Development policy

DIIS researches political, financial and social aspects of development cooperation and global crises. We focus on relations between people, governments, companies and international organisations.

Research and activites

Working papers etc.

2024

Reform of the global financial architecture in response to global challenges

How to restore debt sustainability and achieve SDGs?
DIIS Working Paper

2024

Choking points

Taxing Burma’s elusive opium flows
DIIS Working Paper

2024

From the Durani Empire to Taliban 2.0

Afghanistan’s turbulent checkpoint history
Journal Article

2024

Logistics, politics and Berbera in the eye of an international storm

Rather than fulfilling the promise of peace and stability, the recent experience of the Berbera Port and corridor reflects the potential for violent conflicts intrinsic in modern logistics and infrastructural development.
DIIS Book

2024

Danish foreign policy review 2024

The Review covers key topics relevant to Danish foreign, security, and development policy
DIIS Working Paper

2024

Roadblocks and revenues: The politics of passage

New working paper series
Photo/illustration by MONUSCO/Michael Ali copyright license

Journal Article

2024

Redefining peacekeeping's impact on troop contributing countries

Ghana's overlapping roles in domestic and international security
Journal Article

2024

Reconceptualizing peacekeeping: The impact on contributing countries and troops

A new analytical framework for understanding peacekeeping's diverse effects
Photo/illustration by Jada Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Livestreaming

Rethinking climate change support in violent conflict-affected states

DIIS Auditorium

Countries affected by violent conflict and state fragility receive extremely low climate change funding, thus leaving behind populations considered most vulnerable to climate change. How can this paradox be addressed and what role can the UN play?
Photo/illustration by UNMISS via Flickr.com copyright license

Journal Article

2024

Chinese peace and its discontents

Chinese peace efforts have met considerable challenges across multiple conflict settings.
Book

2024

Between frontline and homefront: The transformative effects of peacekeeping

How does peacekeeping shape peacekeepers?
Journal Article

2024

Effective climate finance coordination?

Politics and power relations influence stakeholders’ perception of how climate finance is coordinated and climate policy is implemented.
DIIS Report

2024

Loss, damage and social cohesion
Photo/illustration by Rasmus Fly Filbert

Webinar

Locally-led climate change adaptation: From principles to practice

Online via Zoom

Climate change adaptation in the Global South is urgent. Locally-led approaches are gaining momentum. But what does that mean in practice and does it work? This webinar launches a new DIIS report on lessons from locally-led adaptation in East Africa
Photo/illustration by Rasmus Fly

DIIS Policy Brief

2024

Locally-led climate change adaptation works: Here are eight ways to support it
Photo/illustration by Adobe Firefly

DIIS Comment

2024

Bilateral partnerships
Photo/illustration by Kassim Traoré / VOA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

DIIS Comment

2024

Challenges to Danish development engagements in a time of increasing autocratisation

The past decade has seen several countries move towards more autocratic governance, wiping out advances in global levels of democratization made over the last 35 years, and feeding a growing unease about the future of democracy. This poses complex challenges to Danish development engagements that aim to support local development, peace, and security without supporting illegitimate political regimes.
Photo/illustration by Joerg Boethling / Alamy Stock Photo

DIIS Comment

2024

Towards a just green transition
Photo/illustration by Joycedzide via Wikimedia Commons copyright license

DIIS Comment

2024

African migration – key tendencies and political dilemmas
Photo/illustration by Joerg Boethling / Alamy Stock Photo

DIIS Comment

2024

If we are to build partnerships around energy Denmark must be willing to address African priorities
DIIS Report

2024

Locally-led adaptation: moving from principles to practice in the water sector

Collaborative DIIS Report examines the global locally-led adaptation (LLA) principles in practice
Journal Article

2024

"These days, things have changed”

historicising current dynamics of climate-related migration in the savannah zone of Ghana
Photo/illustration by Section from collage design by Luisa Caria og Matheus Tanajura. Photos by Marie Kolling and Thaíse Sá Santos

Podcast

2024

Tech for good: Are tech companies exploiting or empowering the poor?
DIIS Report

2024

Why Russia seeks to expand its influence in Africa – and what it means for the West

In parallel to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has ramped up its activities in Africa
Book Chapter

2024

Indigenous peoples and green NGOs are surprisingly uneasy allies in the Arctic

Inuit have felt campaigns for animal rights as a threat to their livelihood and culture. While some green NGOs have gone lengths to realign with indigenous peoples in their reorientation to fight climate change, some Greenlanders find that climate policies threaten their right to development and self-determination.

