Sections:
Putting research at the heart of development
24 April 2008
With the world changing rapidly, new challenges are emerging that threaten the
livelihoods of people in the poorest countries. To respond to these challenges -
which in the years ahead are likely to range from climate change to population movements
to higher oil and food
prices - there is a need for scientific innovation, new knowledge, and fresh
ideas.
On 22 April, DFID launched its Research Strategy - a five-year, £1 billion plan that will put research at the heart of fighting poverty. The strategy recognises that research is essential for understanding and addressing the challenges that the world faces. To make the right choices, decision-makers must have access to reliable information and be able to tap into the best available knowledge and experience.
- Read DFID's Research Strategy 2008-2013
(1 mb)
Meeting the challenges
DFID already has a reputation for cutting-edge research and analysis. As well as setting out where we will build on existing achievements, the strategy shows the new directions that our research will take over the next five years.
For example, to ensure that agricultural productivity improves as the world's population grows, and to support farmers as they adapt to a changing environment, £400 million will go towards research on agriculture, fisheries and forestry. And to help individual countries strengthen their economies, an International Growth Centre will be established.
In addition, recognising that the greatest threat to development is climate change, £100 million will be invested to look at the science, and the social and economic impact, of global warming for the most vulnerable developing countries.
The strategy also lays out our plans for scaling up research into health - including work to develop drugs and vaccines for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria - and how we will find new ways to tackle the toughest challenges in fragile states and those affected by conflict.
Research that works
Launching the strategy at the new London International Development Centre, Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander spoke of how the commitments outlined for the next five years would make the UK Government the largest funder of development research. He also stressed the importance of research that makes a real difference on the ground, impacting on policy and practice:
"The sheer scale of this investment...will, I believe, put the United Kingdom at the forefront of research for development literally around the world. Yet with the opportunity this affords comes a heavy responsibility – to ensure that research provides the hard evidence we need to make an impact on the lives of the poorest people anywhere on the planet."
- Read Douglas Alexander's full speech from the launch
- Watch videos from the launch event:
Part 1
DFID's commitment to research - which includes doubling its investment in this field to £220 million-a-year by 2010 - will help ensure that the best knowledge and technology, both new and existing, get to the people who need them most. Coming at the halfway point to 2015, the target year for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the Research Strategy is a major step forward towards meeting our promises in the fight against world poverty.
Links
- Press release: UK bolsters research into development issues - 22 April 2008
- More about the Research Strategy 2008-2013