EADI eNewsletter #1/1 | Development Narratives, Empathy & More

1st Issue January 2026

Editorial

In this very first newsletter of the year, we’re happy to invite you to an online roundtable next week which should be of interest to anybody working in the wider field of development and sustainability. And: there are interesting summer schools coming up this year, for example the Bergen Summer Research School, the Finance for Development Summer School in Antwerp which runs parallel to our General Conference, and the MethodsNet Summer School in Vienna. And, as every year, we took stock of our blog which saw a very busy year.From our BlogWhy We Need Empathy to Tackle Poverty »If we want to move the needle on stagnating poverty rates, we need anti-poverty policies that break rather than reinforce the cycle of blame and shame. For this, we need empathy »: In our first blog post of the year, Keetie Roelen provides a wealth of evidence on why trust- and empathy-based social protection measures are not only more humane, but also more effective than those grounded in general suspicion. Read moreTo the Blog Overview

Top Five Blog Post from 20252025 was a busy year for our blog!

We published 47 posts throughout the year, ten in our “Share your Decolonising Story” series, and another ten in the “Trump and Development” series. Our Top five most read posts were those:In Defence of Development Studies: Why “Global Development” Falls Short Read 
Development in the Trump Era: What’s Next for Global Development Cooperation? Read 
The End of Development Aid? Read

What is the Salience of Arthur Lewis’ Ideas for Understanding Global Inequality Today? Read

Decolonizing Expertise: Reflections on Power, Knowledge, and Governance in International Organizations (IOs) Read

Online Roundtable 20 January, 15.00 CETA Bit Too Simple: Narratives of Development, Sustainability and Climate ChangeDeparting from this new open access book by Mette Fog Olwig, this roundtable will discuss the role of local stories and narratives vs. geopolitical metanarratives in shaping development, sustainability and climate action. The book demonstrates how metanarratives like those portraying development workers as heroes and local populations as victims needing to be saved from their own unsustainable practices have led to problematic policies and interventions. Read more and register

EJDR Appoints a New Editorial Advisory BoardWe are pleased to announce that our journal, The European Journal of Development Research (EJDR), has appointed a new advisory board, which has become wider, more gender balanced and geographically diverse. Read the full announcement here.

The EJDR’s latest open access article is:Localisation and Locally Led Development in the Post-consensus Era: Transformation, Stagnation, or Annihilation? Read
To the article overviewThe EJDR is EADI’s Journal. Read it Now!

Highlight: Feminist Foreign and Development PoliciesOpportunities and Challenges from a Global South PerspectiveThis UNRISD paper examines how Feminist Foreign and Development Policies (FFDPs) have emerged as both a site of transformation and contention within global governance. It traces the articulation of feminist principles that emphasize equality, inclusion and the redistribution of power within foreign policy and development cooperation, and analyses how these approaches are adapted, contested and advanced across the global South. Read more

Thematic Focus: Education and Research
Critical global development studies and work placement: A pedagogical citizenship approach
Research in Globalization – Franklin Obeng-Odoom – Global Development Studies at the University of Helsinki

The Kitchen-Work of Collaborative Research: Recipes for Transformative Methodologies
Antipode – Luca Sára Bródy, Dorottya Fekete, Ioana Florea et al. – Centre for Economic and Regional Studies CERS

Advancing Professional Competence through International Collaborative Internships and Applied Research Programs
Ineichen K, Bühler C, Bourgeois LN et al. – Swiss Alliance for Global Research Partnerships (GRP-Alliance)

Sustaining a Community of Practice to Support Development of Teacher Professional Identity: A Zambian Case Study
Journal of Learning for Development – Catharine Bleasdale, Alison Glover – The Centre for the Study of Global Development, The Open University (CSGD & OU)

A Framework for Practice Research on “Transformative Justice”
Global Studies Quarterly – Matthew Evans, Eric T Hoddy – Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre, University of York (IGDC)

The development of students’ thinking skills: Perspectives from higher education instructors in Japan, Europe, and Australia
Thinking Skills and Creativity – Emmanuel Manalo, Maribel Blasco, Rebeca Cerezo et al. – Copenhagen Business School, Department of Management, Society and Communication (MSC)

Violent Conflict, Discrimination at School and the Well-Being of Students in Tanganyika and Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Gauthier Marchais, Sweta Gupta, Cyril Owen Brandt, et al. – Institute of Development Studies (IDS)

Governance and female higher education in Afghanistan
PRIO Paper – Arne Stand, Kristian Berg Harpviken – Chr.Michelsen Institute (CMI)
 Browse the Member Publications Database
Premium Members Publication Picks

Unequal exchange of labour and global justice: Principles for a fair international distribution of work
Ecological Economics – Lukas Godé, Arild Vatn, Erik Gómez-Baggethun – Department of International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric)

The Failure of Mediation and Peacemaking Efforts in the Sudan Crisis
African Journal on Conflict Resolution – Munzoul A. M. Assal, Abdelmageed M Yahya – Chr.Michelsen Institute (CMI)

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)Why embracing uncertainty means rethinking development
World Development – Ian Scoones – Institute of Development Studies (IDS)

Social Cohesion: A New Definition and a Proposal for Its Measurement in Africa
Social Indicators Research – Francesco Burchi, Charlotte Fiedler, Julia Leininger et al. – German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)

The Climate Archives of Indochina – And their contribution in understanding climate change in Vietnam and Southeast Asia
Frédéric Thomas, Thanh Ngo-Duc, Tam Nguyen-Ngoc-Minh – The Agence Française de Développement (AFD)

 Read more about EADI Members

Policy Publication Picks by Members
Crisis or Opportunity? Pockets of Effective Multilateralism in a Polycentric World
Policy Center for the New South – Len Ishmael, Stephan Klingebiel, Andy Sumner – German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)

