Gemdev
Welcome to the fortnightly newsletter of the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI). |
| 1st Issue November 2025 |
| Editorial |
| As you are reading these lines we are busy attending our annual development research communications workshop, taking place in Berlin this time, and we’re of course excited to see that the open call for abstracts for our flagship conference is making the rounds. Our panel conveners look forward to receiving many interesting submissions! Today’s blog explores what social science fiction has to offer for Development Studies, and we’re happy to share our new overview sheet « EADI for Policymakers« |
| From our Blog |
| How Social Science Fiction Could Transform Development Research: Extending our Methodological HorizonsOur latest blog explores social science fiction as a tool to imagine alternative social orders and institutional change, proving particularly useful for hypothesis generation: « Development Studies grapples with conceptual and methodological limitations. It often neglects both the past and the future, and its technocratic orientation inhibits exploration of alternatives to, e.g. the global capitalist world order. » Read more |
| EADI For Policymakers: New Resource Available |
| Bridging research and policy is one of EADI’s most prominent missions. This is why we have established our members publications database, which makes interdisciplinary, multi-thematic and evidence-based advice available to policy makers and practitioners in all areas related to development. Over the last years, EADI has selected thousands of open-access publications published by its members, including academic articles, policy publications and blogs. Our sub-committee on research, practice and policy engagement has put together an information sheet with facts and stats on topics and regions covered. Read more |
| News from EADI Working Groups |
| Our Frugal Innovation Working Group has two new open access publications out: »How to identify frugal innovation: make it relative and contextual »: International Journal of Innovation Science« Platforms for the urban poor: Platform frugality in Mathare informal settlement »: CitiesAnd: there’s a newly defended PhD Thesis “Frugal Innovation beyond its surface” |
| Reminder: Online Roundtable on 28 November |
| Global Development Cooperation at a Crossroads: What Ground Rules for Partnership in a Fragmented WorldSpeakers will reflect on the political economy of aid, the rise of transactional and bilateral approaches, and the expanding role of South–South and regional cooperation, considering whether a new consensus can be forged around global public goods. Read more and register |
| Five New Editors in the EJDR Editorial Team |
| Our journal, the European Journal of Development Research (EJDR), is pleased to announce that Jose Cuesta (World Bank Group, USA), Pritish Behuria (The University of Manchester, UK), Jorge García-Arias (University of León, Spain), Eduardo Ortiz-Juarez (King’s College London, UK), and Saumik Paul (The University of Manchester, UK) have joined its Editorial Team, effectively immediately. The new members bring key expertise in the field of Development Studies, which will be instrumental in supporting the journal in the future.Read more |
| Highlight: Poor Protection |
| The Role of Taxes and Social Benefits in the Developing World During CrisesThis open access book by UNU-WIDER examines the role of social protection and taxation systems in developing countries during times of crises. The main objective of the work is to promote understanding about proper crisis response, and the way social protection and tax systems can be made more sustainable to support countries’ paths through and out of economic crises. The work discusses to what extent can tax–benefit systems act as automatic stabilizers in a developing country context during crises to help provide fiscal space necessary to cushion, at least the most, detrimental developments. Read more |
| Thematic Focus: Work |
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| Women Frontline Workers and Social Assistance in Yemen Abeer Al-Absi, Becky Carter, Paul Harvey – Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Human Capital and Occupational Mobility: The Case of Brazil Renata Mayer Gukovas – UNU Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology UNU-MERIT Health pandemic, job losses and recovery in South Africa Aimable Nsabimana & Michael Kilumelume – United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) Beyond Redistribution: Market Power, Firm Structure, and the South African Labour Market Arabo K. Ewinyu, Olwethu Shedi, Namhla Landani, Imraan Valodia – The Agence Française de Développement (AFD)Gaps in Human Capital and Labor Demand in Oaxaca Marco Antonio Fernández Martínez, Laura Noemi Herrera Ortiz, Rubén Sánchez Álvarez – The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Rethinking exploitation and control in migrant labour regimes: The case of Filipino workers in a Malaysian oil palm plantation Agriculture and Human Values – Carlo John B. Arceo, Caroline Hambloch & Helena Pérez Niño – International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) | Department of Geography, University of Bonn (GIUB) GDPoweR- Recovering workers’ data to negotiate and monitor collective agreements in the platform economy María Luz Rodríguez Fernández, Leonard Geyer, Nikko Bilitza et al. – Higher Institute for Labour Studies (HIVA) |
| Premium Members Publication Picks |
