DevRes 2024

Growing polarization worldwide impedes our collective pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. War in Ukraine and Gaza, alongside the pandemic fallout, has shifted global power dynamics, diverting attention from international development cooperation. These conflicts, compounded by economic strains and climate challenges, disproportionately affect the Global South. Urgent action is needed, including a green transition, to address these issues. However, this transition risks exploiting vulnerable regions and exacerbating conflicts of interest, particularly in international development cooperation. Swedish research focusing on least developed and lower middle-income countries plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing these challenges. Interdisciplinary approaches can illuminate how conflicts of objectives hinder sustainable development, emphasizing the role of research in advancing Agenda 2030.

During the conference, participants were asked to voluntarily sign an opinion piece opposing the government's decision to cut funding for development research. That article is now published, and you can read it here.