Blog Post
One decade, one African village
Image: Ian Thornton, UKCDS Last week I was in Uganda for a Wellcome Trust-led meeting near the capital, Kampala. I also took the opportunity to go back to the village...
On the 25th of June, 150 members of the international development research community joined us at the Wellcome Trust to launch UKCDR’s new strategy and brand.
It's @UKCDR's launch day today! We are rebranding and launching our strategy for the next 4 years. Check out our new website too: www. https://t.co/csRHKn18J2 #UKCDRLaunch pic.twitter.com/YjzUNWoMUW
— Sheila Mburu (@Mburu_Health) June 25, 2018
The event started with an introductory address by independent Chair of the Strategic Coherence for ODA-funded Research (SCOR) Board, Professor Peter Piot, and a welcome by UKCDR Executive Director Dr Marta Tufet, who presented UKCDR’s new strategy.
Our launch event is underway! Prof Peter Piot gives an introduction explaining why interdisciplinary #research in partnership with #LMICs is essential to tackle #globaldev challenges #UKCDRLaunch pic.twitter.com/8tOdyphvXK
— UKCDR (@UKCDR) June 25, 2018
Peter Piot: innovation is key to harnessing research for development. But innovation isn't just about new products & tools. It's about innovating in how we deliver it. And that means putting people & communities at the centre #UKCDRLaunch
— Jon Harle (@jonharle) June 25, 2018
Our exec director @MTufet sets the scene and context on the role of research in international development and introduces @UKCDR's new strategy. #UKCDRLaunch pic.twitter.com/rxcHCYhVgD
— Sheila Mburu (@Mburu_Health) June 25, 2018
@MTufet highlighting areas where research has made a real tangible difference, #UKCDRLaunch. pic.twitter.com/2tuYeVhEYg
— Tristan Eagling (@TeaglingOX) June 25, 2018
A roundtable of diverse leaders and researchers in global development debated the future role of UKCDR, the SCOR Board, and Official Development Assistance (ODA) research in a rapidly evolving world.
Our panel takes their seats to discuss the future role of @UKCDR & #globaldev research in a rapidly evolving world. Delighted to have @mleach_ids, CSA Prof Chris Whitty @DHSCgovuk, Diana Dalton @DFID_Research, @Alison_ICAI, @JaiGupte & @tjmidega with us at our #UKCDRLaunch pic.twitter.com/NklF7DLIPG
— UKCDR (@UKCDR) June 25, 2018
There were lively and honest discussions, where panellists brought diverse perspectives on how we can collectively achieve greater coherence, collaboration and impact across ODA research funds.
Diana Dalton @DFID_UK highlights some priorities: influencing policy and working in partnership are key for setting research directions #UKCDRLaunch
— Sophie Durrans (@sophiedurrans) June 25, 2018
“The intl development agenda must be aligned with the countries receiving funding; only then will our research be impactful.” @tjmidega Science Officer working on #DRI @wellcometrust speaking at #UKCDRLaunch #globaldev pic.twitter.com/O1T3cFhYR0
— UKCDR (@UKCDR) June 25, 2018
Dr Janet Midega @wellcometrust makes the important point that enhancing south-south collaboration is often forgotten but is important for research #UKCDRLaunch
— Sophie Durrans (@sophiedurrans) June 25, 2018
“We must go beyond preaching to the choir and make a serious case for #research for development based on proper data” – Prof Chris Whitty, Chief Scientific Adviser @DHSCgovuk on tackling #globaldev sceptics #UKCDRLaunch pic.twitter.com/FNkZezulOp
— UKCDR (@UKCDR) June 25, 2018
Why does coherence matter? @Alison_ICAI explains that there are set of real world problems that cannot be fixed by a single discipline so there case for different research strands to come together #UKCDRLaunch
— Tania Ghosh (@TarnGhosh) June 25, 2018
"Only when we develop African research leaders will we have the capacity to produce research outputs that have real and sustainable impact." – @tjmidega #UKCDRLaunch pic.twitter.com/S6JLPMkYiI
— Sheila Mburu (@Mburu_Health) June 25, 2018
“For research impact to be meaningful, our approach must be incremental. We must be open to change and invest in people.” @JaiGupte on impact we reasonably expect from #research #UKCDRLaunch pic.twitter.com/AguNYgcjlS
— UKCDR (@UKCDR) June 25, 2018
Nice to hear Jaideep Gupte of GCRF challenge Leader for cities and sustainable infrastructure raising the history of participatory and action research expertise in the UK at the #UKCDRLaunch
— Research & Evidence (@caid_research) June 25, 2018
Great to hear @tjmidega talking about involving the local community in the design and implementation of development research to ensure it is taken up in a local context @UKCDR #UKCDRlaunch pic.twitter.com/6KO5yNa7mt
— Anna Lawrence-Jones (@AnnaLJswede) June 25, 2018
There are rarely quick wins in international development or research: Peter Piot@INASPinfo agrees. Developing capacity for research & capacity to use evidence for change takes time. Needs deep partnerships & serious thinking abt how to do capacity development well #UKCDRLaunch.
— Jon Harle (@jonharle) June 25, 2018
'It is important to ensure knowledge and technology remains in developing countries after end of research fund to ensure sustainability' @tjmidega #UKCDRLaunch
— Tania Ghosh (@TarnGhosh) June 25, 2018
Prof Peter Piot wrapping up our #UKCDRLaunch, making the case for coherence & ensuring #ODA research truly adds value. Thank you to all our panellists for a lively and interesting discussion! pic.twitter.com/BYdF8P6hds
— UKCDR (@UKCDR) June 25, 2018
A huge thank you to everyone who attended our launch, our moderator Professor Melissa Leach, Director of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), and our panellists:
- Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC)
- Diana Dalton, Deputy Director, Research and Evidence Division, Department for International Development (DFID)
- Dr Alison Evans, Chief Commissioner, Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI)
- Dr Jaideep Gupte, Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Challenge Leader for Cities and Sustainable Infrastructure.
- Dr Janet Midega, Science Officer, Drug Resistant Infections, Wellcome Trust.
“It was a privilege to launch @UKCDR yesterday as a crucial part of the UK #globaldev landscape. Its work to promote coherence & link up development research funding in the UK and its impact in developing countries cannot be underestimated”. Peter Piot @LSHTM #UKCDRLaunch pic.twitter.com/KeynDdsTH4
— UKCDR (@UKCDR) June 26, 2018
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