International Development Research Centre

14.05.2004 Farmers speak their minds in front of video cameras and thus help the local government in taking decisions on land disputes. In this highland of Arsaal, Lebanon, it seems new media will help end the decade-long friction among local people.

05.05.2004 In Lebanon's sparsely settled highlands, an old method for settling disputes is taking a technological turn, as video cameras help the traditional majlis council structure function in changing circumstances. In Arsaal, the cameras have eased dialogue among groups embroiled in a longstanding land dispute - a major step toward developing an approach to managing the region's fragile natural resources.

03.05.2004 Developing a low cost, solar powered comupter in rural Nigeria or an alternative billing method of internet services - six projects like these will be funded by the IDRC. These small grants will help in creating appropriate ICT tools for development.

30.04.2004 The international aid community increasingly stresses building local capacity as the key to alleviating poverty in the developing world. But precious little has been written on how to effectively evaluate such efforts. Last year's Evaluating Capacity Development, authored by professionals on five continents, began to fill that void. It's now available for free online.

13.04.2004 What does equity in health care mean? Full equality? A minimum standard of service? A system of entitlements? Global health professionals have long struggled with definitions. Zimbabwe's Dr. Rene Loewenson recently offered Canadians a Southern African view: Health equity implies bridging deeper differences in status - among people and communities - that are unnecessary, avoidable and unfair.