Selected earlier DDRN publications

Producing knowledge for development together – Lessons from the Danish Development Research Network

How can researchers and practitioners from the global North and South work together to create needs-based knowledge that can contribute to sustainable development?
When approaching the closure of the second grant by Danida to DDRN, the (now former) secretariat staff has compiled a report to gather the main lessons from four and a half years of running a knowledge network aiming at promoting development through increased integration of research and practice.
This report is intended as a contribution to inspire other networks, organisations, and individuals, by highlighting the lessons gathered within three areas of activity where DDRN has proven to be of added value to its users and members. These are:

  • Outreach and uptake of research-based information
  • Multi-stakeholder dialogue and collaboration
  • North-South research cooperation on a win-win basis

Using strategic alliances with other networks, bringing together stakeholders across professions, disciplines and generations, and tailoring the flow of information to fit the interest of its members are only a few of the enabling factors explained in the report. Hindering factors are dealt with as well, as we can also learn from what did not work as expected.

You can download the full report. All the documents and reports used as background information for the three main chapters are listed in the resource section.


Strategic Collaboration on Research for Development: A Review of the Institutional Framework in Selected European Countries

This review was commissioned in preparation of the DDRN conference “Strategic Collaboration on Higher Education and Research for Development – Drivers and Challenges” that was held on May 25-26, 2009 in Århus.

The purpose of this review is to provide inputs to a discussion of ways forward for research collaboration by synthesizing and documenting institutional arrangements, lessons learned and strategies for research collaboration in a selected group of European countries and Canada. Though findings and recommendations in the following are relevant for the future work of the DDRN, they are primarily targeted at universities or organizations which carry out development research and seek to strengthen future development research collaboration.


Gender & Development Research Competences and Projects at Danish Institutions: Overview of a Section of the Danish Resource Base with a Focus on Agriculture, Environment and Governance in Developing Countries

This overview is based on the results  of a call for Danish researchers to submit information about their research on gender in developing countries focusing on the three sectors covered by DDRN (agriculture, environment and governance) conducted in connection with a study on Danish research competences with regard to gender equity and development launched by DDRN in cooperation with Gendernet.

It should be noted that the profiles included in this report provide a snapshot and that this overview does not paint a complete picture of the resource base on gender and development in Denmark.

The report contains a brief table overview providing summarised information on research  competences/researchers’ profiles (Table 1) and the related research projects (Table 2) in which the respondents in the questionnaire survey have been or are still being involved.  


Project management in research capacity building projects – A REVIEW of management experiences, challenges, and opportunities in ENRECA projects

An overview of project management experiences and practices in Enhancement of Research Capacity (ENRECA) projects funded by Danida during the period 1989-2008, including an overview of the project management practices of ENRECA projects and lessons learned by ENRECA project managers, i.e. challenges and opportunities experienced. Thus, the publication can provide future project managers, university administrators and donors with a useful understanding of the complexity involved in managing North-South RCB partnerships.

The results of the review are summarised in a brief overview of findings and lessons learned.


Project Management Guidelines for Research Capacity Building Partnerships

Practical hands-on recommendations on how to plan and organize North-South research capacity building (RCB) partnerships. The guidelines provide a basis for applying a holistic perspective on the design and implementation of RCB projects. Furthermore, the guidelines aim at elucidating the complexity involved in ensuring successful RCB partnerships.

Principles and aspects that should be considered in planning and implementing the projects are described, and concrete recommendations are given on general project management tools or frameworks. Furthermore, the guidelines build on key lessons learned by ENRECA project managers captured in the review.


Mapping the world of higher education and research funders: Actors, models, mechanisms and programs

DDRN and DKUNI have partnered to support this mapping project as part of the preparations for the launching of the Danish university cooperation program. Its terms of reference include the following general objectives:

 – to summarize current models and mechanisms of leading bilateral and private donor organizations used in capacity building in research and research-based education and their feasibility, success and outcome

 – to develop an inventory of key issues and solutions applied in the programs reviewed

 – to provide an overview and opinion on the extent to which the programs reviewed have integrated typical network functions such as communication and knowledge sharing into their support of capacity building