ODI

📧 The World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington D.C. are upon us and our latest ODI “MDB Insights” newsletter is out. The newsletter rounds up ODI’s latest ideas, analysis and discussions about multilateral development bank (MDB) reform, and other related pressing development finance issues. If you haven’t received it in your inbox you can find it here ⤵ https://lnkd.in/ecwYwW6X (but sign up at the bottom of the page if you are interested in the latest research on MDB finances and policies and want to receive it directly in your inbox). Highlights of this edition: 📅 ODI Events in D.C. Check out the webpage here for the updated list of public events ➡ https://lnkd.in/eGy6ewra 🔖 Our latest analysis on why leadership is needed to accelerate progress on the reform agenda of MDBs 📖 Our research looking into how MDBs can better support the provision and financing of global public goods. 📹 Our latest event of our MDB Leaders’ Series, with AIIB President Jin Liqun 📖 A major report led by my brilliant colleagues Samantha Attridge Bianca Getzel Neil Gregory on how European institutional investment in emerging markets could double if key pinch points are addressed (highly recommended reading if you want some very concrete ways forward to mobilise private finance in emerging and developing economies) 🚀 And the launch of the new edition of the survey capturing what client countries of MDBs see as the strengths and weaknesses (and progress) of these institutions And much more…

✨ Reflections: a week in Accra (pt. 1) ✨ Cities hold the key to reimagining what’s possible when creativity aligns with collaboration across sectors and borders. This past week, we’ve been fully immersed in Accra, a place where culture, innovation, and sustainability meet in powerful ways. What for? A city-to-city exchange on the circular economy in the textile and fashion industries, supported by the Africa-Europe Mayors' Dialogue, in partnership with ReLondon and hosted by the City of Accra. This initiative embraces the potential of the movement of people and ideas by convening designers, SMEs and policymakers from Freetown, London, and Durban in Accra for an exchange of knowledge, skills, and cultural perspectives. Why Accra? The city, home to the Kantamanto market, stands as a vital crossroads for second-hand goods, where discarded textiles from around the world either find new purpose, or face the weight of 'waste'. The city is also home to a unique fashion ecosystem shaping a creative economy that resonates locally and globally. This exchange brought together African and European SMEs and city leaders to learn from Accra’s innovators - local organisations and makers who have different stories to tell about the language of fabrics, the history of Accra's craftsmanship, circular economy practices, sustainable design and the creative economy. The LAGO team also spent time exploring the city's art scene, from visiting spaces like ADA Contemporary Art Gallery and their current exhibition: 'Homecoming: The Sound of Our Souls' (on until 10th November), to learning about Ghana's art, rooted in traditional crafts like kente weaving, beadwork, and sculpture, and having conversations with taxi drivers about the history of street art and the Chale Wote Street Art Festival. Accra’s fabrics, music and art aren’t just to be seen or heard - they are to be experienced. Cities are more than just spaces - they are living, evolving stories and there are so many stories waiting to be told. Here at LAGO, we're grateful for the connections we made and are looking forward to what's next... ODI, Marta Foresti, Rita Agyen Takyi, Rachel Singer, Pamela B., Kenji Maghoma, Katie Rowberry, THE REVIVAL, Kwaku Bediako, AJABENG, Daisy Harvey, Hannah Stacpoole, Kaela Katz, Claudia Gandhi, Sacha Daly, Hans Hon Sang Chan, Tesmaraneh Brand, Thulani Nzama, Nonkululeko Mthembu, Bongiwe Mkhize, Harriet Ann Adjabeng (Akuvi Adjabs) Maame Konadu Mintah, ADA \ contemporary art gallery + so many more! These photos are a glimpse into the parts of the city we saw and the people we met - pt.2 on the makers and the market coming soon.

Income inequality is high or worsening in many countries globally. This isn't just a moral concern – it also contributes to political instability and undermines inclusive economic growth. 📉 One way to reduce inequality is by taxing people fairly and redistributing the share of the revenue to people who are sick, elderly or unemployed. But many low-income countries can't afford comprehensive social safety nets because of rising borrowing costs and their narrow tax bases, meaning not enough revenue is collected and not everyone pays their fair share. Our latest Think Change podcast examine how these countries can broaden their tax base to support fairer, more resilient and sustainable societies. Host Sara Pantuliano is joined by Alex Cobham (Chief Executive, Tax Justice Network), Chile's former finance minister Andrés Velasco (now Dean of LSE School of Public Policy) and ODI's Senior Research Fellow Hazel Granger. #ThinkChangePodcast #Tax #TaxJustice #IncomeInequality #SocialSafetyNets #TaxDev

