A changing world necessitates dynamically changing systems for aid and international development cooperation. Factors such as the emergence of new economies, migration processes, climate change and public health challenges accordingly need to be taken into account in the provision of and research on international development assistance. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030 directly affect the design of national, as well as international, development policy. Protracted wars, humanitarian disasters affect long-term development assistance. Fragile states and weak institutions mean that assistance operates in challenging and complex environments with potential consequences on long-term gains and sustainability. How then can evaluations and research on development assistance and cooperation be improved to better relate to this complex and constantly changing reality? How are opportunities for effective evaluation affected by changes in international development policy? What is important to focus on? How can we understand the relationship between humanitarian aid and development cooperation? What role can research play in evaluating and understanding development cooperation in a changing world?
Questions to be discussed:
- How can research be used more concretely in the evaluation of aid and development cooperation?
- Can research-based evaluations of development cooperation have societal impacts and promote societal change? If so, how?
- What influence can research-based evaluations of development cooperation have on public debate and political decision making?
Panel
Anders Troedsson, Senior Specialist, Research Cooperation and Economic Development, Policy group, Department for International Development Cooperation, Swedish MFA
Pernilla Sjöquist Rafiqui, Evaluator, Evaluation Unit, Sida
Kerstin Sahlin, Secretary General, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Development Research, Swedish Research Council (VR)
Stephan Klingebiel, Head of Bi and Multilateral Development Cooperation, German Development Institute (DIE)
Jan Aart Scholte, Professor, School of Global Studies, Gothenburg University
Johan Schaar, Member, Expert Group for Aid Studies (EBA)
Panel moderator: Professor Helena Lindholm, Chair, Expert Group for Aid Studies (EBA)
Program
11:00 – 11:10 Welcome and introduction – Helena Lindholm, EBA Chair
11:10 – 11:40 Introductory remarks – panelists
11:40 – 12:15 Discussion
12:15 – 12:25 Questions from the audience
12:25 – 12:30 Concluding remarks Helena Lindholm