This work concentrates on Yemen, a developing country which also belongs to the list of the least developed countries of the world. This diploma work describes the situation in Yemen in the beginning of 21st century. With the help of presentation of general problems of the developing countries and instruments that solve these problems, together with the presentation of the current situation in Yemen, suggestion for improvement in the surveyed country are made.

This dissertation explores how Internet use impacts four different measures of economic development using several econometric techniques on multi-country panel data. The economic development outcomes investigated are: per capita GDP, per capita export revenues, per capita market capitalization, and societal well-being as measured by the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Data from the World Bank, the International Telecommunication Union, and the United Nations -covering 202 countries over the period 1996 to 2007- are combined to allow for empirical investigation using dynamic panel data and finite mixture model estimation techniques on the total sample and subsamples stratified by country income level. The results suggest that countries benefit differently from increasing Internet use and the magnitude of the effect depends on the income level of the country. In low income countries, additional Internet use has a significant positive effect on per capita GDP and overall welfare, as measured by the HDI. Increasing Internet use has a significant positive effect on all four measures of economic development in countries that have achieved middle income status. Since Internet use affects economic development outcomes differently depending on the income level of the country, the policy recommendations must also vary according to the country's income level.

The United Nations category Least Developed country (LDC) was created in 1971 to ameliorate conditions in countries the UN identified as the poorest of the poor. Its administration and operation within UN development discourse has not been explored previously in academic analysis. This thesis explores this rich archive of development discourse. It seeks to situate the LDC category as a vehicle that both produces and is a product of development discourse, and uses gender analysis as a critical tool to identify the ways in which the LDC category discourse operates. The thesis draws on Foucauldian theory to develop and use the concept ‘technologies of knowledge’, which places the dynamics of LDC discourse into relief. Three technologies of knowledge are identified: LDC policy, classification through criteria, and data. The ways each of these technologies of knowledge operates are explored through detailed readings of over thirty years of UN policy documents that form the thesis’s primary source material. A central question within this thesis is: If the majority of the world’s poor are women, where are the women in the policy about the countries that are the poorest of the poor? In focusing the analysis on the representation of women in LDCs, I place women at the centre of the analytic stage, as opposed to the marginal position I have found they occupy within LDC discourse. Through this analysis of the reductionist representations of LDC women, I explore the gendered dynamics of development discourse. Exploring the operation of these three technologies of knowledge reveals some of the discursive boundaries of UN LDC category discourse, particularly through its inability to incorporate gender analysis. The discussion of these three technologies of knowledge – policy, classification through criteria, and data – is framed by discussions of development and gender. The discussion on development positions this analysis within post-development critiques of development policy, practice and theory. The discussion on gender positions this analysis within the trajectory of postmodern and postcolonial influenced feminist engagements with development as a theory and praxis, particularly with debates about the representation of women in the third world. This case study of the operation of development discourse usefully highlights gendered dynamics of discursive ways of knowing.

Navtech är en internationell leverantör av flygoperationella produkter. Det här examensarbetet utfördes på en av deras produktionsavdelning som kallas Aircraft Performance, i Stockholm. Arbetet består av framtagning av en manual till en mjukvaruprodukt. Produkten är ett program som beräknar och presenterar flygprestandainformation för start och landning. Programmet tillhandahålls med två användarmanualer, Userguide och Prepages. Dessa manualer beskriver hur programmet fungerar och hur det presenterade flygprestandainformation skall användas. Företaget har funnit ett behov av att förbättra innehållet av dessa två manualerna och vill ha hjälp med att skapa en ny, enhetlig och lättanvänd manual. För det har upptäckts att manualerna som tillhandahålls till kunderna inte alltid innehåller all grundläggande information om programmet och lett till att kunderna behöver kontakta Aircraft Performance kundsupport för hjälp och vägledning. Förutom att den nya manualen skulle vara enhetlig ville företaget att innehållet skulle vara generellt och fungera som en grundmall. Detta för att den sedan kunna anpassas efter varje nytt specifikt program. Den nya framtagna manualen har fått namnet Aircraft Performance Manual. För att informationen skall vara konsekvent i hela Aircraft Performance Manual för ett specifikt program har riktlinjer, kallad Developer guidelines, tagits fram under examensarbetet. De beskriver steg för steg vilken information som behöver anpassas för programmet. Denna rapport är en studie av programmets funktionaliteter och manualernas innebörd (Userguide och Prepages) samt Navtechs interna dokumenter som också är relaterad till programmet. Rapporten presenterar resultatet av det första upplägget