Research Danny Cassimon

Abstract

While our research group analyses development processes, actors and policies in general, development monitoring and evaluation is one of the crucial aspects hereof and our group has also developed a critical mass of expertise on this topic. To date, however, there is a large gap between the literature in this field and the recent literature on the decolonial turn in development studies. The post-doc challenge can be a welcome opportunity to explore how the literature on decolonization of development questions both thinking and practice in development monitoring and evaluation. To be sure, there are some existing streams of literature that may help in closing the gap between both literatures: This work may involve, among other things, (1) building further on power analyses of participatory or community based evaluation methods (Cooke & Kothari 2001; Cohen et al 2021), (2) engaging with 'indigenous knowledge systems' (Shepherd & Graham 2020) and transformative forms of evaluation (Mertens 2009), (3) adapting evaluation processes to cultural contexts through 'culturally responsive approaches' (Chouinard & Cram 2020), (4) explicitly dealing with the ecological sustainability aspects of development interventions (Patton 2020) and (5) pursuing "aidnography" to analyze the political economy context in which many monitoring and evaluation activities take place, also taking into account the importance of donor involvement in processes of monitoring and evaluation (Lewis & Mosse 2006; Eyben et al 2015; Olivier de Sardan 2021).

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project represents a research contract awarded by the University of Antwerp. The supervisor provides the Antwerp University research mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions stipulated by the university.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This research proposal sets out to critically examine how the military institution could function as an 'agent of change' in terms of gender relations for a post-conflict society and promote a gender-just peace (Björkdahl 2012). As such, it focuses on the role of gender in the reform of the military in two states following conflict: Liberia and Mali. In particular, it focuses on the intertwined processes of gender integration and gender mainstreaming in the post-conflict phase. Gender integration refers here to the participation and inclusion of different genders in the armed forces and gender mainstreaming is understood as a strategy to achieve gender equality by making visible and creating awareness of the gendered nature of assumptions, processes and outcomes (Verloo 2001; Walby 2005). Specifically, the proposal focuses on how women are recruited and integrated in the armies, which actors that push for or resist their integration and what functions, roles and experiences women come to have within the militaries.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This paper will provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution of external and public debt levels of lower income countries over the last ten years, the reasons behind it, and their consequences for debt sustainability and growth. Ten years after the international community provided large-scale debt relief to a number debt-ridden low income countries (LICs), which provided them with a close to clean debt slate, debt levels are again rapidly increasing in some of these low income countries: at least as many as 11 post-HIPCs countries are again experiencing a high risk of debt distress, with 3 additional ones already being in debt distress. These trends give renewed urgency in understanding recent debt trends and their drivers in lower-income countries. The paper will start by briefly summarizing the 4 pillars of the current international framework to keep debt sustainable (DSA/DSF, responsible borrowing/lending; sovereign; sovereign debt workout mechanisms, including ad hoc rescheduling and debt relief initiatives; debtor country debt management capacity building). Many low-income countries have taken advantage of the new borrowing space provided by their improved debt situation, in order to meet large financing gaps for infrastructure needs, poverty reduction and the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus the paper then discusses, for all LICs together, as well as for individual HIPC countries/other important LICs, how these new borrowing strategies have impacted on the evolution of public debt levels and debt ratios during the last 10 years, to document but also to qualify this general renewed build-up for individual country experiences. Emphases will be placed on: 1) The drivers of these changes, especially in the case of more vulnerable and less diversified LICs 2) The changes in composition of these debt levels. The composition of debt has clearly changed in most LICs, with traditional external bilateral lending being replaced by emerging lenders and new types of commercial lending, namely through Eurobonds, and the growing role of domestic capital markets. On the side, we also try to assess whether changed DAC rules of ODA accounting have impacted the observed decrease of lending from these donors to LICs 3) The extent to which increased debt levels lead to problems of debt distress 4) The extent to which joint responsibilities between debtor and lenders (or lead managers of bond issues) can influence borrowing and lending practices. The concluding section will also reassess the current international framework to keep debt sustainable, with a view suggesting potential avenues for improvement to improve assessments and monitoring of debt sustainability.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Belgian policy research group on Financing for Development (BeFinD) is a consortium of three research centers at Belgian universities with the objective of covering the policy and research questions that are the most relevant to Financing for Development in the framework of the Academic Research Group for Policy Support (ACROPOLIS). ACROPOLIS aims to support the decision-making of the Belgian Directorate General for Development Cooperation (DGD) by evidence-based research. BeFinD (2017-2018) research is structured around two main topics and 5 work packages: 1: Domestic resource mobilization WP 1: Towards effective intervention models for supporting local taxation programs in weak institutional contexts. WP 2: Contributory social protection schemes for informal workers as alternative mechanisms of domestic resource mobilization. 2: Implications of the private sector through innovative financing and private sector development A: Innovative Financing WP 3: Development Impact Bonds WP 4: Blending B: Private Sector Financing WP 5: A randomized evaluation on a Belgian development program: the case of BTC agricultural support in Benin.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project represents a formal research agreement between UA and on the other hand the client. UA provides the client research results mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions as stipulated in this contract.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project represents a formal service agreement between UA and on the other hand UNESCO. UA provides UNESCO research results mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions as stipulated in this contract.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project represents a formal service agreement between the parties Universiteit Antwerpen and UNESCO. UAntwerpen provides UNESCO research results on the "Desk Study on debt Swaps" under the conditions as stipulated in the present contract.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The overall objectives of the O*platform are: -increased incorporation of insights on aid architecture and aid effectiveness in Belgian DC policy formulation and implementation -increased incorporation of insights on new aid architecture and aid effectiveness in development management in the South.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Molenaers Nadia
• Promoter: Renard Robrecht
• Co-promoter: Cassimon Danny
• Co-promoter: Holvoet Nathalie
• Co-promoter: Molenaers Nadia

