Southern Voice extends Ten research grants to study post-MDG issues

Southern Voice on Post-MDGs International Development Goals initiative aims to take the rich knowledge available with the think tanks in the Global South and link it to the global debates on the post-MDG international development agenda. In this connection, Southern Voice researchers were invited to submit research proposals on key issues relating to the current debate on the post-2015 international development agenda.

Context. While the discussions and debates on the post-MDGs international development agenda were at a crucial stage, key input reports have been prepared and consultations were happening across the globe. In September 2013, the UN General Assembly held a special session on the post-2015 framework and issues. The Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals was to develop its recommendation by March 2014 and the negotiations started in September 2014. In this context, Southern Voice sought to contribute to the evolving discourse drawing on its unique vision on national development processes and its evidence based policy perspectives.

Objectives. The main objective of this activity of the Southern Voice was to address the existing knowledge asymmetry in the global development thinking by way of infusing fresh perspectives and insights originating from Southern Think Tanks. The testament of the outcome of this process was published as edited volume of high quality research papers to by reputed publisher.

Research Awards. The Southern Voice on Post-MDGs International Development Goals (SV) initiative extended six research awards to its network members to service one of the objectives laid out in SV’s Programme Document. The concerned objective sought to create a platform for the Southern think thanks to use their existing research to inform the post-2015 global development agenda.

In this connection, SV intended to develop a process of re-interpretation of existing relevant outputs of its network members so as to produce academic articles and policy papers as contributions to the post-MDG discourse. In the process, SV hopes to reach out to broader international development community in order to maximise the impact of the outputs of the network.

The following researchers were awarded the SV research grants to produce policy papers based on their existing works.

1. Ms. María Ester Ortega, Asociación de Investigación y Estudios Sociales (ASIES), Guatemala.“Now, we need quality in education.”
2. Dr. Anshu Bharadwaj, Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), India.“Electricity access in India: (How) do we get enough?”
3. Mr Ajaya Dixit and Ms. Suvechha Khadka, Institute for Social and Environmental Transition – Nepal (ISET-N). “Changing intersection among ecosystem, society and development goals: An examination for improved policy making.”
4. Dr. John K. Kwakye, Institute of Economic Affairs – Ghana (IEA-Ghana). “Looking beyond aid to fund Africa’s development.”
5. Mr. Luis Felipe Linares and Mr. Julio Prado, Asociación de Investigación y Estudios Sociales (ASIES), Guatemala. “Measurement of progress of decent work and its support to achieving MDGs.”
6. Dr. Nidhi S. Sabharwal, Director, Indian Institute of Dalit Studies (IIDS), India.“Understanding the role of social exclusion in hunger: Analysis of MDGs for the excluded groups in India.”

In addition to previous research grants four more researchers have been awarded under the under Southern Voice on Post-MDG initiative:

1. Dr. Ganga Manjari Tilakaratna– Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Sri Lanka- “Social Protection for the Poor and Vulnerable in Sri Lanka”
2. Prof. Dr. Khalida Ghaus and Muhammad Sabir–  Social Policy & Development Centre (SPDC), Pakistan- “Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers and Gender Sensitive Education Financing”
3. Dr. Bitrina Diyamett and Musambya Mutambala– Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research Organization (STIPRO), Tanzania- “Is the Current Booming Growth in Africa Worth Celebrating?: Some Evidence from Tanzania”
4. Mr. Subrat Das– Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA), India- “Good Governance and Effective Institutions”: Can we afford to ignore ‘Capacity’ issues?”