A future for the field of knowledge for development

18 April 2011

In February, a group of prominent players in the field of knowledge for development met during a diner pensant. They exchanged ideas on how to promote research, knowledge production and knowledge sharing on international development issues. One of the ideas coming out of this meeting is to provide an advice with a global perspective for each of the Top-sectors which are identified by the Dutch government.

The experts which joint the diner pensant represented the domains of science, policy, civil society and the private sector. They exchanged ideas on how to promote knowledge for development and how to link up with topical initiatives. Furthermore, the group reflected on how to countervail the current threat of decreasing attention for research, knowledge production and knowledge sharing on international development issues. The experts were invited by Louk de la Rive Box and Willem van Genugten, and this diner pensant was co-facilitated by WOTRO.

The experts of the meeting concluded that the field of knowledge for development is divided along many different players. These should try and team up and show the added value of this knowledge on global issues. They can do that by communicating effectively about their approaches, which can be of value for other sectors. Moreover, they should try and better connect with other policy initiatives to enhance synergy and impact.

One of the concrete plans coming out of this meeting is to approach the so-called Top-teams currently being installed to develop a comprehensive agenda for the Top-sectors of the Dutch economy . These Top-sectors are identified by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. The idea is to sensitize these Top-teams on the global dimensions of the sectors involved and to point at the potential for and added value of collaboration with developing countries. Again, WOTRO plays a facilitating role. So far an advice has been drawn up on six of the sectors.

A brief report of the outcomes in Dutch can be accessed here (Dutch only).

More information about the Top-sectors can be found here (Dutch only).