Institutions and Society

This article looks at how expanding DNA databanks raise human right concerns.

This paper focuses on an especially important set of social impacts resulting from climate change in South Asia, namely the displacement of vast numbers of people as a consequence mainly of sea level rise along the coasts and secondarily from … Read More

On August 25th 2009, Accountability Initiative, Centre for Policy Research and Centre for Development Finance, Institute for Financial Management and Research organized a conference entitled: “From Outlays to Outcomes: Getting Development from Development Expenditures”. The conference aimed to create a … Read More

This background note provides a high-level overview of the basics of advocacy, why it is important, and how best-in-class organizations approach the topic. Its secondary objective is to showcase various options for structuring an advocacy-oriented organization backed up by programming, … Read More

This paper provides an analytical case study of an Indian NGO’s efforts to engage city government officials in developing and refining an e-governance system for tracking public grievances and city performance in redressing these. It is a draft of a … Read More

This case study takes an in-depth look at the first acquisition in Indian microfinance, Sonata Finance’s purchase of Jeevika Livelihood Support Organisation’s entire microfinance operations in August 2007. The insights presented in the case study will be useful for microfinance … Read More

The Environmental sustainability index tracks the environment performance of 28 states of India and projects the ability of the states to protect their environment in the coming years. Collating secondary data from published and credible sources, ESI measures the state … Read More

This article looks at the institutional framework for parliamentary debate in India in comparative perspective. Participation in debate and policymaking is fundamental to representation, yet most of India’s representatives have limited resources and opportunities to do so in comparison to … Read More

A high quality management information system (MIS) is a key component of any high performing microfinance institution (MFI). Information systems allow MFIs to reduce time spent on rote paperwork, effectively monitor both staff and clients, and quickly roll out new … Read More

The expansion of DNA databases in the United States, Europe and a few other countries to include not just convicted felons but arrestees, who might be innocent, raises a number of civil rights concerns. Sujatha Byravan explores how the use … Read More