av Aircraft Performance Manual, som är godkänd av Geneth Daley, Product Manager på Aircraft Performance avdelningen. I och med att Aircraft Performance Manual har blivit ett mycket stort dokument har vissa delar i denna lämnats med förslag till vidare utveckling och bearbetning. Detta är presenterad i slutet av rapporten. / Navtech is an international supplier of flight operational products. This thesis is performed in one of their production department called Aircraft Performance, in Stockholm. The work consists of development of a manual to a software product. The software calculates and presents aircraft performance information for takeoff and landing. The software is provided with two user manuals called Userguide and Prepages. These manuals supply information of how the software works and how to apply the flight performance information. The company has found needs of improving the contents in these manuals and needs help to develop a new and uniform manual that is easy-to-use. It has been discovered that the manuals which have been provided to customers does not always consist of all fundamental information about the software. The consequence of this has led customers to contact Aircraft Performance customer service for help and guidance. In addition to have a uniform manual, the company wants it to be generic and be used as a basic template. The reason is to be able to customize it for every new specific software. The newly developed manual is called Aircraft Performance Manual. To be able to maintain consistent information in the Aircraft Performance Manual for specific software a guideline, called Developer guidelines, has been created during the thesis work. It describes step by step which information needs to be customized for the software. This report consist study of the software functionality, the purpose of the manuals (Userguide and Prepages) and Navtechs internal documentations which also contains information related to the software. The report presents the first edition of the Aircraft Performance Manual, which is approved by Geneth Daley, the Product Manager of Aircraft Performance department. Because Aircraft Performance Manual has become a huge document, some parts have been left out with suggestions for further development och processing. They are presented in the end of this report.

Since the introduction of computers in to organisations in the 1950s, computer information systems have become powerful organisational instruments. The uptake of information technology including information systems (IS) and the impact of these technologies have been phenomenal, particularly in the least developed countries (LDCs). Organisations in these countries have continued to utilise IS as a development tool with the belief that it will enhance business processes, in many instances accelerated by foreign assistance. IS can have a positive effect on users, organisations and national development, measured economically or otherwise at the individual, organisational, and national levels. Yet IS implementation and the measure of its success is characterised by a high rate of failure and disagreement among scholars and practitioners. The success of organisational IS is influenced by a fabric of many variables, including contextual elements. In this regard IS can be influenced by both the organisational context in terms of strategies, structures, politics and culture, and by the wider political socio-economic, cultural, and technological climate within which organisations exist. Understanding the contributing variables and the barriers that impede IS success, would better prepare organisations to overcome the inherent difficulties. There is a large body of work documenting the usefulness and consequences of IS. However, these studies have been concentrated in the developed countries (DCs), hence, little is known about IS implementation in LDCs. DCs and LDCs differ in their contextual and social settings, and a uniform analysis may not be applicable in their disparate settings. Indeed the paucity of research and data in the IS domain indicates that the study would benefit an LDC such as Papua New Guinea (PNG) and contribute to knowledge in understanding IS implementation in an LDC environment. This thesis reports on a study that examined IS implementation success in PNG organisations in the context of an LDC. Computers were introduced to PNG in the 1960s, however, no studies have been undertaken to date in this domain that the author is aware of. Hence, the objective of this study was to provide detailed analysis of IS, the context in which it was implemented, its interaction with organisational and external settings, and elicit the underlying elements associated with its success. It also explores the emphasis placed on each of the elements and the extent to which organisations effectively addressed these elements to ensure IS success. The exploratory study employs a multi method design - beginning in Stage 1 with case studies, followed by a survey in Stage 2. Stage 1 adopted a multiple case study approach. Eight case studies were undertaken, however, results of only four case studies are reported in this thesis. Data obtained in the case studies provide a useful basis for the survey. The study in Stage 2 consolidated and expanded on the case study findings from the perspective of a wider population. All the organisations contacted but not involved in the Stage 1 study contributed by participating in the survey. The study identified more than fifty elements that contributed to the success of IS in PNG organisations. There were significant similarities to the findings of studies in other DCs and LDCs despite the disparate contextual conditions. Several elements, not identified in prior studies, were also revealed. Based on this study, a set of principles pertaining to IS implementation and management in PNG were postulated. Similarly a set of recommendations were also outlined.

