DSA 2004: Bridging Research and Policy in Development

ODI helped to coordinate the 2004 Annual Conference of the Development Studies Association of UK and Ireland, on the theme of Bridging the Gap between Research and Policy in Development. The conference was held in London on Saturday 6 November 2004. The aim of the Conference was to foster a better understanding of how research can contribute to pro-poor policies, and systems to put it into practice. The theme, "Bridging Research and Policy" very much reflected the special vocation of the two organisers, DFID and ODI.

It was an incredible day that attracted some 480 participants from the very broad spectrum that makes up the development community - policy people, researchers, practitioners, NGO campaign people, consultants, students and journalists. The broad range of topics discussed ensured that there was something of interest for every delegate. During the day, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by Simon Maxwell to Professor Sir Hans Singer for his overwhelming contribution to the field of development studies in a career that spans over 70 years.

Click on the links below for further information:

• www.devstud.org.uk/conference/conference-04.htm for a summary and links to presentations
• View the Invitation letter from DSA President Simon Maxwell (43kb)
• Poster - click to view the advertising poster (small size 1.8mb)

Workshops
The 21 workshops also followed the theme of Bridging Research and Policy, covering issues from international trade to HIV/AIDS to migration to social protection, with additional sessions on the art-craft-science of bridging research and policy. For each workshop, speakers were chosen from different communities – academic, NGO, and policy-makers – as well as allowing plenty of time for discussion and debate. The workshops each had a panel consisting of a researcher, an NGO person and a policy-maker to explore the policy conclusions of development research. For more information see:

• www.devstud.org.uk/conference/programme.htm for general order of the day's events
• www.devstud.org.uk/conference/workshops.htm for details on the workshops
  
• www.devstud.org.uk/conference/workshops/1.5-researchpolicy.htm for overview of RAPID's workshop
• Summary of RAPID's workshop session on Promoting Evidence-based Development Policy including powerpoint presentations and background information
  

Keynote Speakers
There were two plenary sessions, featuring speakers with experience across the research and policy spectrum. The keynote speakers were:

• Matthew Taylor (formerly Director of the Institute of Public Policy Research and now with the Prime Minister's policy team in Downing Street)
• N C Saxena (well-known academic and former Secretary of the Planning Commission in the Government of India)
• Maureen O'Neill (President of IDRC and former Director of the North-South Institute in Ottawa)
• Masood Ahmed (Director General of DFID, formerly with World Bank and IMF and one of the key instigators of the Institute of Public Policy Research)
  

2005 is a big year for development, with the UK holding the Presidencies of the G8 and the EU, with the Africa Commission reporting, and with the UN Summit on the MDGs. The DSA's 2004 Conference presented a unique opportunity to link development research with the policy process.

For further information please contact Julius Court.