Paper short abstract:

This presentation seeks to establish core principles and methods which can support an intellectual practice capable of working across multiple disciplines, informed by and contributing to discourses at all levels and locations

Paper long abstract:

This presentation builds on the IKM Emergent Programme, which drew researchers and practitioners together to explore the functioning of the development knowledge ecology, and a review of subsequent progress being published as a chapter in EADI's book on development studies later this year. It will outline the need for and give examples of emerging conceptual, methodological and practical approaches which aim to enable development studies to function as a hub for transdisciplinary work within academic settings and to interact effectively with external social processes ranging from global policy to local practice.

Its core concepts are the need to for good links between the knowledge development actors - aka ordinary people - use in their daily lives and knowledge produced professionally in order to support development. This is considered in relation to interfaces between researchers and local communities and, on a systemic level, to the knowledge processes required to achieve the SDGs. Second it addresses multiple knowledges, how 'knowledges' from different disciplines, schools of thought or derived from different learning processes, cultures or world views can be assessed and brought into constructive dialogue. Finally, it will explore the idea and potential benefits of a development knowledge ecology and some of the practical data and information issues which are key to making such a concept a reality.