Working papers etc.

2024

Reform of the global financial architecture in response to global challenges

How to restore debt sustainability and achieve SDGs?

Abel Gwaindepi & Amin Karimu

Read publication (external link)
DIIS Working Paper

2024

Choking points

Opium flows, roadblocks and Illicit finance in Burma's Shan State

John Buchanan

Download (pdf, 867.2 KB)
DIIS Working Paper

2024

The border business

a political economy analysis of checkpoint taxation in Afghanistan

Sarajuddin Isar

Download (pdf, 2.1 MB)
Book Chapter

2024

Pragmatic idealism in Danish foreign policy: partnerships and the ‘Global South’.

Lars Engberg-Pedersen & Rasmus Hundsbæk Pedersen

Danish Foreign Policy Review 2024.

Read publication (external link)
Journal Article

2024

Logistics, politics and Berbera in the eye of an international storm

Finn Stepputat & Jethro Norman

Politique Africaine, 173/1

Read publication (external link)
DIIS Book

2024

Danish foreign policy review 2024

Cecilie Felicia Stokholm Banke, Jessica Larsen & Mikkel Runge Olesen

Download (pdf, 1 MB)
DIIS Working Paper

2024

The politics of passage

Roadblocks, taxation and control in conflict

Peer Schouten, Vanessa Van den Boogaard, Max Gallien, Shalaka Thakur & Florian Weigand

Download (pdf, 1.5 MB)
Photo/illustration by MONUSCO/Michael Ali copyright license

Journal Article

2024

Peacekeeping, policing and politics

assembling the Ghana Armed Forces

Peter Albrecht & Fiifi Edu-Afful

International Affairs, 100

Read publication (external link)
Journal Article

2024

From peacekeeping missions to global peacekeeping assemblages

Peter Albrecht, Luke Patey, Rita Abrahamsen & Paul D. Williams

International Affairs, 100

Read publication (external link)
Photo/illustration by UNMISS via Flickr.com copyright license

Journal Article

2024

Chinese peace and its discontents

China's peacemaking and peacekeeping in South Sudan

Luke Patey

International Affairs, 100

Read publication (external link)
Book

2024

Special Issue: The transformative effects of international peacekeeping

Luke Patey, Peter Albrecht, Rita Abrahamsen & Paul D. Williams

Read publication (external link)
Journal Article

2024

Effective climate finance coordination?

Stakeholder perceptions, climate change policy implementation and the underlying political economy factors in Kenya

Millicent Omala, Eric Kioko & Marie Ladekjær Gravesen

Climate Policy

Read publication (external link)
DIIS Report

2024

Loss, damage and social cohesion

Impacts and next steps for policy and programming

Lily Salloum Lindegaard & Francis Jarawura

Download (pdf, 2.8 MB)
DIIS Report

2024

Locally-led adaptation: moving from principles to practice in the water sector

Claire Bedelian, Judith Mulwa, Beatrice Sumari, Peter Rogers, Marie Ladekjær Gravesen & Mikkel Funder

Download (pdf, 2.7 MB)
Journal Article

2024

"These days, things have changed”

historicizing current dynamics of climate-related migration in the savannah zone of Ghana

Francis Jarawura, Joseph Teye, Nauja Kleist, Lily Salloum Lindegaard & David Quaye

