Discussion Paper

Local feminist perspectives as transformation levers for greater gender equality: synthesis study

Götze, Jacqueline / Stephan Klingebiel / Maryam Khalid (2025)
Discussion Paper 9/2025

Local feminist perspectives have the potential to act as transformation levers for greater gender equality by producing context-specific alternative approaches to development processes that address prevailing gender norms and practices.

Local feminist perspectives as transformative levers: women’s health and climate action in India

Sengupta, Sreerupa / Divya Singhal / Ananya Chakraborty (2025)
Discussion Paper 8/2025

Local feminist perspectives from India offer a transformative lens for addressing systemic inequalities in health and climate action, centering on the need for intersectional, community-led and collaborative approaches.

Local feminist perspectives as transformation levers for sustainable development in Ukraine in the context of ongoing defence

Strelnyk, Olena / Liudmyla Yuzva / Tamara Zlobina (2025)
Discussion Paper 7/2025

Local feminist perspectives from Ukraine underscore the persistence of gender-transformative policies during the defensive war, revealing the impact of feminist action on social change, along with its successes, challenges, and limitations in shaping sustainable feminist policies.

Feminists’ perspectives as transformative levers in Ghana

Ohemeng, Fidelia N. A. / Deda Ogum / Deborah Tayo Akakpo / Dorcas Coker-Appiah (2025)
Discussion Paper 6/2025

Local feminist perspectives from Ghana highlight significant strides toward gender equality, showcasing advocacy, coalition-building, and collaboration as key strategies to drive gender-transformative policies and sustainable development.

Intersecting constraints: exploring labour market barriers for urban women in Sub-Sahara Africa

Stöcker, Alexander (2025)
Discussion Paper 5/2025

What’s holding women back in urban labor markets in Benin, Senegal, Uganda & Zambia? This study reveals how education, norms, motherhood & local job markets shape female employment. Tailored policies can unlock progress—see how context matters! #WomenInWorkforce #GenderEquality #SSAResearch

Trump’s assault on foreign aid: implications for international development cooperation

Haug, Sebastian / Anna Novoselova / Stephan Klingebiel (2025)
Discussion Paper 4/2025

The USA have long been a leading force in development cooperation. However, the first weeks of the second Trump administration have called the role of the US into question. The paper outlines the extant role of the US as a donor and reviews the changes announced and implemented by the US government.

Macroprudential policies and private domestic investment in developing countries: an instrumental variables approach

Bambe, Bao-We-Wal (2025)
Discussion Paper 3/2025

Using a panel of 87 developing countries from 2000 to 2017 and applying the instrumental variables strategy, we find that the tightening of macroprudential policies significantly reduces private domestic investment, via a reduction in credit supply and financial inclusion.

From polarisation to autocratisation: the role of information pollution in Brazil's democratic erosion

Breuer, Anita (2025)
Discussion Paper 2/2025

Exploring the complex links between disinformation, polarisation, and autocratisation in Brazil, this paper offers holistic insights into root causes across media, political, institutional, and social contexts, with actionable policy recommendations to safeguard democracy.

Transparenz für mehr Wirksamkeit und öffentliches Vertrauen? Das deutsche Transparenzportal im internationalen Vergleich

Janus, Heiner / Tim Röthel (2025)
Discussion Paper 1/2025

Transparenzportale dienen in der Entwicklungspolitik der Einhaltung von Wirksamkeitsstandards und der Information der Öffentlichkeit. Ein Vergleich der zehn größten Geberländer zeigt: Standards werden meist erfüllt, doch die Informationen sind oft unzureichend für die Öffentlichkeit aufbereitet.

Digital transformation for a sustainable future: insights from Brazil's civil service

Grimm, Sven / Wulf Reiners / Mara Braun / Laura Donath / Sophia Hörbelt / Sophie Lampert / Marcel Wich (2024)
Discussion Paper 17/2024

Economic development and barriers to (decent) work for women in SSA and MENA

Stöcker, Alexander / Tina Zintl (2024)
Discussion Paper 16/2024

We discuss barriers to female employment against three labour market transitions (to wage employment, decent work, and specialized jobs) and compare them for women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regions.

Impact du crédit agricole direct de la Banque Nationale de Développement Agricole du Mali: rapport d’étude

Sagbo, N. Sheila / Lacina Traoré / Youssouf Fofana / Michael Brüntrup (2024)
Discussion Paper 15/2024

This study is an impact evaluation of the agricultural credits of BNDA, the largest provider of such services in Mali. It reveals modest positive impacts on many dimensions of farmers' wellbeing, some specifically for women.

Private sector mobilisation: turning a pipe dream into reality

Zattler, Jürgen K. (2024)
Discussion Paper 14/2024

Achieving the SDGs will necessitate unprecedented levels of private investment, particularly in developing countries. This paper builds on existing proposals and outlines how shareholders can take these forward in the boardrooms of national and, in particular, international development banks.

The Group of 77 and global dialogue in the United Nations General Assembly

Baumann, Max-Otto / Anna Novoselova / Javier Surasky / Philipp Schönrock (2024)
Discussion Paper 13/2024

How does the Group of 77 reach decisions in the face internal diversity, limited diplomatic capacity and influence from China and others? How does it contribute to shaping North-South-Relations in the UN? How could reforms look like? Based on interviews with UN delegates, we suggest answers.

Challenges for food subsidy reform: lessons learnt from the Just Distribution of Subsidies Scheme in Iran

Tajmazinani, Ali Akbar (2024)
Discussion Paper 12/2024

This paper analyses the recent reform of food subsidies in Iran. It finds that the design, timing and implementation of the reform undermined its success: The framework was ignored, the impact of inflation was not considered, there were shortcomings in implementation and transparency was poor.

The European Union’s global role in a changing world: challenges and opportunities for the new leadership

Hackenesch, Christine / Niels Keijzer / Svea Koch (eds.) (2024)
Discussion Paper 11/2024

This collective IDOS Discussion Paper seeks to inform the incoming EU leadership and member state capitals about the EU’s role in a changing world, main internal and external influences, as well as the prospects and expected challenges in the new legislative period.

Exploring the influence of power on the governance of climate im/mobility in Accra and Dakar

Ekoh, Susan S. (2024)
Discussion Paper 10/2024

Climate change is increasingly impacting im/mobility of people in the urban context. As diverse actors collaborate to address human mobility in cities, it is important to examine the role of power in these multi-level governance efforts.

The New South: breaking with the past: West-South engagement in a changing world

Ishmael, Len (2024)
Discussion Paper 9/2024

As the world continues to fracture into different blocs, a new world order is in the making. Some even argue that a new Cold War has commenced. Countries of the South are adding more muscle to the G20, and an array of non-western groupings are gaining momentum, forging a new identity: The New South

Operationalising social contracts: towards an index of government deliverables

Loewe, Markus / Amirah El-Haddad / Tina Zintl (2024)
Discussion Paper 8/2024

We introduce, describe and test three indices to measure government deliverables in social contracts (protection, provision and participation) and to compare social contracts over time and space.

Wie bedingen sich Rechenschaftslegung und organisationales Lernen in der deutschen Entwicklungszusammenarbeit?

Esser, Daniel E. / Heiner Janus (2024)
Discussion Paper 7/2024

Das Papier analysiert die deutschen Entwicklungsorganisationen, GIZ und KfW Entwicklungsbank, in Hinblick auf den Zusammenhang zwischen Rechenschaftsplicht und organisationalem Lernen.