The problems are numerous and increasingly inter-connected and the actors are more and more diverse. Solutions require a combination of global and local knowledge combined with the ability to influence development policy and practice. Here we present an introduction to this challenging and vitally important area of research. Institutions Most development research has been conducted by academics attached to university departments.
Some research centres are independent, acting more as think tanks and providing policy advice.
Nowadays, the main multi-lateral development agencies all invest in research to support their lending, and bilateral donors are major sources of funding for the types of institutes listed below. In Europe , many development research institutes are members of EADI and many of them participate in the working group on development theory . A good starting point for this group is the list of members and partners . In North America , the Canadian IDRC has been a leader, especially supporting research in the South, and in the USA, the leading centres include the HIID , ODC , and the EGC at Yale University. Science from the developing world Canada's IDRC issues regular reports on research work in developing countries.