The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperates with research institutions and think tanks in Denmark and in both priority as well as growth and transition countries. Firstly, the purpose of this cooperation is to build research capacity in developing countries, and secondly, to create new knowledge, which may help overcome development problems.
Development research is an important tool for Denmark in order to deliver first class development assistance and for developing countries to fight poverty and create development.
The Danish support to development research takes place through a number of modalities.
Through the so-called FFU projects (FFU = The Consultative Research Committee on Development Research) the Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports research projects which build upon a cooperation between Danish research institutions and research institutions in partner countries. FFU projects are collaborative research projects driven by Danish research institutions and research institutions in selected partner countries. Since 2017, it has been possible to apply for grants for research projects associated with Strategic Sector Cooperation arrangements in selected growth and transition countries. Calls for FFU research projects are announced by Danida Fellowship Centre. Project proposals are evaluated by the Consultative Research Committee on Development Research, which recommends selected projects for financing. FFU projects typically have a 5-year duration and a budget of up to 10 million DKK.
Through the Building Stronger Universities (BSU) programme the Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports the building of long-term and strategic partnerships between universities in Denmark and in research environments in selected countries. The programme strengthens universities in their capacity to perform high-quality research. The activities include support to development of research policies and strategies, Ph.D.-schools, development of research concepts, improved quality assurance of research, improvement of libraries and systematisation and upgrading of scientific publications. The partner universities in Phase 4 (2023-2028) of the programme are Gulu University in Uganda, State University of Zanzibar in Tanzania, and University of Hargeisa in Somaliland.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports research in food and agriculture, nutrition and health, fisheries, water, land and natural ecosystems by providing core support to the CGIAR research partnership (2023-2025). The objective of Danish support for CGIAR research is to encourage and enable a green food systems transformation in the context of climate change. Enhancing research through CGIAR is of considerable importance for generating new knowledge and seeking innovative solutions for sustainable food systems transformation in the Global South.
More information on FFU projects and the BSU programme can be found here: Danida Research Portal
Cecilia Theresa Trischler Gregersen
Specialist Adviser
Evaluation, Learning and Quality
Tel. +45 33 92 04 13
Impacts and Costs of Forced Displacement
Institutional Capacities for the Implementation of R2P in West Africa: ACase Study of Ghana
Reports on Development Policy Trends (5 reports)
Somalia and Afghan Diaspora Associations in Development and Relief Cooperation
The UN’s Habitat III Conference: Giving Cities a Voice in the New Urban Agenda
Urban Governance and Sustainable Development: Cities on the Agenda
How to Achieve Global Goal 7: Sustainable Energy For All (Policy Brief)
The Promises and Pitfalls of Global Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives
Middle-income transitions and inequality: is there a link?
Coherence in Conflict: Bringing Humanitarian and Development Aid Streams Together
Impact of Green Trade Liberalisation on Least Developed Countries
South-South Cooperation to Open the Capability Trap
Democratic Dialogue in 140 Characters
How LDC Could Conduct Industrial Policy by Investing in Quality Infrastructure: Policy Note
Use of Country Systems in Fragile States
Use of Country Systems in Fragile States - Case Studies
Somalia's Troubled Transition: Vision 2016 revisited
Community Based Education in Afghanistan
Study of Approaches to Danish-Arab dialogue
Reports on Evidence and Strategic Choices for the Green Growth Priority Area of Danida's Development Cooperation Strategy (2 reports):
Working Paper: Indicators of Sustainable Agriculture "A Scoping Analysis"
Strategic Framework for Natural Resources, Energy and Climate Change
Reports on New Tendencies in Development Policy (6 reports):
Economic Development and Trade
Multistakeholder Partnerships in Danish Development Policy
Målrettede partnerskaber (Policy Brief in Danish)
Gender differences in firm’s access to credit in Sub-Saharan Africa
UniBRAIN Agribusiness Innovation Incubator Consortia
Varieties of Democracy (2 reports):
V-Dem Analysis Tools short introduction
Local Administration Structures in Syria
Formalizing a Common Approach to Assessment of Multilateral Organisations
Rule of Law and Development Cooperation (3 reports):
CSR and Extraterritorial Jurisdiction
Denmark and the Responsibility to Protect
The ICC and the Principle of Complementarities
Water Governance and Water Development (5 reports):
Transboundary Water Governance in a Shifting Development Context
Climate Politics in the Lower Mekong Region
Staying Afloat: River Basin Organisations in Transboundary Waters
Building commitment to climate action in the Mekong and Zambezi River Basins
Pigs, Prawns and Power Houses: Politics in Water Resources Managemement
An issue-focused Approach to the NTB Reduction: Ideas from the Experience of the EAC and SADC
How the Local Matters: Democratization in Libya, Pakistan, Yemen and Palestine
European Union Development Cooperation in a Changing Global Context
Linking Instruments in Development and Foreign Policy: Comprehensive Approaches in the EU
The EU and Global Public Goods: Challenges and Opportunities
L'Entrepreneuriat Jeune au Mali - Etudes de Cas: Bamako, Segou, Konogougou et Niono
Land and Property Rights - Working Paper
Land and Property Rights - Policy Brief
How can Denmark strengthen Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in multilateral fora
Trade related Capacity Building in Tanzania
Islamic Movements in the Middle East 2007-2008
Towards a Post-2015 Development Framework
Employment Intensive Growth - Challenges and Prospects in Bolivia (in Spanish)
Global HIV/AIDS Initiatives Network
Islamic gender movements and gender equality - case studies from Jordan, Egypt and Morocco
Enhancing Access to Electricity for Clean and Efficient Energy Services in Africa
Inclusive Growth Thinking in IDA
The Involving International Architecture for Development Cooperation
Cooperating with China in Africa
A Study of Migration and Development
Addressing Climate Change and Conflict in Development Cooperation
Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights
Using ICT to Promote Governance
Rewiring Multilateralism (in Danish)
The U.S. Emerging Powers and Transnational Threats Discussion Paper
Leveraging Migration for Africa
Revolution and the power of change
The Changing Balance of Influence and U.S. Strategy
Lessons from the South-South Experience Trust Fund
Climate change negotiations and their implications for international development cooperation
The growth-jobs-poverty nexus: Understanding the binding constraints on the Ghanaian economy
Building more effective tax systems (in Danish)
Multilateralism in Tension Responsibility, Responsiveness and Tolerance
Multilateral policy-making From crisis management to the long game
G20 Development Group Multiyear Action Plan
The G20 and Development A New Era (updated)
The World Bank: G20 and Global Development
Innovation and Technology Development Programme
Towards the new international oriented Danish research programme
Annex 5 Towards the new international orientated Danish research programme
Voice Reform in the World Bank
