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The aggregate indicators combine the views of a large number of enterprise, citizen and expert survey respondents in industrial and developing countries. The individual data sources underlying the aggregate indicators are drawn from a diverse variety of survey institutes, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations.

More information: World Bank Governance Matters 2007

GRM International - Netherlands is part of a consortium led by TRANSTEC BV of Belgium supplying services to the EC in the field of Rural Development and Food Security.

Commencing July 2007, GRM International BV will provide an expert in the monitoring and control of infectious animal diseases in pastoral zones for the assignment "Introduction des approaches participatives de surveillance épidémiologique à Madagascar".

The expert will be employed to introduce participatory approaches to epidemiological surveillance and deliver a train-the-trainer's programme in participatory epidemiology amongst other objectives.

The assignment will involve two phases totalling 60 days.

GRM International - Netherlands is part of a consortium led by TRANSTEC BV of Belgium supplying services to the EC in the field of Rural Development and Food Security.

The overall objective of the “Micro-projects through Development of Local Communities” project is to provide priority small-scale socio-economic development to the residents of poor upland villages in four rural districts of Luang Prabang and Luang Namtha through an interactive participation of villagers, local authorities and private sector organisations. This is intended to strengthen their ability to foster rural based development in an efficient and effective manner.

GRM International BV will provide a team of four multi-disciplinary experts to perform an end of project evaluation of this project. The team includes a Rural Development Specialist/Team Leader and specialists in agriculture, the social sector and rural infrastructure.

GRM has agreed to support the 9th Annual Global Development Network Conference to be held in Brisbane 29-31 January 2008, by providing administrative support, equipment and funding.

Entitled ‘Security for Development: Confronting Threats to Survival and Safety', the conference will bring together nearly 600 researchers, policymakers and development practitioners from across the world to discuss the role of physical security as a precondition of human development.

The conference will focus on pervasive threats, whose potential to cause physical or material damage shortens the planning horizons of individuals, communities and enterprises and challenges their survival. Threats to be addressed include violence (domestic abuse, violent crime and civil conflict), and major calamities including pandemics and natural disasters (such as earthquakes, drought and floods).

For more information on GDN, see their website: http://www.gdnet.org

GRM International - Netherlands is part of a consortium led by TRANSTEC BV of Belgium supplying services to the EC in the field of Rural Development and Food Security.

In April - May 2007, GRM International BV will provide the team leader for a six-week external evaluation mission of the Food Security Support Programme (Programa de Apoyo a la Seguridad Alimentaria - PASA ) in Bolivia, implemented by the Bolivian Ministry of Rural Development, Agribusiness and Environment. The three main components of the programme are institutional assistance, public investments and micro-finance.

The team leader will be responsible for the overall coordination of the evaluation mission and the team of four experts which includes a public finance expert, agronomist/sociologist and an economist.

GRM has been contracted by DFID to support the Kano State Government in its efforts to better identify and coordinate donor and aid agency interventions in all sectors. This is important to secure the most efficient and effective use of donor funds for the benefit of the people of Kano State, many of whom experience some of the worst conditions of poverty in the world. The project aims to put the determination of development programming firmly in to the hands of the elected representatives of the people, enabling the state government to set priorities and implement a more cohesive Kano State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy to reduce poverty. Working with the Ministry of Planning and Budget, GRM has undertaken a situation analysis of current donor activities and coordination mechanisms and recommended practical steps to be taken to maximise the impact of donor assistance working within a new institutional framework based on the establishment of a donor coordination unit. Efforts are continuing to promote the new initiative with Government and NGO stakeholders, to bring about the recommended organisational changes and to collect the necessary management information on donor activities.

Following on from GRM’s successful bid to provide DFID with a Community Development Consultant for the Technical Secretariat to the World Bank Multi Donor Trust Fund in Sudan, Josephine Onyango took up her post in Khartoum in early January 07. The project supports community-led development in northern Sudan through partnerships among local stakeholders, including localities, communities, NGOs and community-based organizations, on the basis of subprojects submitted by local communities and developed through a consultative, participatory planning process.

Josephine will be providing technical community development advice to the Community Development Fund Project Implementation Unit with regard to the provision of health, education, water supply and other basic social and economic services and infrastructure and working to build the institutional capacity of local non-government and civil society organisations. This is in the context of seriously neglected and underdeveloped areas of North Sudan where Social service delivery is a means to facilitate conflict resolution and ensure peace dividends to the war-affected populations.

GRM has won a project management assignment for the Adelaide Indigenous Coordinating Centre (ICC), to manage the restoration of the historic Raukkan Community Church. The assignment is based in the Coorong region on the shores of Lake Alexandrina, where the Murray River flows into the shallows of Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert.

The Coorong's first inhabitants were the Ngarrindjeri at Raukkan Mission, and is also the burial site of one of Australia's most extraordinary men. David Unaipon (1872 - 1967) has been described as Australia's "Leonardo Da Vinci". He was an inventor, writer, poet and activist. Both an image of David Unaipon and the Raukkan Community Church appear on the Australian $50 note.

It is intended that following restoration, the building will be used for various community activities. The work is being funded by the Australian Government's Department of Environment and Heritage.