International research-for-development initiatives seeking to tackle complex problems present a range of challenges and responsibilities. Meeting standards of ethical research practice is one of these. While practitioners may identify as being committed to ethical practice, the reality is far more complicated. This situation is particularly apparent in agricultural research for development (AR4D). This article reflects on the changing research landscape before using the experiences of a unique partnership to demonstrate how the authors moved beyond compliance-focused tasks towards collective reflection and planning for a broad range of ethical challenges. It concludes with suggestions for integrating ethics into the planning and implementation of development initiatives.

Utilising a case study methodological approach to analyse the Irish practitioner experience, this article examines if the introduction of results-based frameworks (RBFs) have led to greater impact and accountability to beneficiaries. The findings point to evidence of early resistance to RBFs based upon concerns regarding resources, inflexibility in programming, and the perceived focus on accountability to donors over beneficiaries. However, findings also point to opportunities that could facilitate more effective development in practice. Indications suggest RBFs may facilitate a greater understanding of complexity, increased focus on outcomes and impact through a systematic use of baseline measurements, and improved adaptive programming.

Sub-Saharan Africa requires US$30 billion annually for its infrastructure maintenance, with every dollar spent saving the economy about four times that. However, many governments still do not recognise the need for road maintenance, increasing vehicle operating costs – to more than 1% of GDP in some regions. Still, there are too few political economy diagnostics of this problem and policy responses aiming to ring-fence dedicated funds have had mixed results. This article proposes a diagnostic through which to understand the institutional root causes of the problem using the case of Moldova.

This article examines a case study from Malaysia, the Credit Union Malaysia, to illustrate how the capability framework and institutions have practical value within the scope of microcredit, and how the constraints that the disadvantaged face can be relaxed through the use of microcredit. The capability approach provides an analytical framework to describe how a microcredit scheme can overcome the problems posed by conversion factors in order to enlarge the space of capabilities available to individuals.

This article makes a case for a reconceptualisation of aid and development programme design. Specifically, it questions the role of the international “development expert” in the design and implementation process. We argue that by employing “design thinking” as a guiding principle, the way in which aid programmes are envisaged and delivered can be radically overhauled, resulting in dramatically improved outcomes for the users of aid. We argue that practical improvements in delivery are achievable through locally rooted, “user-driven” development solutions that originate from the beneficiaries themselves. Design thinking as applied here goes significantly further than other programme design and implementation methodologies that champion locally owned, needs-driven assistance. Furthermore, we make a case for this approach addressing wider problems within the sector, namely the perception, in some quarters, that aid is intrinsically “neo-imperialist” in design and ideologically driven.

Through an analysis of Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, this article examines the extent to which national governments have embraced the rights-based approach to social assistance. Based on interviews with beneficiary households and policymakers at national and sub-national levels, it finds that although official policy documents depict the LEAP in rights-based terms, beneficiaries see it as a charitable programme. The article concludes that if the LEAP is to play a stronger role in promoting citizenship rights in Ghana, it is important to strengthen district level structures to investigate and redress beneficiaries’ complaints in a timely manner.

Urban theorists and policymakers are increasingly recognising the importance of integrating culture into urban development models. This article provides a critical assessment of Dubai’s integration of cultural planning in its approach to tourism development. It argues that western-influenced modernisation has side-lined indigenous creative resources in the pursuit of a cosmopolitan urban vision. Rapid urbanisation and westernisation of Dubai define and redefine the approaches for tourism development. The article suggests that embracing more culturally focused tourism plans may socially sustain local community and identity affected by rapid modernisation and westernisation in newly developed modern societies such as Dubai.

This article assesses the influence of farmer socio-economic factors on their preferences for agricultural extension methods. Cross-sectional data of 816 households were collected using multistage sampling procedure. Descriptive results show that the training and visit, farmer field schools, mass media and farmer-to-farmer extension methods were preferred by 42%, 32%, 13%, and 13% of the farmers, respectively. Regression estimates show that education, access to markets, risk attitudes and wealth significantly influenced farmers’ preferences for extension methods. The article concludes that farmers’ socio-economic characteristics should be considered in the selection and use of agricultural extension methods.