Engaging, Learning, Transforming – Since 1966
Our Goals
SUMMARY OF ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Contribute to transformations that reduce inequalities, accelerate sustainability and build inclusive, secure societies.
Embed ‘engaged excellence’ across all that we do.
Work locally and globally within a universal framing of development.
Create an institute that is thriving financially and organisationally, and living its values.
Addressing the three defining
challenges of our era
Reducing
Inequalities
Accelerating
Sustainability
Building Inclusive
and Secure Societies
STRONG GLOBAL NETWORKS AND PARTNERSHIPS
During the past 50 years IDS has worked with a huge variety of partner institutions, engaged in multiple networks and collaborated with many individuals. A strong network of partners supports inter-disciplinary and cross-country knowledge exchange, dialogue and mutual, multi-directional learning. This in turn supports and informs the work of both IDS and its partners.
“The partnership’s success is related to both institutions’ commitment to democracy – political democracy, social democracy and economic democracy. Also to reciprocity – IDS helped CEBRAP’s process of internationalisation via the promotion of longterm international partnerships and comparative research projects. CEBRAP helped IDS to work in and better understand the Brazilian reality.”
Vera Schattan P. Coelho, CEBRAP, on IDS and CEBRAP’s long-standing partnership
Inspiring Learning
Europe’s Number 1 for Development Studies
The development and teaching at Sussex, including IDS, achieved the highest possible score for academic reputation – 100.4 – placing it first in the world on this criterion and second overall.
“IDS teaching staff use the most innovative research techniques and participatory methodologies. I feel very lucky to study here and learn from researchers who bring their applied knowledge and experiences from the field into the classroom.”
Maria Aguado, MA Development Studies
“The inspiring PhD candidates from diverse multidisciplinary and cultural backgrounds make every day for me at IDS a real pleasure.”
Violet Barasa, PhD student
Snapshot of
engaged Excellence
Impact
IDS partnership boosts gender mainstreaming ‘from the field
With our knowledge of gender mainstreaming and development we took on the challenge of helping the World Food Programme identify and share best practice across its staff and partners, to improve food security for women.
Participate evolves: IDS spearheads participatory SDG monitoring
IDS is building on its rich body of work on participatory approaches to development. Our latest work supports some of the poorest and most marginalised people to exercise citizenlid accountability.
Democratising knowledge to improve development outcomes
The Global Open Knowledge Hub (GOKH) has been addressing the gaps and inequalities in the global availability and visibility of development research. The programme has been leveraging emerging technologies to support open, efficient and innovative global knowledge sharing.
International STEPS conference stirs resource debate
Partners from China, Latin America, India, Europe, North America, and Kenya gathered at IDS to debate transforming pathways to sustainability in the context of resource politics, using the STEPS Centre’s pioneering ‘pathways approach’
Ringing endorsement for IDS-led report on water and food
A landmark report linking water to food security was taken to the highest level at the UN, highlighting that a greater focus on water as a resource should be placed on sanitation, nutrition and food security, instead of focusing on agriculture.
Timely IDS research shapes policy to reduce conflict
Our analysis of future conflict risks and peace-building for Iraq builds on previous collaborations between IDS and DFID on conflict-affected states. It has informed several policies, at a time when more aid is due to be invested in conflict prevention
Leading thought from urban exclusion to inclusive urbanisation
Participants at an IDS co-hosted workshop on inclusive urbanisation debated why decision makers often fail to properly plan for ruralurban migration. The meeting has led to recommendations regarding urbanisation being key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Celebrating social sciences impact on Ebola response
IDS was fast to act when the Ebola pandemic swept Africa, arguing it was vital to include social science perspectives in the response, and launching the Ebola Response Anthropology Platform (ERAP). The platform is now a focal point of live information and dialogue accessed by over 16,000 users.
Finance and Funding
How IDS is Funded
Transparify has recently recognised IDS’ commitment to ensuring the highest level of accountability and transparency regarding the funding we seek and receive by awarding IDS the highest five-star transparency rating.
