Our research on governance, power relations, participation and citizen engagement, informs change processes in pursuit of social justice and social change. With power and politics central to our analysis, we support the generation of new evidence that contributes to improved processes for good governance, citizen engagement, empowerment and accountability.
We pioneer new ways of working with governments, communities, activists and academics, to understand the complex relationships and processes that exist across states, markets, and citizens, and between formal and informal institutions, to tackle issues such as digital inequalities, women’s participation and empowerment, decentralisation and local governance, rapid urbanisation, migration, taxation and domestic resource mobilisation, food security and hunger and nutrition. These draw on our extensive expertise in complex approaches to how change happens. Through our research and policy partnerships we are also bringing new insights on the role that rising powers and emerging economies such as China and Brazil have in relation to global governance and tackling development challenges such as sustainability and poverty. Our world-renown participatory research has a particular emphasis on systematic social exclusion facing women, people living in extreme poverty, people with disabilities, slaves bonded labourers, indigenous peoples and others. We advance cutting edge methodological development in action research, participatory visual methods, participatory mapping, participatory statistics, participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) amongst others.
In alignment with the ‘leave no one behind’ framing of the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development, the PMA programme is working with groups of people living in poverty and marginalisation to strengthen processes of citizen-led accountability.
The International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD) provides research evidence that supports developing countries in raising domestic revenues equitably and sustainably, in a manner that is conducive to pro-poor economic growth and good governance.
The struggles for international development are often blamed on the economic and social excesses of neoliberalism and the ways these produce, sustain and deepen inequalities globally. Gender is internationally recognised as a key dimension of these inequalities.
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Sanitation and hygiene issues deal with difficult, hidden, and taboo areas of life, which people often don’t really want to talk about, let alone look at. They can also deal with seemingly mundane issues (for example, going the toilet, washing hands) which people can overlook as...
Ana Palma Garcia’s dissertation that focused on exploring the experiences of deaf women in Colombia has come first place in the Development Studies Association Masters Dissertation Prize.
Ana, who studied MA Power, Participation & Social Change, also won the IDS Best Overall Dissertation...
This is the second in a short series of blogs reviewing recent literature on Zimbabwe’s land reform. The theme of gender and generation is a crucial one. Land reform changed gender relations as women gained access to land, sometimes in their own right. Old patriarchal relations typical of...
In recent years, there has been a global shift in the fight for women’s rights and gender justice – from the overturning of Roe v Wade, the introduction of the Anti-homosexuality Act 2023 in Uganda, the revocation of transgender rights to self-identification in Pakistan, stricter hijab...
At a time when early years are again in the spotlight in the UK – and not for good reasons – new IDS research explores the enablers and barriers of early childhood development in a local context, from the perspectives of families and service providers themselves.
A solid foundation of...
Globally, one in three people suffer from malnutrition causing negative impacts to their lives and those of their families. Malnutrition also affects businesses and economies worldwide as people’s productivity at workplaces are influenced by their health. As such, companies around the world...
This paper explores the conflict sensitivity of social protection in Sudan in its various forms since the present war started in April 2023, from locally led mutual aid to the social assistance programming of international agencies.
It is a historic moment for international trade negotiations; at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) this month, countries are facing a crucial decision on the moratorium on Custom Duties for Electronic Transmissions (CDETs). The moratorium ensures that...
A moment to reflect. Anniversaries are times to celebrate, and also opportunities to reflect on the past, the present, and the future. As we enter 2024 and see EADI’s 50th anniversary coming into view, we are taking a moment for reflection amidst what is increasingly viewed as a time of crisis...
The return of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the presidency and his announcement that ‘Brazil is back’ has been met with much expectation worldwide. Added to this, Brazil is a key focus for global policy engagement this year due to holding the presidency of the G20 and hosting the UN climate...
The Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform (SSHAP) – a partnership between the Institute of Development Studies, Anthrologica, Gulu University, Le Groupe D’etudes Sur Les Conflits Et La Sécurité Humaine (GEC-SH), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of Juba,...
20 February 2024
Why learn with us.
In an extraordinary time of challenge and change, we use more than 50 years of expertise to transform development approaches that create more equitable and sustainable futures. The work you do with us will help make progressive change towards universal development; to build and connect solidarities for collective action, locally and globally. The University of Sussex has been ranked 1st in the world for Development Studies for the past five years (QS World University Rankings by Subject).