#COP23 | MORE RESEARCH TO SUSTAIN ECOLOGICAL TRANSITIONS 

GDN staff attended the #COP23 at Bonn last month, as members of UNFCCC's Nairobi Work Programme. They set out to make one central point across several meetings and events at the conference: more local research is needed to effectively address the challenge of adaptation to climate change. At the Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative’s Side Event, GDN was able to push the need to examine the political economy of adaptation, capitalize on local capacities to do adaptation research, and integrate social sciences into existing knowledge efforts to build more climate resilient societies, including the upcoming second phase of the Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative.

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE | CALL CLOSES 31 DEC

The call for sessions and participation for the 18th Annual Global Development Conference is open till 31 December 2017. The conference, which will now take place on 22-23 March 2018 in New Delhi, will focus on the theme 'Science, Technology and Innovation for Development.'  Global actors from governments, research, private sector and civil society will share knowledge and practices on innovative initiatives to address urgent development challenges. The Global Development Network (GDN) is holding the conference in partnership with the Campbell Collaboration and the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development. Submit a proposal for a session or presentation, or pre-register as an attendee. Find out more.

The next 18th Annual Global Development Conference in New Delhi will host the 17th edition of the Global Development Awards Competition, focused on 'Skills Development and Employment Generation.' It is generously supported by the Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan, through the World Bank. Six proposals have been shortlisted from Ethiopia, Kenya, India, Turkey and South Sudan. GDN received 215 applications, 37% from least developed countries. Finalists will compete for awards on 'Outstanding Research on Development' and 'The Most Innovative Development Project.' See details of the finalists or find out more about the conference.

GDN WORKSHOP | NATURAL CAPITAL IN WEST AFRICA

The Global Development Network (GDN), The French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) are organizing a reflection workshop on the role of universities in the production and use of natural capital accounts in Dakar, Sénégal West Africa, on 4th and 5th December 2017. It will encourage representatives of West African universities, technicians from government agencies, representatives of international organizations, donors and experts to use Natural Capital Accounting as an educational resource, possibly making them available online.

INTERNATIONALIZING EDUCATION IN AFRICA

The Global Development Network (GDN) presented two papers at the 8th conference of the African Network for Internationalization of Education in Kigali, Rwanda, focused on mentoring and evaluation, and on international funding for higher education development in least developed countries. A few key priorities to advance higher education emerged: the need for more data and theoretical frameworks to understand education services inside Africa, using international funding as a trigger, more than a driver, in higher education development; greater transparency; improving the effectiveness of research networks inside Africa and decreasing their dependence on international funding; and, strengthening research training and data systems in education research.
 

NEW GDN RESOURCES FOR DOING RESEARCH

Four new infographics from the Global Development Network's (GDN's) Doing Research Program explain: Why Focus on Local Research? I Why Should Africa Care About Doing Research? I What are the Barriers to Doing Research? I Why Get Involved in the Doing Research Program? The new program document, 'Doing Research Assessments: Understanding Research Systems in Developing Countries' is useful for analyzing in detail the key factors impacting the social science research system in developing countries. Download an executive summary or contact Clément Gévaudan on cgevaudan@gdn.int for more.

REMINDER | HAVE YOU TAKEN THE RECENT GDN SURVEY?

The Global Development Network (GDN) is gathering feedback, via an online survey, from its diverse network of researchers across the globe. We would love to hear from former GDN grantees and Alumni about their involvement with GDN, and how it has contributed to their professional development and research work. Click here to complete the survey, or contact Ramona Angelescu Naqvi for more details.

CAMPBELL WORKSHOP I SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS AND META-ANALYSIS 

The Campbell Collaboration is running a two-day workshop on systematic reviews and meta-analysis in Accra, Ghana from 22-24 January, 2018. The workshop will present the scientific principles, methods, analysis, and reporting standards that guide the process of conducting systematic reviews and meta-analysis in social sciences. This event is free of charge. To register please mail Yashika Kanojia at ykanojia@campbellcollaboration.org, stating your name and affiliation. Find more about the workshop here.
 

CALLS AND OPPORTUNITIES

The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women is accepting applications for grant proposals up to US$1 million from civil society organizations. Apply here by 5 December, 2017 | The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) is looking for an Executive Director.  Apply here by 7 December, 2017 | The Open Society Public Health Program invites proposals from civil society organizations (individual organizations or consortia) that will identify the current EU funds designated for migrants’ mental health. Apply here by 15 December, 2017 | The Open Society Foundation is inviting applications for master’s and doctoral scholarships at the Central European University. Apply here by  1 February, 2018 | The European Investment Bank (EIB) is starting an internship program or applications from Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries at EIB Headquarters in Luxembourg. See how to apply here.