Aim and Focus

Aim & Focus

Aim
PopDev aims to contribute to knowledge about the effects of population dynamics and reproductive health on different aspects of economic and social development. Through funding excellent research information should become available that will strengthen the evidence base for policy and practice on how population and reproductive health (P/RH) affect poverty and how investments in P/RH might contribute to reducing poverty and fostering economic development and equity.

Main issues
The main types of research questions/issues that this programme hopes to address are:

  • Given the projected trends in fertility and mortality, what are the implications for economic growth and income distribution and the incidence of poverty, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa?
  • How do (different types of) investments in reproductive health affect economic conditions at the household level (productivity, labour force participation, savings behaviour)? And how do the type and organisation of reproductive health services affect their effectiveness in influencing economic conditions?
  • What are the effects of reproductive health interventions on economic well-being of individuals? How do reproductive health interventions and their effects at the household level link to poverty/economic outcome at the macro level?

Focus

  • Multi- or interdisciplinary work, including economic and related social science research, is encouraged.
  • Studies that link micro level and macro level are preferred, and the development of new methodologies to measure P/RH interventions’ economic impacts are encouraged.
  • Attention for capacity strengthening.
  • Involvement of relevant stakeholders (e.g. NGO´s, policymakers, existing data collection infrastructures) in all phases of the research to enhance the use of results in policy and practice.
  • Research in developing countries, with a preference for sub-Saharan Africa, and research performed by partnerships between Dutch and developing country research groups.

Read more about PopDev in the programme description.