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Description of the project: Collect accurate data and information on the amounts, allocation, use and administration of debt relief resources with special focus on their financial impact on the health sector and the immunization programme.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

PRSP is to be understood as a shorthand for a far reaching and encompassing reform of multilateral and bilateral aid relations with low-income countries, initiated in 2000, and to which Belgium has subscribed. This project concerns policy advisory work for the federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate General of Development Cooperation, and has been granted for 4 years. The research group will concentrate its work on three dimensions of the PRSP, with gender as a crosscutting theme: the political economy of the PRSP; Monitoring and evaluating the PRSP, and fiscal and budgetary aspects. The activities that are envisaged in the framework of the project consist of (1) service delivery (output for the Belgian authorities), corresponding to 20% of the budget, in the form of drawing rights for training, advisory work, redaction of policy documents, and the like, and (2) scientific research (academic output) corresponding to 80% of the budget.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Renard Robrecht
• Co-promoter: Cassimon Danny
• Co-promoter: Holvoet Nathalie
• Co-promoter: Molenaers Nadia

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The proposed research paper aims at distinguishing and testing the importance of (alternative kinds and measures of) uncertainty on firms' fixed investment decisions for the Belgian economy, by applying the recent theories of investment under uncertainty and the real option approach (such as summarized e.g. in Dixit & Pindycki (1994) using a micro-economic panel data approach. As such, this research extends recent former research along these very lines executed by (members of) the proposed research team that focused on an aggregate macro-economic approach for 14 European countries, including Belgium, to firm-level analysis for the Belgian case.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny
• Co-promoter: Engelen Peter-Jan
• Co-promoter: Meersman Hilde
• Co-promoter: Van Wouwe Martine

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

At this moment a number of propositions are made internationally concerning substantial debt reduction for the poorest developing countries. The objectives are to enhance development and to alleviate poverty in those countries. //..Therefore it is most important to evaluate if debt reduction can be an efficient and effective instrument for sustainable development, and in which measure debt reduction can be directly linked to poverty alleviation. //..Starting from a global analysis that has been made during the first year, the project aims to examine, firts of all in the prioritary countries to have a more specific view and to make specific policy recommendations for each of the countries.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Marysse Stefaan
• Co-promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The project topics are: (1) a survey of the literature with respect to credit and financing schemes for micro-enterprises in the South and with special attention towards women enterpreneurs who want to start up such business and (2) making an inventory and evaluation of existing support mechanisms in the informal and formal sector in Tanzania and the Philippines

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Embrechts Rob
• Co-promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The IMF/World Bank sponsored debt reduction initiative (HIPC-Initiative) is the most recent proposal to deal with the external debt crisis of the poorest developing countries, by proposing to reduce debt up to the 'sustainable' level. The crucial question, which this project deals with, is whether this proposal, and the amount of debt reduction suggestion, is a 'sustainable' way out of the debt crisis for these countries.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Marysse Stefaan
• Co-promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The project entails drawing up a short note (5 p) and a longer 'position paper' for CIDSE with respect to the appropriateness of launching a Tobin tax-type proposal that taxes international currency transactions.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The project, within the framework of policy-oriented advice to the Flemish Institute for the Promotion of Scientific-Technological Research (IWT) , is a feasibility study with respect to setting up an 'economic intelligence' scheme for effectively measuring and monitoring the degree of Innovation and Research & Development (R&D) within the sector of Small- and Medium-size Enterprizes in Belgium.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny
• Co-promoter: Laveren Eddy

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The project , within the framework of policy-oriented advice to the Belgian Minister for Cooperation for Development , analyses efficient ways by which support schemes, installed in donor countries , can effectively promote foreign direct investments in developing countries , as a vehicle for strenghtening North-South company linkages and, as a result , promote the establishement of a small-scale entrepreneurship class in the South.//..More particulary , the project focusses on the instrument of FDI-guarantee schemes.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cassimon Danny

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The project starts from the question, which social ethical purposes the international traffic of capital should meet. And further, by which institutional mechanisms these purposes can in some degree be brought closer together. This subject will be investigated from three points of view: 1) a fundamental philosophical reflection concerning monetary matters, its social meaning and evolution; 2) the analysis of a specific financial market and its institutional problems; 3) the formulation of a proposal concerning ethical criteria and priorities on the basis of literature on ethics in financial markets.//..The (de)regulation in international financial markets represents an issue which includes important ethical goals and criteria, beside its technical, political and economic dimensions. This research is aimed, first of all, at applying the insights of financial ethics to the new phenomena of emerging financial markets, especially derivatives (swaps, futures). In the second place our research will focus on a number of particular cases relating to possible ways of regulating the markets (Tobin Tax, Maystadt-case, the role of central banks in avoiding systemic risk). In each of these case-studies we are looking for effective ethical criteria and goals to evaluate the functioning of the markets.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Gerwen Jozef
• Co-promoter: Cassimon Danny
• Co-promoter: Vandevelde Toon

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

More and more investments are considered to be irreversable decisions. This makes them comparable to options. Using options theory it is possible to show the importance of uncertainty on the volume of investments in a country. The influence of uncertainty is often more important than the influence of the interest rate. These findings are empirically verified for Europe and more specifically for Belgium.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Meersman Hilde
• Co-promoter: Cassimon Danny
• Co-promoter: Plasmans Joseph

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project