The purpose of this thesis is to contrast the academic discussion on whether the affluent countries have a responsibility or not to provide food aid for the LDCs, to the views of food aid recipients. In addition to the issue of responsibility I also discuss the responsibilities of individuals contra governments, and what type of aid (if any) that is best to ensure food security. In order to gather information on the recipients’ points of views I have conducted a minor field study in The Gambia and interviewed former food aid recipients. In the academic discussion Thomas Pogge, Peter Singer, Dale Jamieson and David Miller are represented. The results of the field study shows that most of the recipients argue that the affluent countries in the world have a moral responsibility to assist the LDCs since they have the ability to assist.In contrast to the academic discussion, it becomes clear that the interviewees base their arguments on a different moral foundation than some of the theorists, and that they have different perspective on how to eradicate poverty and ensure food security.

Grâce au SPG, l'Union Européenne accorde une réduction tarifaire douanière aux pays en développement (PED) afin de les aider à se développer. Les pays les moins avancés (PMA) et les pays vulnérables qui respectent une liste de normes relatives aux droits de l'homme, aux droits fondamentaux du travail, à la bonne gouvernance et à l'environnement sont eux, exempts de droit de douane sur le territoire communautaire. L'intérêt de l'utilisation du SPG est au cœur de cette étude qui a comporte deux parties. La première a trait au développement économique, la seconde au développement social et politique. Dans le titre premier, l'étude du cadre de la promotion du développement économique fait l'objet du premier sous-titre. Il s'attache à expliquer comment l'Union Européenne favorise certains pays (les PMA) et protège certains pans de son économie que ce soit en accordant un régime qui n'est pas totalement favorable à certaines marchandises (le textile et l'agriculture) ou grâce aux mécanismes de protectionnisme. En outre, ce sous-titre cherche à savoir quels avantages économiques l'Union Européenne peut tirer du SPG et s'il a été efficace dans son objectif de lutte contre la pauvreté dans les PED. Alors qu'il aura été expliqué que l'impact du SPG sur la réduction de la pauvreté n'est pas probant, le second sous-titre explique les raisons de cet échec. Les premières raisons sont externes au système. Alors que le notion de clause NPF est remise en question par la multiplication des accords commerciaux bilatéraux, par conséquent, celle de la marge préférentielle l'est aussi. Ces deux notions doivent donc être repensées. Il faut en discuter la pertinence dont dépend celle du SPG. En outre, l'importance des mesures non tarifaires et des services doit aussi être prise en compte dans l'évaluation du SPG qui est un instrument tarifaire. S'agissant des obstacles intrinsèques, le problème des règles d'origine occupe une place centrale. Plus globalement, la question de la simplification (et donc de la réduction des coûts) du SPG est abordée afin de savoir comment rendre le système plus efficace. Dans le titre second, le premier sous-titre est relatif au cadre (historique, normatif, géographique et méthodique) de la promotion des droits fondamentaux dans le SPG de l'Union Européenne. Le SPG+ et les aspects procéduraux font, quant à eux, y font aussi l'objet d'une attention particulière. Le second sous titre est consacré à l'intérêt de l'application des droits fondamentaux dans le SPG de l'Union Européenne. Ainsi, l'application des droits fondamentaux par les PED est positive pour l'économie de l'Union Européenne qu'il s'agisse ou non de leur aspect protectionniste. Concernant les PED, si une application des droits fondamentaux leur est bénéfique, elle n'en demeurent pas moins une charge. La possibilité de suspension du SPG en cas de violation des droits fondamentaux est peu invoquée, notamment par les ONG et les syndicats. Une tentative d'explication de ce phénomène est proposée dans le dernier chapitre de cette thèse. / Under the GSP program, the European Union provides customs tariff reduction to developing countries in order to help them improve their development. Goods of least developed countries (LDC) and vulnerable countries which respect a list of human rights, fundamental labour rights, good governance and the environment norms enjoy a duty free access to the EU market. The GSP utilisation's interest (the benefit ?) is the heart of this study wich include two parts. The first concern the economic developement, the second the social and political developement. In the first title, the economic developement promotion framework is the topic of the first sub-title. It tries to explain how EU favorises some countries (LDC) and protects some sectors of it economy (textile and agriculture). Furthermore, this subtitle seek to know what economical advantages EU can have with the GSP and if this instrument has been efficient in it aim to reduce the poverty in developing countries. While it will have been explain that the GSP's impact in the poverty reduction is not important the second subtitle explain the reasons of this fail. The first reasons are extern of the system. While the MFN notion is challenged with the bilateral trade agreement multiplication, consequently, preferential margin notion is questioned too. So, this notion have to be rethinked. Their relevance must be discuted because without a high MFN level, the GSP can't work. Furthermore, the non tariff measure and service importance must be taken into account in the GSP (a tariff instrument) evaluation. Regarding intern obstacle, rules of origine problem has a central role. More generally, the simplification (and so cost reduction) of the GSP is treated in order to know how the system can be more efficient. In the second title, the first subtitle concern the fundamental rights promotion framework (historical, normative, geogragraphical and methodical framework). The GSP+ and the processal aspect are also treaten in this subtitle. The second subtitle is dedicated to the fundamental rights application advantages in the UE GSP. So, the fundamental rights application by developing countries is positive for the EU economy whether or not their protectionnist aspect. Regarding developing countries, if a fundamental rights application is benefit, it can also be a burden. There are few GSP withdrawal request in case of fundemental rights violation, especialy by trade union and NGO. The last chapter tries to explain this fact.

