The purpose of the evaluation is to determine the most relevant, appropriate and effective means of generating new knowledge and strengthening research capacities which will be of value for developing countries. It is intended to both track and assess the results of research funding over a 10-year period and to extract conclusions that will form the basis for recommendations pertaining to development research funding in the coming years. Concerns about how to ensure the high quality of research and the most productive research partnerships underpin the evaluation.

The evaluation of Danish funding for development research over the past 10 years includes the assessment of the results of research projects, the Building Stronger Universities (BSU) programme and support for selected international research initiatives. The evaluation will include 3 country studies in Ghana, Uganda and Vietnam.

The purpose of the evaluation is to determine the most relevant, appropriate and effective means of generating new knowledge and strengthening research capacities which will be of value for developing countries. It is intended to both track and assess the results of funding over a 10-year period and to extract conclusions that will form the basis for recommendations pertaining to development research funding in the coming years. Concerns about how to ensure the high quality of research and the most productive research partnerships underpin the evaluation.

In the Danish context, the potential for links between (bilateral) development assistance and research has often been discussed over the years. With the establishment of 2 different funding windows in 2016, the contrasting arrangements demonstrate and underline that this issue remains important: the relatively “open” Window 1 research themes apply for 1 set of countries (those called “Danida priority” countries), while in the Window 2 group the research themes are very closely linked to agreed sector collaboration (SSC) priorities. These arrangements have emerged from the 2017 strategy for development and humanitarian assistance.

3 critical issues arise in debates on the future of development research:

— ensuring the highest quality of research funded by Danida/MoFA,

— contributing effectively to capacity development, including in fragile states,

— maximising the use of research results (in order to enhance policy impact).

The evaluation will explore these issues on the basis of an assessment of the main achievements of Danida/MoFA funded development research over the past 10 years.

Thus, the objectives of the evaluation are to:

— document the achievements of development research funding since 2008, including all modalities,

— on the basis of an analysis of the Danish and international context for development research, examine the results of funding development research since 2008, with particular focus on the relevance, outcomes and impact,

— draft recommendations for future funding of development research, indicating how to maximize quality, capacity development partnerships and policy impact.

The evaluation of Danish funding for development research over the past 10 years includes the assessment of the results of research projects, the Building Stronger Universities (BSU) programme and support for selected international research initiatives. The evaluation will include 3 country studies in Ghana, Uganda and Vietnam. The challenges associated with research capacity and education in fragile contexts will also be examined in the evaluation.