The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) has established a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the University for Development Studies (UDS), based in Tamale, Ghana. The partnership will help to strengthen the knowledge base on issues including OneHealth, sustainable agriculture and water management in Ghana and beyond, building on existing collaborative research on children’s harmful work in agriculture.
The MoU and partnership contributes to a strengthening of commitment between IDS and UDS that will lead to co-development of portfolio of collaborative research, teaching and learning activities in Ghana. It is part of a broader initiative from IDS to focus on geographies at the leading edge of development thinking and practice due to accelerating geopolitical change and recognises that tackling global challenges such as climate change, poverty and injustice requires knowledge sharing, mutual learning and collaboration.
The agreement demonstrates our shared institutional commitment to delivering these objectives through equitable and mutually beneficial partnerships. We are committed to extending our collaborations with UDS beyond short-term research projects, to conduct joint events including webinars, facilitate staff exchanges, and share learning on approaches to online teaching. It also creates opportunities to increase the visibility of, and access to, the contribution of partners to development studies. The agreement will last for two years.
In the unprecedented context of Covid-19, the importance of partnerships and knowledge sharing are greater than ever. Together we are working to take an interdisciplinary approach to interrogating and responding to critical development challenges and opportunities in Ghana and beyond, through an approach of mutual learning and respect.
Melissa Leach, IDS Director, said:
“We are delighted to formalise our partnership with UDS, a highly regarded research institute with many goals and values in common with IDS. We look forward to progressing collaborations together, particularly towards co-constructing our Ghana IDS Initiative.”
Courage Kosi Setsoafia Saba, Senior Lecturer and Acting Director of International Relations and Advancement of UDS, said:
“We are highly excited about our partnership with IDS who have gained an enviable reputation in the world in executing their mandate. We hope our partnership with IDS will open the floodgate for us to partner with other UK institutions so that together we can solve the problems of the world.”
