This article summarises findings and lessons from doing development research differently during the pandemic (page 153). It was published in the IDS Bulletin (Pandemic Perspectives: Why Different Voices and Views Matter, 2022).

International discussions went digital during the pandemic, which removed certain barriers to participation and made it easier to include scholars from the Global South. The crisis also created opportunities for learning and provided useful insights that would help and impact knowledge and transform lives.

Key recommendations

  • Think tanks need to take advantage of digitalisation. In-person and virtual meetings have to be maximised.
  •  Global international development actors need to demand global South perspectives. Global South knowledge must be incorporated into global events.
  • Donors have to provide global South thinktanks with the space needed to shape their research agenda and exert more leadership in North–South research partnerships.