The threat to democracies and open societies posed by misinformation, disinformation and AI, is felt more acutely around times of elections.   At our recent roundtable in Accra, Irchad Ramiandrasoa Razaaly, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Ghana, spoke to us about how the EU is working with Ghana to tackle misinformation and disinformation in advance of Ghana's elections this December.   In partnership with European Think Tanks Group and Ghana Center For Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) this important event brought together senior policy makers, industry leaders and researchers to discuss how Africa and Europe can work in partnership to address the challenges of disinformation, AI and cybersecurity in African countries during election cycles. #Disinformation #AI #Cybersecurity #AfricaEurope #Elections #AfricanElections #democracy #TechForGood #DigitalDivide #PoliticalEconomy #HumanRights 

📺 WATCH: What role does the state play in humanitarian response? Our new three-year workstream aims to reinvigorate discussions about the state’s role in crisis response, including engagement on conditions where domestic and international humanitarian actors can work more coherently with the state. So far we have explored questions and issues including: ‣Are humanitarian organisations anti-state? ‣Do humanitarians undermine civil society? ‣De facto authorities and humanitarian system implications Find out more and keep up to date with this critical work: https://lnkd.in/epWPd79J #CollectiveActionInCrises #HumanitarianResponse #StateLed | Dustin Barter | Alexandra Spencer | Zainab Moallin | John Bryant

The Taliban’s new morality law intends to demonstrate their total grip on Afghanistan. But it doesn’t just silence women’s voices, it enforces gender apartheid. Our new insight from Mariam Safi and Ayesha Khan sheds light on the situation, and argues that now global political will must be harnessed to prioritise Afghan women’s voices and push for the UN to recognise gender apartheid as a crime against humanity. 🔗 Read here: https://buff.ly/4eEDmr9 #EndGenderApartheid #Taliban #WomensRights #Afghanistan UN Women | DROPS - Afghanistan | Women Living Under Muslim Laws

Around 1.4 billion people still lack access to banking services. Blockchain and stablecoins like USDC address this access gap by enabling humanitarian organisations to directly reach anyone with an internet connection. Join Circle's Dante A. Disparte and Sara Pantuliano on 17 October to explore the opportunities and risks of cryptocurrency with a focus on human rights, economic empowerment and global development. They will also discuss the role of financial regulation, especially in emerging markets, and weigh up the benefits within broader debates around economic inequality and global cooperation. Sign up to attend in person (London) or online: https://buff.ly/3A9H5hf #Cryptocurrency #Blockchain #Stablecoin #USDC #FinTech

We are delighted to be partnering with CABRI - Collaborative Africa Budget Reform Initiative for our 2024 public finance conference, which will take place in Johannesburg on 19-20 November! 🌍 This year's theme is ‘Public Finance in the Digital Era’. Digital transformation has been a big theme of the G20 since India’s presidency in 2023, and this has continued into the Brazilian Presidency in 2024. But finance ministries have largely sat on the sidelines of these discussions on digital public infrastructure.  With South Africa taking over the G20 Presidency in 2025, this conference is an opportunity for finance and digital leaders to: 🔶 Share their experiences and views on using digital tools to improve financial management and service delivery; and  🔶 Discuss the broader role of the finance ministry in the digital transformation of government, the economy, and society, and how they can play that role effectively nationally and globally. 💻 You can register to attend online or in-person via the CABRI website: https://lnkd.in/e5JZcKxQ #DigitalGovernments #PublicFinance #DPI #Digital #PFM 

🌍 On International Day of the Girl Child, we highlight the concerning rise of gender-restrictive movements that threaten girls’ education and worldwide progress on gender equality. These movements seek to restrict access to education for girls, oppose gender-transformative and sex education, and pose a significant risk to girls’ equal human rights. This year’s theme underscores the urgent need for action and hope! 📄 Read our newest report to learn about how to protect girls' rights globally through education: https://lnkd.in/gxhew3H7 #InternationalDayoftheGirlChild #GenderEquality #InclusiveEducation #HumanRights

When the Taliban's new Law on the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice was introduced in Afghanistan, it not only silenced women's voices but also deepened very real concerns about gender apartheid. By severely limiting women's freedoms and effectively banning them from public life, the law exemplifies a systematic segregation of the sexes and women’s total subjugation through legal and policy frameworks. In a new blog, experts Ayesha Khan and Mariam Safi argue that it is a crucial moment for the international community to reconsider their approach to the Taliban, and to listen to Afghan women who are campaigning for the recognition of gender apartheid as a crime against humanity. Afghan women believe that practical solutions or compromises should not come at the expense of their rights, and that international efforts must centre Afghan women’s perspectives to effectively challenge Taliban policies. Read their latest analysis on what is happening in Afghanistan since the law was introduced. #EndGenderApartheid #Taliban #WomensRights UN Women | DROPS - Afghanistan | Women Living Under Muslim Laws