There is a noticeable lack of production of indigenously engineered and manufactured products in Less Developed Countries (LDC's). Few products developed in these LDC's could be viable in competitive markets or even sold as components and supplies to other manufacturers of competitive goods. Assumintg that these less developed countries do not innovate and manufacture because they cannot, the next logical question to ask is why can they not? This thesis looks at the problems of manufacture and design in LDC's from the standpoint of Product Development. It begins by looking at development theories, namely top down and bottom up and assessing the difficulties encountered with either approach. It then looks at literature on product development, covering four areas: appropriate technolotgy, Product Development Cycle, QFD, and finally Design for X. These areas are analyzed for their usefulness in solving the development problem. The environment is considered and a linkage is developed between the Product Development Cycle and the environment. This is found to happen by way of Enterprise Needs which are needs that a product must fulfill to make it a viable option for manufacture. Finally, a process is outlined and demonstrated to form Enterprise Needs and take them into account within a traditional concept selection process. Environment was found to play a part in the Product Development Cycle. By clarifying Enterprise Needs as well as Customer Needs or Functional Needs, a more balanced approach can be taken to the concept selection process choosing the best concept, not only for the customer, but for the company as well.

This doctoral thesis focuses on the evaluation of the World Bank (WB) performance in delivering development aid to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). For this purpose, an extensive research was performed to analyze a set of 790 Implementation Completion and Results reports for key economic and financial indicators. Results of this research provide various insights for the appraisal and the results stage of project delivery of the LDCs in different continents. In the final part of the economic and financial analysis the minimum Social Return on Investment (SROI) of the LDCs including all project costs was calculated. This SROI ratio outcome of 1 and 1.06 in the weighted and 1.3 and 1.72 in the unweighted case indicate that projects delivered by the WB have a positive effect on the poor countries. In the second part of this research project the data set of the ICR reports was qualitatively researched for negative ratings according to 3 core assessment categories for the overall project performance: Sustainability, bank performance and borrower performance. As a result the most critical categories respectively risks were outlined. In conclusion, the research analyses and findings support the general demand to provide even more development assistance to poor countries.:Table of Tables and Figures List of Equations List of Abbreviations 1 Introduction 1.1 Introduction to the Topic 1.2 Assessing Poverty Problems and Achieving Economic Growth 1.3 Millennium Development Goals 1.4 Development Aid 2 Research Approach 2.1 Objective 2.2 Structure 2.3 Least Developed Countries 2.4 World Bank 2.5 Data Access and Relevance 2.5.1 Data Basis 2.5.2 Implementation Completion and Results Reports 2.5.3 Project Types 2.6 Term “Performance” 2.7 Study and Research Questions 2.8 Challenges of this Doctoral Thesis 2.9 Contribution of this Thesis 3 Economic and Financial Analysis 3.1 