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to the effects of exclusive and ineffective policies vis-à-vis livelihoods and economic
recovery and empower media outlets to publicize these issues effectively. Developing
the capacity of a free media is one of the most effective, and least expensive, means of
countering corruption. Media outlets that effectively expose corruption can help to generate
national debate on the issue, to dislodge social norms that permit such corruption,
and to pressurize the state to address this problem.
The private sector. UNDP’s support for private sector development—including the development
of businesses, business associations, financial service providers, and business
development service providers—is elaborated in Chapter 4 on Track B programming.
Box 5.4. Access to justice in Indonesia
Following a comprehensive assessment of access to justice for the most disadvantaged populations in six post-conflict provinces of Indonesia in 2009, UNDP
and Indonesia’s National Development Planning Agency developed a joint project to promote access to justice at the community level. The project offers
legal assistance and access to information. The project also helps to develop the capacity of civil society and communities to understand and demand their
rights, and it opens channels of constructive engagement between them and the government.
UNDP and other U.N. agencies, the World Bank, and civil society organizations collaborated with the National Development Planning Agency to draft Indonesia’s
National Strategy on Access to Justice. This strategy, which focuses on society’s most disadvantaged and marginalized groups, recognizes access to
justice as a critical means of eradicating poverty and recommends that government policies across all sectors explicitly target the most vulnerable individuals
and communities.
5.2.8 Programming for responsive, pro-poor policy development
Based on participatory assessments, dialogue, and policy research, UNDP and its partners
can help to inform policy makers about the need for reforms as perceived in crisis-affected
communities. Much of the support for governance processes and institutional development
described above—such as strengthening national assessment capacity and developing
the capacity of the media, research institutions, participatory forums, and civil society coalitions—will
contribute to the foundations for policy advocacy. Effective policy advocacy
will take into account national priorities and sensitivities, including those related to GDP
growth, income distribution, employment, taxation, and land rights. Sensitivities may also
surround international rankings on human development, government transparency, and
the ease of doing business. Policy advocacy may include encouragement by government
partners to participate in global or regional initiatives to improve governance. 57
5.2.8 (a) Priority areas for policy reform
The set of policy reforms needed in each crisis and post-crisis situation is different. Some
of the policy issues that are typically important for livelihoods and economic recovery
include those discussed in Chapter 4 on Track B programming, such as the development
of market-oriented vocational training curricula and access to financial services. Procedures
for registering and licensing businesses may require simplification. Highly sensitive
policy issues often surround land policy, with reforms requiring substantial time, technical
expertise, and consultation. Policies for decentralization are often necessary in order to
enable local government bodies and national-local linkages to function effectively. Policies
for conditional and/or unconditional transfers to poor households—of cash, food,
and other essential commodities—may require development or refining. Policies can be
designed to facilitate and reduce the costs of the legitimate transfer of remittances and
to help channel remittances toward local economic recovery. Other potentially important
57 For example, the African Peer Review Mechanism
encourages participating governments
to conform to the aims of the African Union’s
2002 Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic
and Corporate Governance. Participating
governments are subject to review on the basis
of agreed objectives, standards, criteria, and
indicators. The Extractive Industries Transparency
Initiative (EITI) supports improved governance in
resource-rich countries by improving transparency
and accountability in the management
of natural resources, including verification and
full publication of the receipt and spending of
natural resource revenues.
Livelihoods & Economic Recovery in Crisis Situations