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Project Record

Objectives:

To provide the knowledge for policy makers, development professionals and ordinary citizens to construct new forms of citizenship that will contribute to the elimination of poverty by helping make rights real for poor people

Background:

At the beginning of the 21st Century - despite widespread democratisation in previous decades - there are growing concerns about the failures of both emerging and mature democracies to respond to the needs and interests of poor people. If poverty is to be eliminated, the Citizenship, Participation and Accountability Development Research Centre (DRC) argues, this gap that exists between poor people and the institutions that affect their lives must be addressed. The mission of the Citizenship, Participation and Accountability DRC is to understand and influence in different contexts the ways in which deepened forms of democratic citizen engagement can work to strengthen the capacities of states and non-state institutions to be responsive to the needs and rights of poor people.

The core proposition is that to build states that work 'for the poor' - as expressed in the DFID Research Strategy - also involves enhancing the opportunities for more inclusive forms of citizenship and participation by poor people. In pursuit of this agenda, the Citizenship, Participation and Accountability DRC has emerged as a highly collaborative network of over fifty researchers in seven countries who use research, capacity building, communication and policy influence to contribute to building democratic states and institutions which can become more effective in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

Further information:
http://www2.ids.ac.uk/drccitizen/

General Notes:

See also Development research centre on citizenship, participation and accountability - Phase 2

Paper File Reference:

ESG 9800 448/832/007