Events

Often, it is not easy for staff in development institutions to familiarize themselves with the latest scientific debates in development research in addition to their daily workload. Likewise, it is difficult for researchers to assess the information needs of practitioners while focusing on academic publications. In particular, information is often lacking on how their own research can generate benefits in practice. Forums in which academics and development practitioners can swap ideas are rare.

The seminar usually takes place in late January and is devoted to a narrowly defined development issue that has captured public opinion more recently. Themes covered in recent years include climate change, the financial crisis, good governance, and 50 years of development cooperation.

Further information

Seminar 2012

Past seminars

The creation of jobs that are decent and equitably paid helps to contribute to fighting poverty and the reduction of social inequality. Promoting sustainable employment is thus an important foundation for the development of a country - this was one of the outcomes from the international conference titled "Employment and Development- What do we know and what can we do?", which KfW Entwicklungsbank hosted in Berlin jointly with the Institute for the Study of Labour (IZA, Bonn). Numerous renowned experts participated, including Dani Rodrik, top economist from Harvard.

Further Information

Conference Results

Conference reader  (PDF, 2 MB, non-accessible)

Conference Programme  (PDF, 107 KB, non-accessible)

Participants Expert Conference  (PDF, 157 KB, non-accessible)

The Poverty Reduction, Equity and Growth Network (PEGNet) was founded in 2005 as a joint initiative by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ), KfW, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Universities of Frankfurt, the University of Göttingen, and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. The aim of this network is to offer academics working in the fields of poverty reduction, equality and growth the opportunity to exchange ideas with representatives from development practice. Connecting the worlds of research and practice across this network can yield important initiatives for further work on both sides.

To make this happen the network brings its members together on a regular basis and supports an electronic exchange of information. In addition, it organises international conferences and workshops to discuss and disseminate the latest findings from both academic work and development cooperation practice. The annual PEGNet conference provides an exchange platform for development researchers, practitioners and political decision-makers.

Further information

PEGNet

With 3,800 members, the Verein für Socialpolitik (German Economic Association) is the largest association of economists in the German-speaking world. In the 1970s it set up a Research Committee on Development Economics (Ausschuss für Entwicklungsländer - AEL), to review and assess the findings of, and issues arising from, research in the areas of development theory and development policy. In addition, the committee was to interact with development cooperation practitioners.

Members of the Research Committee meet each year at their annual conference. Since 2005, in addition to the closed session (for members only), this has included a public session.

The most recent annual conference - "Development Economics and Policy" - took place in Bonn on 22nd and 23rd June 2011, and was hosted by Centre for Development Research - Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung (ZEF). KfW also awarded its "Förderpreis" for practice-oriented development research.

Further information

Research Committee on Development Economics