Measuring quality and effectiveness of development cooperation programs on capacity development: States, firms and civil societiesKei Namba

ASIEN – Nr. 145 (2017) pp. 100–102

Freie Universität Berlin, July 7, 2017

The workshop on “Measuring quality and effectiveness of development cooperation programs on capacity development: states, firms, and civil societies” was held at Free University of Berlin. The workshop was organized by Kei Namba (Graduate School of East Asian Studies, Free University of Berlin) and Marco Zappa (The Institute for Asian and African Studies, Humboldt University Berlin/ Ca’Foscari University of Venice, Italy).

Much has been debated on “the quality” or “effectiveness” of foreign aid and development programs by international donors including the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB). Over the last two decades, new forms of state and private sector engagement have been utilized as an effective tool in development cooperation. In order to tackle global challenges such as poverty reduction or climate change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is an increasing need for multi-stakeholder partnerships between governments, firms, and civil societies. However, “effectiveness” and “legitimacy” are difficult to assess and have not necessarily increased “the quality” or enhancement of living standards for local communities in recipient countries…