04.09. – 05.09.2014 | DIE: Research for sustainable and global development: Perspectives, reorientations, controversies

In 2014, the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) celebrates its 50th anniversary. On this occasion, a ceremonial act with a subsequent conference will take place at Hotel Königshof and DIE in Bonn.

EVENT PROGRAMME

Thursday, 4 September 2014

14:00 h
Ceremony (by invitation only)

16:30 h
Panel I: Research and Knowledge for the future of International Cooperation – What’s next?

This panel will discuss whether a radical expansion of knowledge co-operation – based on investments in the knowledge infrastructures of partner countries and joint research efforts and the establishment of knowledge networks among actors from OECD and non-OECD countries could succeed in significantly improving the quality and acceptance of international co-operation. Is it possible that “knowledge” will acquire a similarly central significance in international co-operation in the future as “governance” holds today? Flows of financial resources, numerous seconded experts, complex poverty-combating strategies or rigorous evaluation designs for examining the effectiveness of co-operation prove worthless if the governance structures of a society do not function (this has been common sense for a good decade now) and the knowledge infrastructures are too weak to enable independent economic, social, political and cultural development processes. Could a realignment of development co-operation towards “getting institutions and knowledge right” lead to approaches increasingly based on reciprocity and common interests instead of north-south transfers? The discussion is therefore not about an incremental expansion in knowledge co-operation, but rather about the re-orientation of development policy to emphasize the fundamental significance of knowledge for social development and international co-operation.

18:00 h
Boat Ride (until 21:30 h)

Friday, 5 September 2014

09:00 h
Panel II: The future of Development Research

Development research shares many characteristics with development policy: it has a more or less explicit normative perspective in its research questions; it is geographically related to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America; and its starting point often is problem-based and thus not neatly circumscribed to one main area of disciplinary knowledge or to one policy sector. Historically, development research and development policy were strongest when they were – albeit marginally – a part of the policy package with which “the West” successfully shaped international economic and political relations. Today, the rationale for engaging in development policy is changing as the number of poor countries has diminished considerably in the last 15 years and the largest part of the poor are living in countries with dynamic economies. Relations between OECD countries and Southern countries are thus changing and development cooperation becomes a less and less important part of them. And an increasing number of developing countries are facing problems similar to ours in the North, most notably with regards to the questions raised by an ageing population with a view to labour markets, health insurance systems and consumer patterns.

10:45 h
Panel III: 2064: Emerging world society or turbulent crises management?”

The growth of the world population to 9-10 billion people until the mid-century as well as the economic catch-up from countries of the global south will trigger investments in the following years, which will shape the face of the world economy in the long term: new urban spaces, energy, mobility and land use systems, financial centres and networks will emerge. Thus, future-oriented cooperation in international development is necessary in order to channel the changing world economy into a sustainable and stable direction in the run-up to 2064. How does international development policy need to adapt to these long-term trends? Which are new potential patterns of co­operation between states, cities, international organisations, private sector, science and civil society? Is Europe able to participate in effectively shaping these dynamics of global change? What kind of jobs and qualifications will be needed for inclusive and sustainable growth? How do we make sure that there will be jobs and income for everybody?

And: Which kind of role should the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) play in this context, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2064? Which are the areas of research it should be focused on? Which networks of partners need to be strengthened or developed? How can policy-advice for global sustainable development succeed?

12:15 h
Research for sustainable and global development

13:30 h
Transfer to the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

14:00 h
Report on the ceremony and international conference

14:30 h
Alumni workshop (by invitation only)

More informationIn 2014, the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) celebrates its 50th anniversary. On this occasion, a ceremonial act with a subsequent conference will take place at Hotel Königshof and DIE in Bonn.

EVENT PROGRAMME

Thursday, 4 September 2014

14:00 h
Ceremony (by invitation only)

16:30 h
Panel I: Research and Knowledge for the future of International Cooperation – What’s next?

This panel will discuss whether a radical expansion of knowledge co-operation – based on investments in the knowledge infrastructures of partner countries and joint research efforts and the establishment of knowledge networks among actors from OECD and non-OECD countries could succeed in significantly improving the quality and acceptance of international co-operation. Is it possible that “knowledge” will acquire a similarly central significance in international co-operation in the future as “governance” holds today? Flows of financial resources, numerous seconded experts, complex poverty-combating strategies or rigorous evaluation designs for examining the effectiveness of co-operation prove worthless if the governance structures of a society do not function (this has been common sense for a good decade now) and the knowledge infrastructures are too weak to enable independent economic, social, political and cultural development processes. Could a realignment of development co-operation towards “getting institutions and knowledge right” lead to approaches increasingly based on reciprocity and common interests instead of north-south transfers? The discussion is therefore not about an incremental expansion in knowledge co-operation, but rather about the re-orientation of development policy to emphasize the fundamental significance of knowledge for social development and international co-operation.

18:00 h
Boat Ride (until 21:30 h)

Friday, 5 September 2014

09:00 h
Panel II: The future of Development Research

Development research shares many characteristics with development policy: it has a more or less explicit normative perspective in its research questions; it is geographically related to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America; and its starting point often is problem-based and thus not neatly circumscribed to one main area of disciplinary knowledge or to one policy sector. Historically, development research and development policy were strongest when they were – albeit marginally – a part of the policy package with which “the West” successfully shaped international economic and political relations. Today, the rationale for engaging in development policy is changing as the number of poor countries has diminished considerably in the last 15 years and the largest part of the poor are living in countries with dynamic economies. Relations between OECD countries and Southern countries are thus changing and development cooperation becomes a less and less important part of them. And an increasing number of developing countries are facing problems similar to ours in the North, most notably with regards to the questions raised by an ageing population with a view to labour markets, health insurance systems and consumer patterns.

10:45 h
Panel III: 2064: Emerging world society or turbulent crises management?”

The growth of the world population to 9-10 billion people until the mid-century as well as the economic catch-up from countries of the global south will trigger investments in the following years, which will shape the face of the world economy in the long term: new urban spaces, energy, mobility and land use systems, financial centres and networks will emerge. Thus, future-oriented cooperation in international development is necessary in order to channel the changing world economy into a sustainable and stable direction in the run-up to 2064. How does international development policy need to adapt to these long-term trends? Which are new potential patterns of co­operation between states, cities, international organisations, private sector, science and civil society? Is Europe able to participate in effectively shaping these dynamics of global change? What kind of jobs and qualifications will be needed for inclusive and sustainable growth? How do we make sure that there will be jobs and income for everybody?

And: Which kind of role should the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) play in this context, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2064? Which are the areas of research it should be focused on? Which networks of partners need to be strengthened or developed? How can policy-advice for global sustainable development succeed?

12:15 h
Research for sustainable and global development

13:30 h
Transfer to the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

14:00 h
Report on the ceremony and international conference

14:30 h
Alumni workshop (by invitation only)

More information