Gemdev
| Welcome to the fortnightly newsletter of the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI). |
| 2nd Issue January 2026 Editorial Our event-year has started last week with a well-visited and insightful online-roundtable about narratives of development and sustainability, and we’re happy to share the video for everyone who wasn’t able to attend. We will soon be announcing further events and webinars, so please stay tuned in. Today’s blog provides a thorough analysis of the implications of the just energy transition in the South as envisioned by COP30, and energy is also the focus of our publication picks today. As always, scroll to the very bottom for further picks and opportunities! From our Blog COP30 and Just Transition in the South: Who Will Pay the Social Price? « Throughout COP30, talk of green jobs, clean industries and “people-centred transitions” filled plenary halls, side events and policy meetings. However, across the Global South, the social foundations needed to carry this transition remain fragile ». The authors of this blog argue that the envisioned just transition in the South is jeopardised « if the new green economy is governed in the same top-down way as the old one » Read more To the Blog Overview Video: A bit too Simple: Narratives of Development If you haven’t had the chance to attend our online-roundtable last week, you can rewatch it now on our YouTube channel. Departing from her new open access book by Mette Fog Olwig, the roundtable discussed the role of local stories and narratives versus geopolitical metanarratives in shaping development, sustainability and climate action. Watch the video Highlight: Prospects of Development and Peace There is growing consensus that the liberal international order as we have known it is dwindling. Since it never really lived up to its expectations, proponents and critics alike do not think it should be reinvigorated. The new world order that is taking shape is a “multiplex” one, characterized by a plurality of actors and a great political, ideological, and cultural diversity. Nevertheless, global problems that transcend national borders still require multilateral cooperation. As this open access book shows, this will be possible but will probably take different forms and should allow political contestation in a pragmatic and pluralistic way. Read more Opportunities for Social Science in Horizon Europe To assist Researchers from the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in identifying funding opportunities, the European Commission (EC) has established a search engine within its online Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal. Certain topics with substantial SSH aspects have been “flagged” by the EC as SSH-relevant, and the search engine offers the option to quickly search for the specific priority ‘Social sciences and humanities’. It also allows for keyword and full-text search. Researchers are strongly encouraged to screen the Work Programme themselves, in order not to lose out on research opportunities offered on their specific interest. Read more Thematic Focus: Energy  Split between accelerationists, pivoters, and the unwavering: CEE energy policy responses to Russia’s 2022 invasion Post-Communist Economies – John Szabó – Centre for Economic and Regional Studies CERS Renewable transition building on resettlement society: The case of Inner Mongolia, China Energy Research & Social Science – Zhanping Hu, Nikita Sud – Oxford Department of International Development, Queen Elizabeth House (ODID) Energy Transition in the Western Balkans Structural Change in the Western Balkan – Ane-Marije Boromisa – Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO) The Nile and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: why culture and emotions matter Nature Middle East – Emanuele Fantini – IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (IHE Delft) EU-China cooperation in third countries in the context of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 Elizabeth Carey, Hélène van Rossum, Marta Torres Gunfaus – Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales (IDDRI) Evaluating the effect of reactive power injection on power factor and system losses reduction in an optimally sized PV grid-connected solar photovoltaic system Solar Compass – Edward Dodzi Amekah, Emmanuel Wendsongre Ramde, David Ato Quansah et al. – International Center for Sustainable Development (IZNE) The rise of the LNG dark fleet as a symptom of a new gas order Ignacio Urbasos Arbeloa – Real Instituto Elcano Powering Africa: China’s Expanding Role in the Continent’s Energy Future Frangton Chiyemura – Development Policy and Practice, the Open University (DPP) Browse the Member Publications Database Premium Members Publication Picks Researcher Positionality and Relational Power: Playing With ‘Researching Up’ and ‘Researching Down’ in Critical Reflexivity Area 0 Jennifer C. Langill – Department of International Development King’s College London (DID) Conceptualising Gender Backlash Definitions and Frameworks Solidarity Network – Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Afrocentric Pedagogical Leadership: A toolkit for educators in Ghana Eric Addae-Kyeremeh, Margaret Ebubedike, Christopher Y Kwaah et al. – The Centre for the Study of Global Development, The Open University (CSGD & OU) Understanding environmental attitudes influencing smallholder farmland restoration in Malawi: an attitude-behavior perspective Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems – Austin Tibu, Bishal K. Sitaula, Lars Kåre Grimsby – Department of International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric) EU international digital policy in action: The EU-Kenya partnership Chloe Teevan, Karim Karaki, Sasha Pearson – European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) Inequality and Climate Change Measuring Interlinkages to Inform Equitable Climate Policy Muna Shifa, Murray Leibbrandt, Vimal Ranchhod et al. – The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) From Emergency Response to Feminist Action: The Evolving Role of Women Led Organizations in Sudan Samia al-Nagar, Liv Tønnessen – Chr.Michelsen Institute (CMI) What do the 2015 SDG negotiations teach us for a beyond-2030 framework? Paula von Haaren, Axel Berger – German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) Read more about EADI Members Policy Publication Picks by Members Climate change, state fragility and non-state armed groups in the Sahel Xcept – Folahanmi Aina – SOAS University of London SOAS From human development to human capital development? Critical reflections on the EU education and skills policies in Africa with a focus on the Global Gateway Margarita Langthaler, Esther Tiefengraber – Austrian Foundation for Development Research (ÖFSE) Making global benefits pay: the World Bank reform to support global public goods Jakob Schwab – German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) Rethinking worker motivation: