Institute of Development Studies

The development research programmes at IDS are organised in six closely linked multidisciplinary teams.

All IDS courses

PhD by Research

MA Development Studies

MA Poverty and Development

MA Gender and Development

MA Governance and Development

MA Globalisation and Development

MA Participation, Power and Social Change

MA Science, Society and Development

MSc Climate Change and Development

Alumni Brighton

IDS Research Associate Richard Longhurst and the Director of Teaching and Alumni Relations, Robert Nurick hosted an alumni dinner in Brighton.

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Action Research for Development and Social Change

IDS Bulletin Issue: 3 Volume: 43

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Recommended Publication

Challenges of Right to Information in South Asia, Protifolon (Issue 5)

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Vulnerability and Poverty Reduction Team
Understanding and tackling the causes of Poverty and Vulnerability

Research Teams

Work and Vulnerability

Girl sewing Paid work has undergone transformation over recent years. Globalisation, deregulation of labour markets and economic liberalisation are promoting the increasing insecurity and vulnerability of workers. Flexible, informal, contract and migrant labour is becoming the norm in most domestic and export sectors. An increasing proportion of the labour force is female. Many workers are denied access to labour rights, employment benefits or legal and social protection. Addressing the ‘working poor’ is central to sustainable poverty reduction.

Innovative research at IDS is aimed at informing a better conceptual understanding of the transformation of work and labour markets. Our policy analysis focuses on exploring different policies to enhance the rights of workers. These include international labour standards, private sector codes of labour practice, minimum wage policies and new forms of social protection for workers.

Work and Vulnerability Projects

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DRC on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty - The DRC is a five-year programme funded by the UK Department for International Development and is based at the Sussex Centre for Migration Research at the University of Sussex. (Ongoing)
Employment Creation Programmes - IDS was contracted to write a paper on international experience with employment creation programmes (especially through the construction of infrastructure). (Ongoing)
Ethical Trade in African Horticulture: Gender, Rights and Participation - This project aimed to investigate ways in which codes implemented by from buyers in Europe could address the rights and needs of all workers, especially women and non-permanent workers. (2002 - 2003)
Ethical Trade in the Personal Care Sector - The objective of the study is to identify drivers and constraints of ethical trade in the Personal Care (Health and Beauty) sector. (2008 - 2008)
Ethical Trading Initiative Impact Assessment - IDS was commissioned to assess the implementation of ETI member companies' codes and resultant impacts for workers. (2003 - 2005)