evidence on the major facets of irregular migration through and from North African countries, including considerations of: the impact of underlying challenges on irregular migration; whether North African countries are source or transition countries; motivations of irregular migrants; needs, vulnerabilities and resources of irregular migrants; and drivers and interventions for organised immigration crime.
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What evidence exists on the effectiveness of development programmes designed directly or indirectly to address group- or identity-based political exclusion in fragile states, to make political settlements horizontally more inclusive?
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This rapid literature review, in annotated bibliography format, provides a bibliography of some of the most recent literature published in 2013 and 2014 (up to April 2014) on the topic of gender in fragile and conflict-affected... more
This rapid literature review, in annotated bibliography format, provides a bibliography of some of the most recent literature published in 2013 and 2014 (up to April 2014) on the topic of gender in fragile and conflict-affected situations. It includes all types of available written material, including peer-reviewed articles, impact evaluations, policy papers, NGO position papers, toolkits, and UN documents.

The report is broken down into seven thematic sections:
- gender and justice;
- women’s leadership and political participation;
- women’s access to economic empowerment and opportunities;
- combatting sexual and gender based violence;
-  women, peace and security;
- responsiveness of plans and budgets to gender equality;
- gender equality and women’s empowerment.
This rapid literature review provides a synthesis of the literature on the links between social protection, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. It aims to orient policymakers to the key debates and emerging issues.
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What is the recent evidence on the impact of social media on governance of social, political, and economic bodies? How is social media regulated and governed in low-income and fragile contexts?
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What is the evidence that increasing empowerment, improved enabling environment, and assets together lead to improved wellbeing?
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This rapid mapping report gives details of networks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region which work on gender equality and women’s issues, such as women’s political and economic participation, women’s rights, and women’s... more
This rapid mapping report gives details of networks in the  Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region which work on gender equality and women’s issues, such as women’s political and economic participation, women’s rights, and women’s role in peacebuilding.
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This guide provides an overview of social protection concepts, approaches, issues, debates and the evidence. It primarily focuses on longer-term developmental social protection, rather than humanitarian responses, and on low-income... more
This guide provides an overview of social protection concepts, approaches, issues, debates and the evidence. It primarily focuses on longer-term developmental social protection, rather than humanitarian responses, and on low-income countries, drawing on other contexts where appropriate. The aim is to provide an overview of issues, a selection of key references and signposting to further resources, rather than an exhaustive guide.

GSDRC Topic Guides aim to provide a clear, concise and objective report on findings from rigorous research on critical areas of development policy. Rather than provide policy guidance or recommendations, their purpose is to inform policymakers and practitioners of the key debates and evidence on the topic of focus, to support informed decision-making.
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What demand and supply side tools, mechanisms and approaches have been used to improve accountability in social assistance programmes, and what is the evidence of their impacts? Where accountability mechanisms have been built into social... more
What demand and supply side tools, mechanisms and approaches have been used to improve accountability in social assistance programmes, and what is the evidence of their
impacts? Where accountability mechanisms have been built into social assistance programmes, what have their stated objectives been (i.e. improving quality of delivery, reducing fraud and corruption, empowerment, or others)?
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Are there successful examples of Management Information Systems in social protection programmes? What are the reasons for their success and what impact have they had in making social protection programmes more effective and efficient?
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Which, if any, community driven development (CDD) programmes explicitly discuss or deal with indigenous or ethnic minority issues? Which, if any, CDD programmes explicitly discuss or deal with disability issues?
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