Good Enough Targeting for Social Assistance in Crises
Becky Carter, Rachel Sabates-Wheeler, Becky Faith – Institute of Development Studies (IDS)

Work and motherhood: Female employment does not reduce fertility
Andreas Kotsadam, Janneke Pieters, Espen Villanger – Chr.Michelsen Institute (CMI)

Ten Things to Watch in the Middle East and North Africa in 2026
GIGA Focus Middle East – Dima Abu Alkheir – German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA)

Integrated urban policy to achieve the SDGs
OECD Development Centre OECD/DC

Training parents for better sexuality education
Viola N Nyakato, Dorcus Achen, James Oloo et al. – Nordic Africa Institute (NAI)
 Picks from International Partner Networks

Call for Submissions: 39th ACUNS Annual Meeting
Deadline: extended to 22 January 2026 – Academic Council on the United Nations System ACUNS

Science Officer for principles and values in international collaboration in research and innovation
Deadline: 31 January 2026 – International Science Council ISC

MethodsNet Summer School 2026, 22 June – 10 July, Vienna
Methods Excellence Network MethodNet

Open Science round-up: Embedding Open Science incentives in research systems
International Science Council ISC
 
Pueblos indígenas de Abya Yala en defensa de sus autonomías
Noelia Enriz, Taira Edilma Stanley Icaza & Janet Liliana Calambás Calambás – The Latin American Council of Social Sciences CLACSO

Múltiples dimensiones de las violencias basadas en género
Juan Jacobo Agudelo Galeano, Gihomara Aristizábal Morales, Claudia Andrea Bacci et al. – The Latin American Council of Social Sciences CLACSO
 
TrainingBergen Summer Research School:Ocean Expectations, 01-11 June 2026
Application deadline: 01 February 2026  –  UiB Global University of Bergen

Antwerp University Summer School: Finance for Development
29 June – 3 July 2026  –  Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp (IOB)

Urban Management: Good Governance in Complex Contemporary Cities
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)

Green Cities for Eco-efficiency
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)

Ph.D. Program in Environmental and Development Studies at Palacky University Olomouc
Annual Application Deadline: 30 April – Department of Development and Environmental Studies Palacký University Olomouc

See more courses and trainings on the EADI website

Opinions
Who owns your chicken? We’ve mapped the corporate power behind the world’s favourite meat
Ambarish Karamchedu, Benjamin Coles – Department of International Development King’s College London (DID)

Friends not Foes? Why Development Economics and Development Studies still need each other
Andy Sumner – Global Development Institute (GDI)

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam offers a new vision of African development
LSE Blog – Luqman Opeyemi Muraina – Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre, University of York (IGDC)

Welcome to the international year of rangelands and pastoralists, 2026
Ian Scoones – Institute of Development Studies (IDS)

“Consolidate and sustain” under immense pressure – South Africa closes series of four ‘Southern’ G20 Presidencies
Sven Grimm, Eva-Maria Lynders – German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)

International Solidarity Makes Norway Safer
Heidi Mogstad – Chr.Michelsen Institute (CMI)

How to Publish Ethically in a World Dominated by Predatory and Exploitative Academic Publishers
Governance and Inclusive Development, Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research (GID)

Back to the Future: Nyerere’s Vision of Industrial Development and its Lessons for the Contemporary Global South
Muzan Alneel, Gussai H. Sheikheldin – Transnational Institute TNI

Overtaxing the formal sector undermines long-term fiscal gains
Jörgen Levin, Emmanuel Orkoh – Nordic Africa Institute (NAI)CallsConflict Research Society: Call for papers
Deadline: 16 January 2026 – Swedish Development Research Network SweDev

Call for papers: Envisioning Labour-Led Urban Development, Workshop, Manchester 23-24 April 2026
Deadline: 31 January –  Global Development Institute (GDI)

NorDev25: Panel Recordings and Special Issue Call for Papers
Deadline: 31 January 2026 – Swedish Development Research Network SweDev

Call for Abstracts: The Age of War: Power, Norms and Fractured Cooperation
Deadline: 31 January 2026 – Society for International Development (SID)

Call for Abstracts: Towards a New Politics of Hope
Deadline: 09 February 2026 – Society for International Development (SID)

See more calls on the EADI Website

Jobs
Communications Officer
Deadline: 20 January 2026 – Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation (DHF)

Assistant Professor Science, Technology and Society Studies
Deadline: 08 February 2026 – Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Maastricht (FASOS)

Post-Doc Researcher working on South (East) Asia
Deadline: 08 February 2026 – Arnold-Bergstraesser-Institut (ABI)

Data Scientist (PSA) in Pretoria
Deadline: 09 February 2026 – United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)

Assistant Professor in Political Philosophy
Deadline: 22 February 2026 – Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Maastricht (FASOS)

Two Postdoctoral Research Fellows in ERC-funded Hashtag-wars project
Deadline: 01 March 2026 – Chr.Michelsen Institute (CMI)

See more jobs on the EADI website

Opinion continued

The European Water Resilience Strategy: a key lever to secure climate mitigation and adaptation
Sofía Tirado Sarti, Elena López Gunn, Andrea Briones – Real Instituto Elcano

Voices from Kabwe: Unmuting women in one of the world’s most toxic towns
Pamela Duran Diaz – Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)

What strategy to address global environmental challenges in the current context?
Léna Spinazzé – Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales (IDDRI)

New legislations and challenges in Europe: what to do with textile waste?
Emese Dobos – Centre for Economic and Regional Studies CERS

Germany’s genocide in Namibia: deal between the two governments falls short of delivering justice
The Conversation   Henning Melber – Nordic Africa Institute (NAI)