EADI Directors' Meeting 2007

Taking development research and training institutes to the next level

EADI has organised its annual directors’ meeting entitled “Taking development research and training institutes to the next level” in The Hague, The Netherlands, on 18 and 19 October 2007. The meeting was hosted by the Institute of Social Studies (ISS).

The annual EADI directors' meetings have been a much-needed gathering place for the last two years - for not only directors/ heads of development research organisations and think-tanks - but also for research funders and other actors involved in development research in Europe, with the intention to stimulate debate and to identify key issues and challenges. We have been focusing on topics such as the future of development research in Europe, but also on wider issues of research and policy links as well as quality and management issues in research. We have embarked new initiatives such as quality management in development studies and accreditation of institutes.

A European Consultation on Education for International Development Professionals, jointly organised by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and EADI and funded by MacArthur Foundation, took place in the afternoon of 17 October 2007 in The Hague. The consultation focused on the "ideal" graduate programme for the generalist development practitioner who is working in local government, NGO, donor field office, UN field office etc.

This year's meeting was combined with the ISS 55 years conference on "Addressing Citizenship: Cities of Hope - Cities of Despair". Directors of EADI member institutes were invited to attend the Awarding Ceremony of Honorary Doctorates of the Institute of Social Studies.