Dear distinguished friends of ZEF, Twenty-nine years have now passed since the Rectorate and Senate of the University of Bonn decided back in 1995 to establish an academic think-tank for international and interdisciplinary questions of development research, the Center for Development Research, or ZEF. ZEF’s foundation was made possible by the Berlin-Bonn Act and the…
Dear readers, The Center for Development Research (ZEF) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its international doctoral program. When this program was launched back in 1999, two years after the institute itself had become operational, it was not only a first at the University of Bonn (followed by many other international programs over time) but…
Why was ZEF established 25 years ago? The determinants of ZEF’s establishment can be grouped in “deep causes” and “practical determinants”. The deep causes of establishing ZEF were that a Center for Development Research (ZEF) was (and is) needed. Understanding development opportunities and failures, identifying technological, institutional and policy innovations, and addressing global sustainability and…
Why was ZEF established 25 years ago? In the early 90s the City of Bonn and its University were at a crossroads of two political developments at that time: the rapprochement of East and West Europe and the internationalization of Bonn after losing its status as Germany’s capital. With the help of key local, regional…
Mekuria Argaw is a ZEF-alumnus (graduation 2005) and Executive Director of the Horn of Africa Regional Environment Center and Network Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. Importance of Institutions like ZEF in the Global South Institutions like ZEF are crucial for the Global South, focusing on both research and education. Their approach involves partnering with and…
Bettina Hedden-Dunkhorst is Head of the Division for International Nature Conservation at the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für Naturschutz, BfN) in Bonn. Common ground: Biodiversity The German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), ZEF and their Ethiopian partners have worked closely together to facilitate the establishment of UNESCO biosphere reserves for the conservation…
Adamou Rabani is Rector of the Université Abdou Moumouni in Niamey, Niger and Coordinator of the WASCAL Studies Programs ‘Climate change and Energy’ and ‘Photovoltaic and System Analysis for Green Hydrogen Technologies’ ZEF’s cooperation with Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey in Niger Partnerships with internationally and interdisciplinary oriented institute such as ZEF are very important…
Tomás León Sicard is a Professor at the National University of Colombia (UNAL) and project leader of DSSP for the Colombian partners ZEF and the National University of Colombia (UNAL): A high-performing cooperation We have benefited from this arrangement in many ways. First of all, we have improved our capacity in many areas. Not only…
Constance Awinpoka Akurugu is Associate Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies, Department of Public Policy and Management, Faculty of Public Policy and Governance, SDD University of Business and Integrated Development Studies in Wa, Ghana The importance of Global South-North cooperation Collaborations between research institutions and higher education in the Global South and North offer invaluable…
Thuita Thenya is ZEF-alumnus and Director of the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya Overcoming challenges for young researchers in the Global South ZEF’s focus on the Global South and its interdisciplinary education and training approach represents a valuable and important contribution to the field. It plays a pivotal…