Press Release
22 April 2008
UK bolsters research into development issues
Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, today
launched a new Research Strategy that will see the UK become the largest
Government funder of research for development.
The five year strategy - the result of an extensive global consultation –
outlines how DFID will double its investment in research to £220 million a year
by 2010 and put research at the heart of its efforts to tackle global poverty.
The funding will build on the success of past research but also takes DFID’s
work in new directions.
With emphasis on climate change, sustainable agricultural growth and governance,
the strategy will also set aside resources to address fast emerging issues -
such as food prices – and prepare for future challenges that could emerge in the
years to come.
"A major step forward"
Douglas Alexander said:
“This is a major step forward in helping us meet our commitments to reaching the
Millennium Development Goals by 2015, allowing us to focus our efforts on
getting knowledge and technology – both new and existing – into use where it is
most needed.
“Research is an essential part of saving lives in the developing world. It is
helping us to address diseases such as malaria, HIV and AIDS, and is integral to
how we tackle the crises of climate change and food prices which are affecting
millions of people across the globe.
“This level of investment, together with the research expertise here in the UK,
will help put us at the forefront of research for development and ensure we have
the greatest possible impact on the lives of world’s poorest people.”
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The strategy's key features
Some of the key features of the new strategy include:
- £400 million for research on agriculture, fisheries and forestry;
- £100 million to study climate change;
- £37 million to establish an international growth centre; and
- £8.5 million for 'Building Capacity for better Governance and Social
Policy Research'.
The research strategy is available on  DFID’s research site, which includes a large number of case studies
and around 20,000 research results gathered over more than 20 years of funding
‘public goods’ research.
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Notes for editors
1. This is DFID’s first substantive five-year strategy for research, and sets
out priorities for spending a budget which will double to £220 million per year
by 2010.
2. Over the coming months, DFID will publish Business Planning Information on
the timetable for calls for proposals and what procedures should be followed.
This will be highlighted on DFID's
research portal (R4D), and full details will be available on the
DFID website.
3. The new Research Strategy is a result of an extensive consultation with
stakeholders both in the UK and across the world. Around 1,000 researchers,
policymakers and representatives of civil society and the media were consulted
in the UK and seven developing countries, and a further 750 people contributed
their written views electronically.
For further information, contact David Leslie on 020 7023 0311 or 020 7023
0600, e-mail pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk
or call our Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100.
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