Thank you and best wishes for 2017

Seasons greetings 2016

Wishing all researchers, Review Panel members and collaborators of the growing r4d network creative exchanges and success in the new year.

The r4d programme can again look back on a full and busy year. The brochure published in summer 2016 compiles information in the fourth year of implementation of the 10-years programme.

The r4d community grew further and currently unites 41 research projects in 42 countries. With the Additional Thematic Call and the 3rd Thematically Open Call (planned for February 2017) the programme will reach its full size in 2018.

The Review Panels worked intensively on the selection of 13 new thematically open research projects, the evaluation of 54 pre-proposals in the Additonal Thematic Call and the monitoring of the 8 projects in the thematic modules Food Security and Ecosystems, including site visits in the respective countries.

In the two thematic modules Social Conflicts and Employment the Review Panels and the projects went through the mid-term evaluation. On this occasion, two public events took place in Spiez and Bern, Switzerland, enabling exchange and discussion between the project teams and representatives from policy and practice on new insights from research for development. Presented and discussed were issues such as economic, political and social conditions favourable for the creation of gainful and sustainable employment as well as processes of conflict transformation, institution and peace building.

In 2017, the r4d programme will support and host again a great number of activities, based on collaborations with the projects as well as external partners. One of the highlights will be the "International Conference on Research for Development. Evidence. Engagement. Policies." that will take place in Bern, Switzerland, from 5 to 8 September 2017.

The r4d programme staff wishes all researchers, Review Panel members and collaborators of the growing network creative exchanges and success in the new year.

Photos from top left to right: Site visit ORM4Soil project, Ghana, June 2016 Public event r4d Forum Social Conflicts, Switzerland, September 2016 Site visit Managing Telecoupled Landscapes project, Madagascar, November 2016 r4d Forum Social Conflicts, Switzerland, September 2016 Site visit Insects as Feed in West Africa project, Benin, October 2016 Site visit Managing Telecoupled Landscapes project, Madagascar, November 2016 r4d Forum Public Health, Switzerland, March 2016 Site visit Insects as Feed in West Africa project, Benin, October 2016 © Pictures: Claudia Zingerli and Claudia Rutte