SROI Concept 3.1.1 SROI Definition 3.1.2 SROI Process and Impact Map 3.1.3 Cost-Benefit-Analysis 3.1.4 SROI Calculation 3.2 SROI of World Bank Projects 3.2.1 Purpose of the Cost-Benefit-Analysis 3.2.2 Indicators of the SROI Calculation 3.2.2.1 Net Present Value 3.2.2.2 Capital and Recurring Costs 3.2.2.3 Project Dates and Duration 3.2.2.4 NPV-horizon 3.2.2.5 Discount Rate 3.2.3 Types of NPV-Cost-Ratios 3.2.3.1 Pro-Rata-Capital-Costs Ratio 3.2.3.2 Total-Capital-Costs Ratio 3.2.3.3 Pro-Rata-Capital plus Recurring-Costs Ratio 3.2.3.4 Total-Capital plus Recurring-Costs Ratio 3.2.4 Calculation of the proper SROI Ratio 3.2.5 Portfolio Analysis 3.2.6 Sensitivity Analysis 3.3 Additional Economic and Financial Indicators 3.3.1 Economic Rate of Return 3.3.2 Benefit-Cost-Ratio 3.3.3 Net Benefit 3.3.4 Financial Net Present Value 3.3.5 Financial Rate of Return 4 Results of the Economic and Financial Analysis 4.1 Analysis Approach and Setup 4.2 NPV Outcomes at the Appraisal Stage 4.2.1 Appraisal NPVs of the LDCs 4.2.2 Appraisal NPV Continent Comparison 4.3 NPV Outcomes of the Result Stage 4.3.1 Result NPVs of the LDCs 4.3.2 Result NPV Continent Comparison 4.4 Appraisal vs. Result NPVs 4.4.1 Results of the LDCs 4.4.2 Continent Comparison 4.5 Economic Rate of Return Result Values 4.5.1 Results of the LDCs 4.5.2 Continent Comparison 4.6 Additional Economic and Financial Indicator Result Values 4.6.1 Benefit-Cost-Ratio and Net Benefit 4.6.2 Financial Net Present Value and Financial Rate of Return 4.7 Overall Project Performance 4.7.1 Definition 4.7.2 Overall Project Performance Ratings 4.7.3 Outcome Calculation for Non-Financial Indicator Projects 4.7.4 Verification of Outcomes and Conclusion 4.8 NPV-Cost-Ratios and SROI Calculation 4.8.1 NPV-Cost-Ratios of the ICR Reports 4.8.1.1 Overall Results 4.8.1.2 Continent Comparison 4.8.2 Standardized NPV-Cost-Ratios 4.8.2.1 Overall Results 4.8.2.2 Continent Comparison 4.8.3 Calculating the Minimum SROI Ratio 4.8.3.1 Overall Results of the Capital SROI Ratio 4.8.3.2 Continental Comparison of the Capital SROI Ratio 4.8.3.3 Overall Results of the Minimum SROI Ratio 4.8.3.4 Continental Comparison of the Minimum SROI Ratio 4.8.4 Making Meaning of the Results 4.9 Summary and Conclusion 5 Qualitative Data Analysis 5.1 Content Analysis 5.2 Sustainability 5.2.1 Sustainability Rating Definition 5.2.2 Sustainability Rating Categories 5.3 Bank Performance 5.3.1 Bank Performance Definition 5.3.2 Bank Performance Categories 5.4 Borrower Performance 5.4.1 Borrower Performance Definition 5.4.2 Borrower Performance Categories 6 Results of the Qualitative Data Analysis 6.1 Sustainability 6.1.1 Quantitative Assessment of Sustainability Ratings 6.1.2 Outcome of the Content Analysis 6.1.2.1 Types of Reasons 6.1.2.2 Overall Results 6.1.2.3 Results in Haiti 6.1.2.4 Continent Comparison 6.1.3 Excursus: Positive NPV Projects 6.1.4 Summary and Conclusion 6.2 Bank Performance 6.2.1 Quantitative Assessment of Bank Performance Ratings 6.2.2 Outcome of the Content Analysis 6.2.2.1 Types of Reasons 6.2.2.2 Overall Results 6.2.2.3 Results in Haiti 6.2.2.4 Continent Comparison 6.2.3 Summary and Conclusion 6.3 Borrower Performance 6.3.1 Quantitative Assessment of Borrower Performance Ratings 6.3.2 Outcome of the Content Analysis 6.3.2.1 Types of Reasons 6.3.2.2 Overall Results 6.3.2.3 Results in Haiti 6.3.2.4 Continent Comparison 6.3.3 Summary and Conclusion 7 Overall Summary and Conclusion 8 Critical Acclaim and Recommendations 9 Outlook and Future Research List of Appendices Appendix References