International Affairs/Development
Persistent, complex international development problems such as child malnutrition and gender inequality cannot be addressed without a cross-sector convergence -- not just cooperation -- of nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders, a report from Accenture Development Partnerships argues. According to Convergence Economy: Rethinking International Development in a Converging World (32 pages, PDF link above), the convergence model fosters a long-term shared commitment to the requirements of those in need and helps funding partners recognize the interconnectedness of multiple development issuesand their own interests. As an example, the report highlights how Barclays, CARE, and Plan are developing a large-scale community finance project that aims to extend access to basic financial services to between 300,000 and 500,000 people across Africa, Asia, and South America. Moreover, because they are not dependent on a single funding source or constrained by organizational structures or sectoral boundaries, convergent solutions are more likely to be sustainable and scalable, the report argues.
