Education often has inspired governments and donor agencies to promise dates by which all children worldwide will be in primary school, but such promises have yet to be realized, The Economist writes in this analysis. Twelve billion dollars already has been donated by the World Bank, and more has been promised, but a recent Independent Evaluation Group study found that despite increased enrollment rates and student incentives, school construction tends to be more successful than the quality of education.

Penknife Press is announcing its first annual Short Story Writing Contest. From the entries received, we will be creating an anthology of contemporary short stories that say something insightful about contemporary society. Compelling characters wanted, but compelling situations are required.

This is an open call for proposals to collaborate on an issue of id21 insights - published by id21 (www.id21.org/insights) at the UK Institute of Development Studies. We are inviting potential 'guest editors' from the international development research community to propose a topic for an issue of id21 insights due out in early 2007.

At a recent Democracy and Governance review conference in Pretoria, attended by researchers and policy analysts from Southern Africa, one issue that dominated the discussions of all presenters was the new role of China in Africa. Examples were generally drawn from the very visible role of China in Africa’s economy. This discussion is relevant because only in January 2006, China announced its desire to increase co-operation with African countries by issuing China’s African Policy, a paper intended to guide relations with the continent by continuing what it calls a “non interventionist and non ideological strategy.”
* Related Link
China, Africa and the G8: the missing link

QuickGuides are 24 page books, readable in an hour, covering the fundraising and management needs of both large and small organisations. QuickGuides are the perfect way to learn about a subject quickly and easily, and because they are written and reviewed by knowledgeable professionals from all around the world they will be useful wherever you operate as they are not country specific. And with 6 new titles to add to our current 22 and more planned for 2007 - from sources of funding to events planning, motivating staff to marketing – it’s all there. At £8 or US$14 per book, QuickGuides are accessible to all, and you can build your own library of expertise. And as a reader of Pambazuka News, you can take advantage of a special promotion of 3 books for the price of 2 until the end of October 2006. Or for £125 you can buy an entire library of all 28 titles. QuickGuides are a resource you can’t afford not to have. Quote ref: pambazuka and order online now at our online bookshop.

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), now operational in sixty least-developed countries, open access to debt relief and are the basis for concessional lending by international financial institutions. Most PRSPs stress education and refer to Education for All (EFA) objectives. However, the strategy and the financing required to achieve them are unspecified.

Now available in Spanish and Arabic, this UNESCO publication focuses on strategies for meeting international targets and national goals for universalizing girls’ access to, retention in and completion of quality education. Published within the framework of the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI), the Education For All flagship for girls' education and the principal movement to narrow the gender gap in primary and secondary education.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for greater ties between Africa and Brazil, as well as greater reform efforts at the United Nations, at the Second Conference of Intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora. The conference, held in northeastern Brazil, seeks to promote greater cooperation between African countries and the African Diaspora in bringing about social development.

This manual describes the ideas, the techniques, the achievements, the standards of governmental behaviour and the means of implementing those standards that have emerged from the efforts of anti-torture activists around the world over the past 25 years and more.

African countries misuse development aid from donors because of "unclear" policies, Burundi 's first vice-president, Martin Nduwimana, said at an ongoing regional conference on gender and development in Bujumbura. “If we [African governments] set up clear policies, which would put an end to mismanagement, corruption and embezzlement, we will for sure give a chance to the integration of women in all sectors," Nduwimana said in his opening address at the four-day conference organised by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and Burundi's ministry of national solidarity, human rights and gender equality.

Transparency International Chair Huguette Labelle and other civil society leaders including the Secretary General of CIVICUS met on 4 July with Russian President Vladimir Putin to make recommendations on what he and the other G8 nations can do to promote accountability and fight corruption.

Hundreds of community radio practitioners and experts from around the world will be meeting in Amman, Jordan, on 11-17 November 2006 to discuss ways of enabling community radio to play a more effective role in reducing poverty, supporting marginalised groups and increasing access to information for isolated communities. The occasion is the 9th conference of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC).

Warren Buffett donates three-quarters of his fortune to the Gates foundation. But aren't states, rather than individuals, a better bet for delivering a fair and just world and reconciling differing interests?

This article advocates for online role playing as an educational tool that engages and promotes sustained learning. The author suggests that role playing connects students to the course material - and to each other - more intimately and successfully than a traditional lecture can. She provides technical tips for establishing an online "theatre", describes three role-playing assignment models, and evaluates those models.

Produced by Article Z, an electronic media agency, Mad Mundo uses journalism and storytelling techniques to explore the impact of globalisation on individual lives. Investigations by journalists into personal stories help to introduce wider issues of globalisation, and are combined with interactive online discussions.

Many e-Governance projects are not succeeding or are facing bottlenecks. There is resistance to change or duplication of efforts in many initiatives. There are local language issues in some cases and lack of planning in others. Lack of infrastructure is a bottleneck in some countries while in others Universal Access is an issue.

Six years ago, leaders from every country agreed on a vision for the future – a world with less poverty, hunger and disease, greater survival prospects for mothers and their infants, better educated children, equal opportunities for women, and a healthier environment; a world in which developed and developing countries worked in partnership for the betterment of all. This report shows where the Millennium Development Goals stand in 2006 in achieving these goals.

More than a third of the world’s population doesn’t have access to essential medications. Greedy drug companies, government bureaucracies, and apathy all get in the way. Some brave scientists have had enough of the high costs and red tape. They’re frustrated, they’re mad, and now they’re finding ways to buck the system.

Education International will be holding its 5th triennial World Congress in Berlin, Germany from 22nd to 26th July, 2007. The World Congress meets every three years to adopt policies and approve programmes and financial and other reports. It provides an opportunity for representatives of member organisations from all over the world to meet and consider the major issues affecting their organisations. The EI Executive Board has decided that the theme of the 5th Congress should be "Educators - Joining Together for Quality Education and Social Justice".

African countries misuse development aid from donors because of "unclear" policies, Burundi's first vice-president, Martin Nduwimana, said at an ongoing regional conference on gender and development in Bujumbura. He said to manage development aid well, African women, urban and rural, should be at the heart of the fight against poverty. If we end ... mismanagement ... we will for sure give a chance to the integration of women in all sectors,"