Disruptors and enablers of research for development: exploring futures

Project name:

Disruptors and enablers of research for development: exploring futures

Project partners:

CST project members

  • Tanja Hichert
  • Prof. Rika Preiser

External project partners

  • Prof. Fiona Marshall, University of Sussex
  • Mari-Lise Du Preez
  • Brigid Cakouros,Yale University
  • Briter Bridges

Funders:

International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

Project period:

2022 – 2024

Project outputs:

  • Horizon Scanning database
  • Long – and short articles on websites and e-publications such as CST and Stellenbosch University (SU) websites and newsletters, and media publications
  • A CST policy brief
  • Blog posts on specialised platforms such as Foresight for Development (FFD)
  • Short, professionally compiled, videos with which to enhance communications products, as well as longer videos for channels such as Vimeo and YouTube where appropriate
  • Announcements of the research products on social media channels of the CST, FFD and interested R4D actors and stakeholders
  • Virtual conference papers and proceedings
  • Peer reviewed articles targeted at open access journals

Project Description

The global development landscape is changing in significant ways. Increasingly complex and interconnected development challenges are taking on a truly global scale and impact and there is a new and emerging set of development actors. Persistent inequalities, climate change, technological disruption, increasing fragility and more recently, pandemic response, continue to occupy the attention of development actors, including those who fund and support research for development.

This project brings together a team of research-for-development experts and foresight practitioners who will use research and strategic foresight tools to assist funders and institutions to be better prepared for the long-term. This involves not only anticipating risks, shocks and emerging challenges, but also better identifying opportunities in the shape of enablers and catalyzers that can be leveraged for positive development change.

The analysis and knowledge produced will be shared via communications and learning materials. Results are expected to contribute to learning-for-development strategy adaptation and greater organizational resilience, agility and clarity about the challenges and opportunities that could unfold in the future research-for-development environment.

Horizon Scanning database available to visitors online

Back to Research Themes:

Knowledge
co-production

Social-ecological
resilience

Transformative
futures thinking

Finance and
resource flows

Political economy
and development