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Exploring the interactions among public opinion, governance, and the public sphere

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"People, Spaces, Deliberation" was launched in 2008 by the Communication for Governance and Accountability Program (CommGAP) and is now published by the External Affairs Operational Communication of the World Bank. The blog is edited by Sina Odugbemi and Diana Chung.
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Weekly Wire: the Global Forum

Submitted by Kalliope Kokolis on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 10:17

These are some of the views and reports relevant to our readers that caught our attention this week.


International Development Research Centre
Local Governance and ICTs in Africa


"With governance high on the agenda in Africa, many governments are using information and communications technologies (ICTs) to develop ways in which they deliver services to citizens. E-governance has the potential to enable local governments to engage citizens in greater participation, leading to socioeconomic developments at local and national levels. But this potential remains largely unexploited and, until now, there has been a lack of evidence on information technology in local governance in Africa.


This book addresses that gap. It offers studies from nine African countries that explore how ICTs can transform service delivery, tax, financial management, land management, education, local economic development, citizen registration, and political inclusion." READ MORE

Weekly Wire: the Global Forum

Submitted by Kalliope Kokolis on Thu, 07/07/2011 - 09:10


These are some of the views and reports relevant to our readers that caught our attention this week.


ICT for Peacebuilding
Mobile Technologies for Conflict Management: Online Dispute Resolution, Governance, Participation


"Mobile Technologies for Conflict Management: Online Dispute Resolution, Governance, Participation edited by Marta Poblet is now available online and soon in print.


Contributing authors are some of the best writers and thinkers on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), mobile technologies and dispute resolution and  in the world today, including Ethan Katsh, Daniel Rainey, Jeffrey Aresty, Colin Rule, Chittu Nagarajan, Michael Best and Ken Banks. All of them are close friends. Ethan and Colin, it can be said, created the theory and practice ODR and way back in 2004 in Melbourne, encouraged me to pursue what at the time was to many a mad idea – the use of mobiles for conflict transformation." READ MORE

Weekly Wire: the Global Forum

Submitted by Kalliope Kokolis on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 10:39

These are some of the views and reports relevant to our readers that caught our attention this week.

Transparency International
No Impunity for Corrupt Dictators

“The recent events in Tunisia and Egypt have demonstrated the power of citizens who won’t endure corrupt governments any longer. Their call for accountable and transparent leadership to ensure an equal distribution of public goods was heard around the world.

In France, the UK and Switzerland governments heeded calls to freeze and investigate the assets of ex-president of Tunisia Ben Ali and ex-president of Egypt Hosni Mubarak and their families. There should be no impunity for those who wield power for their own benefit and not for their people.”

Promoting the Role of Development Communication in UN Organizations

Submitted by Paolo Mefalopulos on Wed, 09/24/2008 - 09:23

Development communication (or Communication for Development, as it is also known in United Nations circles) is a growing field in the international development context. Every two years the various UN agencies hold a roundtable to share experiences and further promote the adoption of this discipline, or interdisciplinary field. These roundtables often result in the networking of organizations and communication professionals sharing similar challenges and objectives. The event that took place in Geneva from September 15  – 17 -- the experiential workshop on communication for development -- originated from such networking.

How do we Make People Value Peace?

Submitted by Caroline Jaine on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 08:38

International Day of Peace on Sunday 21st September is an annual event that has been organised by the UN for more than a quarter of a century.  International Day of Peace is also a day of Global Ceasefire which, if adhered to, provides a small ray of sunshine for those who endure war and conflict and often allows essential food, water, and medical supplies to reach those most in need. The UN have launched an admirable campaign this year, encouraging like-minded global citizens to network, participate and even send text messages of peace to world leaders.  Jeremy Gilley has even made a film about it, set in Afghanistan and starring Jude Law.  But as a Communications Strategist I have been contemplating the difficulties of selling “peace” both in my work with the UK ministry for peace and as research for a book on the subject.

Quest for Peace

Submitted by Caroline Jaine on Fri, 06/20/2008 - 17:33

I was delighted, yesterday to stumble across Ban Ki-Moon striding purposefully around in the bowels of the United Nations Head Quarters in New York. I was, at the time, bossing around a handful of Senior Public Information officials, ushering them back into a conference room to listen to my words of wisdom on strategic communications.  I nearly dragged him inside to say a few words, as I already knew he would loom large in today’s weblog, but he looked busy, so I let him be on his way.