| How the Politics of Global Aid Shape Social Assistance in Protracted Crises Jeremy Lind, Becky Carter – Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Beyond aid: a new vision for the UN development function Stephen Browne, Frederik Matthys / Detlef Palm / Max-Otto Baumann – German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) Smallholders and food security in poor countries Magnus Hatlebakk – Chr.Michelsen Institute (CMI) Making participation matter? Citizen science for sustainability and governance Inaugural Lecture – Uta Wehn – IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (IHE Delft)Green Capitalism or Social and Ecological Justice? Analysing Contested Green Hydrogen Developments in Chile Jakob Rammer – Austrian Foundation for Development Research (ÖFSE) Structural transformation and regional inequality differential in Indonesia Regional Studies, Regional Science – Putri Riswani Halim, Arief Anshory Yusuf, Andy Sumner, Raden Muhamad Purnagunawan – Department of International Development King’s College London (DID) Visa Policy and its Potential on attracting inbound Tourism Flows in Angola In: Planeamento Territoreal e Turismo (open access book) – E. Sarmento and E. Silva – Centre for African and Development Studies CESA-ISEG |
| Policy Publication Picks by Members |
| Picks from International Partner Networks |
| Science without borders: International collaboration for the next generation of researchers Podcast with transcription – International Science Council ISC ISC position on research funding transparency International Science Council ISC Call for special issue proposals: Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations Deadline: 15 November 2025 – Academic Council on the United Nations System ACUNS Chief Executive Officer for The International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) Deadline: 30 November 2025 – International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education INQAAHE Knowledge Security and SSH: Europe needs a Charter Alexander Hasgall – European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities EASSH La multidimensionalidad del derecho, la seguridad y el bienestar Open access book – Alejandra Flores Martínez (ed.) – The Latin American Council of Social Sciences CLACSO |
| TrainingAdvanced Master in Development Studies Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp (IOB) Master of Advances Studies Global Cooperation and Sustainable Development ETH Zürich, Centre for Development and Cooperation (NADEL) PhD Development Studies Global Development Institute (GDI) MA International Relations and Public Diplomacy Centre for International Studies and Development CISAD Next-Generation Development Finance for a Changing World Order: 07 September – 10 September 2026 ETH Zürich, Centre for Development and Cooperation (NADEL) Storytelling for Systems Change: 01 September – 03 September 2026 See more courses and trainings on the EADI website Opinions Cyber Security: Democracy is the firewall against abuse Jasmin Lorch, Ani Tovmasyan – German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) Unmaking Belonging: The Mass Deportation of Afghans from Iran and Pakistan Antonio De Lauri – Chr.Michelsen Institute (CMI) Denaturalizing inequality in global knowledge politics Jun Borras – International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) One budget, many agendas: Why the EU should connect the dots in the MFF talks Alexei Jones, Mariella Di Ciommo – European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) Is the end of sanctions on Zimbabwe near? Ian Scoones – Institute of Development Studies (IDS) The role of hope in transforming places of despair into resilient spaces GDI – Global Development Institute (GDI) Multilateral climate funds: three ways to step up for the world’s most vulnerable nations Isatou F Camara & Mohsen Gul – International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) When the Internet Meets Education: Lessons from Vietnam’s 3G Rollout The promise and paradox of mobile internet Trang Thi Pham – UNU Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology UNU-MERIT Peace and sustainability – Two sides of the same coin Nina von Uexkull & Halvard Buhaug – United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) |
| CallsCall for papers: What is the future for global development?, Manchester, 13-14 April 2026 Deadline: 03 December 2025 – Global Development Institute (GDI) Call for sessions: Just International Development Forum 2026 Transformative Approaches in Times of Polycrises, Amsterdam, 27-28 January 2026 Deadline: 05 December 2025 – Governance and Inclusive Development, Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research (GID) Call for papers Territorial dynamics and development in Latin America (French, English, Spanish) Deadline: 15 December 2025 – Groupement d’Intérêt Scientifique pour l’Étude de la Mondialisation et du Développement (GEMDEV) Request for research proposals: Green fiscal policies, climate change and the just energy transition in the Global South Deadline: 20 December 2025 – United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) See more calls on the EADI WebsiteJobsResearch Associate-National Resident Advisor-DNPED (PSA) (Mozambique) Deadline: 16 November 2025 – United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) Postdoctoral Research Fellow (m/f/d) in Economics or Political Science Deadline: 01 December 2025 – German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA) Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d) for the projects „Co-creating narrative-based near-term climate predictions to prepare for volatile future climates“ and „Varieties of Climate Agency” Deadline: 01 December 2025 – German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA) Associate Professorship in Development Economics Deadline: 08 December 2025 – Oxford Department of International Development, Queen Elizabeth House See more jobs on the EADI websiteOpinion continued The Green Pakistan Initiative: Green capitalism and rural dispossession in Pakistan Zaighum Abbas – Transnational Institute TNI A Litmus Test for Commitment to International Law: Germany Needs to Speak Up and Protect the ICC Maxine Rubin – German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA) Mission possible: What COP30 should do Marta Torres Gunfaus, Anna Pérez Català, Adèle Tanguy et al. – Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales (IDDRI) |