Two policy papers, authored by researchers at the Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development (NDIGD), have been published by the University of Minnesota in Reconsidering Development, a peer-reviewed journal of policy and practice.
The paper, "Policy Transfer in International Development: Whose Security in Central America?" was written by Tom Hare, a senior technical associate at NDIGD. In it, Hare identifies questions development organizations should consider before implementing policy transfers, which are the processes by which knowledge about policies or programs in one location are used in another location. Using lessons from research NDIGD is currently conducting in Central America through the “”https://ndigd.nd.edu/projects/data/research-for-human-rights-and-democracy-in-central-america/" target="_blank">Research for Human Rights and Democracy in Central America" and “”https://ndigd.nd.edu/projects/data/supporting-usaid-impact-evaluation-in-honduras/" target="_blank">Supporting USAID Impact Evaluation in Honduras" projects, Hare reviews citizen security policy transfer in the region at large throughout the paper.
The paper, "Implementing a Post-Project Sustainability Study (PSS) of a Development Project: Lessons Learned from Indonesia" was written by Lila Khatiwada, a monitoring and evaluation specialist at NDIGD. In it, Khatiwada focuses on the results of a PSS of “”https://ndigd.nd.edu/projects/data/project-choice-six-years-later/" target="_blank">Project CHOICE: Six Years Later," a USAID-funded program that provided improved access to primary health care services, trained caretakers, and educated local community members on basic health care. Throughout the paper, Khatiwada offers questions development organizations should consider to determine whether a PSS would be an appropriate methodology to use for their own projects.
The policy papers were each formally published in volume 5 of Reconsidering Development in December 2017.
“One of our goals at NDIGD is to use the University of Notre Dame’s research to influence policy and practice, so that we can positively impact the lives of others in the world,” said Michael Sweikar, executive director of NDIGD. “These two papers are excellent examples of how evidence from the field can offer new recommendations to policy leaders and global development practitioners, who can use this information to better or save lives.”
Hare’s research primarily examines rule of law and human rights programs in Central America. His experience in design, implementation, and evaluation of international development programs includes work funded by the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, United Nations, and private donors. His book on citizen security policies in Central America (Fordham University Press) is due out later this year.
Khatiwada’s research interests include rural sociology and development, microfinance, agricultural development, infrastructure development, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). He has utilized his expertise in impact assessment with a special emphasis on quasi-experimental design and mixed methods in projects funded by the National Science Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the European Union.
Reconsidering Development, which is published twice a year, is an “international, open access, and peer reviewed e-journal that aims to create an equitable space for dialogue and discussion concerning the theory and practice of international development.”
The Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development—an integral part of the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame—promotes human development and dignity among people worldwide through applied innovations, impact evaluation, education, and training that help build just and equitable societies.
Contact: Luis Ruuska, communications specialist, Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development, lruuska@nd.edu
Originally published by at ndigd.nd.edu on February 14, 2018.