RESEARCH PROJECTS MANAGED
(IDRC - IDRIS DATA BASE)

[Project value: Quoted in Canadian dollars not deflated]

1994 

Youth Policy Evaluation and Design in Latin America

The project will contribute to the implementation and monitoring of the "Regional Action Program for Youth Development in Latin America" (PRADJAL), which was prepared by the Ibero-American Youth Organization (OIJ) following a mandate from the Third Summit of Ibero‑American Heads of State and Government.  The project's general objectives are to evaluate Latin American youth policies to prepare recommendations for the design, implementation, and evaluation of PRADJAL; formulate methodologies to reinforce youth policies in the context of economic, social, and environmental policies; and contribute to the technical and institutional strengthening of the national institutes of youth and the OIJ's regional cooperation role. The project will result in an up-to-date database on youth policies, which will be available to institutions involved in youth programs in the region; a general evaluation of youth policies in ten case studies; a set of recommendations to reformulate youth policies at local, national, and regional levels; and a strategy for the monitoring and evaluation of PRADJAL.

http://www.idrc.ca/lacro/foro/results/juventud.htm

Social Policy Evaluation

This project is the outcome of a joint IDRC/Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) initiative.  The idea emerged from a perception held by IDRC and IDB about the importance of the human and social policy dimensions of development to their respective corporate objectives and mandates.  The general objective is to identify, develop, and disseminate methods to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of social programs in Latin America and the Caribbean.  The specific objectives are to evaluate relevant social program experiences in selected countries; identify, select, and develop available or new cost-effective methods and tools for the indexing, analysis, and evaluation of program effectiveness and efficiency; identify and develop available or new methods to obtain the participation of key social actors in the social policy-making process; identify training needs; and disseminate results among local authorities, NGO  managers, community leaders, and central government officials. Researchers will conduct case studies of program experiences, dissemination, and training activities in three areas: decentralization of basic education programs; populations at high social risk; and reform of the health systems.

http://www.idrc.ca/lacro/foro/projects/soceval-s.htm
http://www.idrc.ca/lacro/foro/seminario/

Municipal Management of Social and Environmental Policies (Ecuador)            

The general objective of this project is to identify means for improving municipal government's capacity to implement social and environmental policies in Ecuador, which will be done through a study of two municipalities: Machala and Ibarra.  The specific objectives are to analyse the institutional, administrative, and financial conditions of municipal administration to assess its  capacity for implementing decentralized social and environmental policies; assess the information systems available to municipal and central governments for policy implementation; examine current training programs for municipal authorities and officials; evaluate municipal human resources, and identify training needs; and identify methods to improve social participation in social and environmental policy implementation at the municipal level. Results will include a diagnosis of the municipal administration's current general and specific conditions; guidelines for the organization of an information system adapted to the needs and resources of municipal administration; guidelines for improving the training of municipal human resources; and a portfolio of policy recommendations to improve the management capacity of municipal governments.  The study will follow a participatory research approach by the involvement of municipal officials in the processes of data gathering and analysis, and elaboration of the research results.


Implementing Integrated Local Social Policy in Bolivia                           

The general objective of this project is the identification of institutional mechanisms and policy instruments for the successful design and implementation of decentralized and sustainable integrated social policies in Bolivia.  To this purpose, the project will identify, develop, and test policy tools to prioritize needs; identify strategic technical cooperation demands; and explore mechanisms of coordination between grass‑roots organizations, GOs, and NGOs.  The specific objectives are to examine the political, institutional, social, and cultural conditions that were conducive to the successful implementation of public policies in four selected provinces, particularly in the social area; identify appropriate institutional, administrative, information, and financial structures and mechanisms required for the coordinated implementation at the local level of integrated social policies sensitive to economic and environmental concerns; identify the planning procedures required at the central government level for the inclusion of local priorities; scan, evaluate, transfer, develop, and test policy tools required by local and central level institutions to implement national reform plans and  programs; and identify training and institutional strengthening needs to overcome obstacles to the implementation of integrated social development plans. Results will include a model of an institutional framework appropriate for the implementation of integrated social policies at the local level.

http://www.cebem.com/implement/caratula.htm

Health Systems in the Southern Cone of Latin America

The region is facing numerous challenges which require the generation and use of new knowledge on health systems and services research. These include an epidemiologic transition to chronic diseases, accidents and violence, accompanied by important demographic changes; rapidly shifting models or organization and financing of national health systems; inequitable distribution of access to health care and frequently precarious levels of quality of care; and, regional economic and political integration characterized by the formation of the MercoSur. Current constraints to research in the region include a restricted number of experienced researchers and precarious infrastructure, financial support to research, and access to information and peers. The Network for Health Systems and Services Research in the Southern Cone of Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay) was founded in August 1994 with International Development Research Center (IDRC) support, and involves academic, research and health services institutions. It proposes to promote research in this area and improve the quality and use of research results by 1) administering a small grants fund; 2) articulating high‑quality and priority proposals for the region; 3) carrying out or supporting educational activities on research methods applied to health systems; 4) disseminating research results; 5) creating a network of exchange of ideas, information and support between researchers in the Southern Cone of Latin America; 6) mobilizing financial and political support for research and working as an advocate for research in this area  

http://www.idrc.ca/lacro/foro/networks/saludcono-e.htm