The Challenges of Doing Development Research Consulting in the Pacific: From pre-departure to fieldwork and back in the office

One of the major objectives of good governance is the establishment of stronger and more effective links between science and policy. This is of particular concern in developing countries, which are in the process of building up their research infrastructure. This article explores the various challen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Development (Society for International Development) 2013-09, Vol.56 (3), p.363-369
Main Authors: Westoby, Ross, Elizabeth Mcnamara, Karen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bias
Case studies
Culture
Developing Countries
Development
Development and Social Change
Development Economics
Development Policy
Development Studies
dia
Dialogue
Economic development
Feasibility studies
Field study
Fieldwork
Governance
Infrastructure
International Organizations
Islands
LDCs
Research and Development
Science
Site selection
Social Sciences
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Summary:One of the major objectives of good governance is the establishment of stronger and more effective links between science and policy. This is of particular concern in developing countries, which are in the process of building up their research infrastructure. This article explores the various challenges and pitfalls of conducting a research consultancy for an intergovernmental organization in five countries in the Pacific region. Three major periods of the research project cycle are discussed, including some of the difficulties experienced at each of the stages. The article begins by examining some of the initial pre-departure roadblocks, followed by problems that arose ‘in the field’, and finally, the implications and outcomes of the project.
ISSN:1011-6370
1461-7072
DOI:10.1057/dev.2014.2