The EPSDS seeks to satisfy the growing demand for supplementary and specialist technical advisory services on the part of DFID’s 100 Economists and 30 PSD Advisers, although the service is open to other users within DFID and other donor agencies. It provides additional expertise to supplement in-house resources and enable DFID advisers to meet surges in demand for the services of technical specialists. The EPSDS is poised to mobilise specialists to hostile and post conflict environments, manage the attendant security and risk requirements, and operate in disaster/post-disaster situations.
This website is designed to explain how to use the service and contact the EPSDS management team. It also enables DFID staff to access information and learning generated by the EPSDS and the Economist Resource Centre (the predecessor to the EPSDS) through the Document Library.
Responding to Requests
Since October 2007, the EPSDS has handled 40 requests for assistance. The list below shows the range of requests to be highly varied:
COUNTRY |
PROJECT |
Iraq |
Basra International Airport Programme Management and Business Planning Coach 316 Days Providing leadership and coaching in programme management, process improvement and business planning to tackle the managerial, financial and technical obstacles to the commercialisation of Basra International Airport (BIA). Status: Active |
UK |
DFID Economist Retreat and PSD Retreat 30 Days/30 Days Researching and visiting potential venues, inviting and registering participants, booking the venue and liaising with the venue regarding accommodation and conference facilities, attending the retreat, and post-retreat logistics. Status: Active |
UK |
Review of DFID Financial Sector Development 20 Days Reviewing the Financial Sector Team’s experience/achievements to date, analyzing recent trends in promoting improved access to financial services to the poor in developing countries and making recommendations on the way the FST should engage with this agenda in the future. Status: Active |
DRC |
Trading for Peace Phase II: Financial Flows and Banking Related to Natural Resource Trade 51 Days Conducting field research in DRC, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Zambia on natural resource value chains as well as access to and usage of financial services as part of Phase 2 of the Trading for Peace Program. Status: Active |
Palestine |
Deputy Director of the Palestine Investor Conference 53 Days Deputy Director for the Palestine Investment Conference (PIC-Palestine) scheduled for 21 to 23 May 2008 in Bethlehem to report directly to the Conference Director and provide day to day management and leadership, ensuring work progress in line with the conference management plan. Status: Completed |
Ukraine |
Presentation on Managing Spatial Aspects of Public Policy Design Using GIS 5 Days Presenting what GIS is and how it can help with public/social policy (with relevant examples from countries in Eastern and Central Europe) to Ukrainian policy makers. Status: Completed |
UK |
Assessing the Impact of Demographics and Climate Change on Migration 30 Days Reviewing the existing literature and evidence relating to the future impact of demographic and climate change on migration patterns in developing countries, mapping the likely scale of movement within and between developing countries and explaining the different types and causes of migration. Status: Completed |
Cameroon |
Fiduciary Risk Assessment of Support to the Forestry Reform Programme 10 Days Working with the World Bank Country Economist to complete a comprehensive update of the Statement of Progress for DFID’s targeted budget support to Cameroon’s Ministry of Forests. Status: Completed |
Sierra Leone |
Review of the Business Development Initiative 10 Days Reviewing this initiative which provides technical assistance to enterprises in Sierra Leone, and is linked to an investment fund for which the assisted businesses may or may not be eligible. Status: Completed |
To make a request, register as a consultant, or obtain further information about the EPSDS, please contact An Hutton, EPSDS Manager on: an_hutton@coffey.com, or call +44 (0) 118 956 6066