Why competition may hurt more than help Ankush Asri, Viola Asri – Chr.Michelsen Institute (CMI) Russia targeting African migrants in digital recruitment campaigns Signe Marie Cold-Ravnkilde & Karen Philippa Larsen – Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) Relational Research as Practice: Policy-relevant lessons from a partnership in South Africa Emil Dauncey – The Centre for the Study of Global Development, The Open University (CSGD & OU) UK Refugees at Risk: How Current Move-on Policy Generates Homelessness Anna Lindley, Hasan Pandor – SOAS University of London SOAS Picks from International Partner Networks Can AI bring added value to Case-based Comparative Research? Webinar on 05 February 2026 – Methods Excellence Network (MethodNet) Junior Science Officer Deadline:09 March 2026 – International Science Council ISC A theory of change approach to enhance the post-2030 sustainable development agenda Cameron Allen, Shirin Malekpour, Nina Weitz et al. – International Science Council ISC Fostering Plurality: The Need for Humanities in an Age of the Rise of the Right Gabriele Griffin – European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities EASSH Bogota Manifesto: Towards an Open, Democratic and Socially Relevant Science in Latin America and the Caribbean – CLACSO – The Latin American Council of Social Sciences CLACSO CLACSO : una historia colectiva: Redes, luchas y pensamiento crítico en América Latina y el Caribe Karina Batthyány & Pablo Vommaro (eds.) – The Latin American Council of Social Sciences CLACSO |
| Training Humanitarian WASH, 02-20 March 2026 Application deadline: 02 February 2026 – IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (IHE Delft) Design of Risk Reduction Measures in Coastal Zones, 02-20 March 2026 Application deadline: 02 February 2026 – IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (IHE Delft) Online Course on Water and Sanitation in Urban Humanitarian Context, 02 March – 26 June 2026 Application deadline: 16 February 2026 – IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (IHE Delft) Managing Global Governance (MGG) Academy, Bonn, 11 September – 29 November 2026 Application deadline: 09 March 2026 – German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) OPHI Summer School 2026: Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis, San José, Costa Rica, 20-31 July 2026 Application deadline: 20 March 2026Oxford Department of International Development, Queen Elizabeth House (ODID) PhD in International Development Studies Application Deadline: 31 March 2026 – Institute of Development Research and Development Policy (IEE) Postgraduate Programme for Sustainability Cooperation (PGP) Application deadline: 31 March 2026 – German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) Water Cooperation and Diplomacy IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (IHE Delft) Understanding climate change basics IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (IHE Delft) Master of Science in Spatial Planning Spatial Planning for Regions in Growing Economies, Faculty of Spacial Planning, Universität Dortmund ISPC / SPRING See more courses and trainings on the EADI website Opinions The Trump Shockwave and the New Landscape of Global Development Policy Andy Sumner – Department of International Development King’s College London (DID) Trump is ready to grab Greenland. The EU should move first – and offer it membership The Guardian – Robert Habeck, Andreas Raspotnik – Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) Are youth protests pathways to democracy? Lessons from Madagascar Priscilla Toto, Lena Gutheil – German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) Europe’s silent middle: Why migration isn’t the polarised fight you think it is Anne-Marie Jeannet, Marcela Rubio, Lois Mobach – International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) How Africa and Europe could create global AI governance rules Verengai Mabika, Melody Musoni – European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) Navigating shifting policy priorities in global evidence synthesis James Georgalakis – Institute of Development Studies (IDS) “The condition for freedom is for the Egyptian masses to take to the streets” Egypt’s centrality in the struggle for Palestine Nihal El Aasar – Transnational Institute TNI Decolonization and Afro-Feminism Sylvia Tamale – Arnold-Bergstraesser-Institut (ABI) Calls Call for papers: Special Issue in Forum for Development Studies Deadline: 31 January 2026 – Swedish Development Research Network SweDev Call for Papers: 6th Student Conference on International Relations (SCIR) 31 January 2026 – Centre of International Relations (CIR) Call for papers: 2026 Jobs and Development Conference Deadline: 20 March 2026 – United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) See more calls on the EADI Website Jobs Team Leader (m/f/d) for the Joint International Research Project (JIRP) Uganda 2026 Deadline: 31 January 2026 – The Centre for Rural Development, Humboldt University, Berlin SLE Researcher specializing in food supply at IDDRI Deadline: 05 February 2026 – Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales (IDDRI) 1 Student Assistant / Research Assistant (SHK, WHF, WHK) Deadline: 09 February, 2026 – Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung ZEF University Assistant Postdoc at the Department of Development Studies Deadline: 15 February 2026 – Department of Development Studies, University of Vienna Time-limited researcher or analyst position on international sanctions at DIIS Deadline 15 February 2026 – Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) Junior Data Developer (PSA) Deadline: 24 February 2026 – United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) Postdoc Position: Early Christian Studies Deadline: 08 March 2026 – Department of Anthropology and Development Studies (CAOS) See more jobs on the EADI website Opinion continued Fighting climate change in the Sahel is worsening conflicts – new research shows how The Conversation – Folahanmi Aina – SOAS University of London SOAS Les Caisses de dépôt, au-delà du cas français Florian Léon – Fondation pour les études et recherches sur le développement international (FERDI) The United States’ withdrawal from international organizations: a wake-up call to reform the international system Céline Kauffmann – Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales (IDDRI) Trade in tasks – a new lens on development in a fragmented world Gaaitzen de Vries, Marcel P. Timmer – United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) Challenging hierarchies in the nuclear order: Gender, generation, and geography under the Nuclear Ban Treaty Carmen Wunderlich – Institute for Development and Peace (INEF) Venezuela after Maduro: a country in tense calm Mariana Hernández-Montilla – Global Development Institute (GDI) The EU-Mercosur agreement: historic and foundational Antoni Estevadeordal, Ernesto Talvi – Real Instituto Elcano |