Climate and Development

Read publication (external link)
DIIS Report

2024

Russia’s quest for influence in Africa after the 2022 Ukraine invasion

Instruments, causes and consequences

Elias Götz & Jonas Gejl Kaas

Download (pdf, 4.8 MB)
Book Chapter

2024

Security transfigurations across sectors

Animals, climate, and self-determination in Greenland

Ulrik Pram Gad, Lill Rastad Bjørst & Marc Jacobsen

Greenland in Arctic security. University of Michigan Press

Read publication (external link)
Article

2024

Development research in flux and in demand

The future of progress in development studies

Adam Moe Fejerskov, Antonio A. R. Ioris, Maren Duvendack & Jessica Omukuti

Progress in Development Studies, 24

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DIIS Working Paper

2024

Gender-responsive development

opportunities for co-operation between the African Union, its member states and Denmark

Karmen Tornius & Lars Engberg-Pedersen

Download (pdf, 1.3 MB)
Book Chapter

2023

Campaign financing and revenue bargaining in Tanzania and Uganda

Ole Therkildsen, Moses Khisa & Jamal Msami

The politics of revenue bargaining in Africa. New York: Oxford University Press

Read publication (external link)
Journal Article

2023

Mediating mobility in West Africa

Improvisation, culture, and volatility in migration infrastructures

Jesper Bjarnesen & Nauja Kleist

International Migration Review

Read publication (external link/open access)
Journal Article

2023

Resource nationalism and energy transitions in lower-income countries

the case of Tanzania

Japhace Poncian & Rasmus Hundsbæk Pedersen

Review of African political economy

Read publication (external link)
Photo/illustration by EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid via Flickr.com copyright license

Journal Article

2023

Humanitarian ignorance

Towards a new paradigm of non-knowledge in digital humanitarianism

Adam Moe Fejerskov, Maria-Louise Clausen & Sarah Seddig

Disasters

Read publication (external link)
DIIS Working Paper

2023

Will Africa be part of the ‘golden decade’ of sustainable finance? Insights from GSSS bonds

Abel Gwaindepi & Krige Siebrits

Download (pdf, 2.2 MB)
Photo/illustration by National Museum of American History copyright license

Book Chapter

2023

Taxation in Africa since colonial times

Abel Gwaindepi

The History of African Development. African Economic History Network

Read publication (external link)

Photo/illustration by Rasmus Fly

DIIS Policy Brief

2024

Locally-led climate change adaptation works: Here are eight ways to support it

Claire Bedelian, Judith Mulwa, Beatrice Sumari, Peter Rogers, Marie Ladekjær Gravesen & Mikkel Funder

Download (pdf, 4.1 MB)
Photo/illustration by Adobe Firefly

DIIS Comment

2024

Bilateral partnerships

Lars Engberg-Pedersen

Read publication (external link)
Photo/illustration by Kassim Traoré / VOA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

DIIS Comment

2024

Challenges to Danish development engagements in a time of increasing autocratisation

Adam Moe Fejerskov
Photo/illustration by Joerg Boethling / Alamy Stock Photo

DIIS Comment

2024

Towards a just green transition

The governance challenge

Mikkel Funder
Photo/illustration by Joycedzide via Wikimedia Commons copyright license

DIIS Comment

2024

African migration – key tendencies and political dilemmas

Nauja Kleist
Photo/illustration by Joerg Boethling / Alamy Stock Photo

DIIS Comment

2024

If we are to build partnerships around energy Denmark must be willing to address African priorities

Rasmus Hundsbæk Pedersen & Lars Buur
Photo/illustration by Everyday Humanitarianism in Tanzania (EHTZ)

DIIS Comment

2024

Rethinking Humanitarianism: Adapting to a Changing Landscape

Alexander Maxelon, Nauja Kleist & Lisa Ann Richey

Read publication (external link)
Photo/illustration by Feisal Omar/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

DIIS Policy Brief

2024

Somaliland at the centre of rising tensions in the Horn of Africa

Jethro Norman

Download (pdf, 1.4 MB)
Photo/illustration by UN Women/Ryan Brown copyright license

DIIS Policy Brief

2024

The African Union's contested role in advancing gender equality

Karmen Tornius

Download (pdf, 1.2 MB)
Brief

2023

Supporting pastoralists' adaptation to climate change: Beyond "one size fits all"

Sylvia Rotich, Martin Marani & Mikkel Funder

Download (pdf, 433.3 KB)
Photo/illustration by Baalayela Forsca

DIIS Comment

2023

What Loss and Damage has to offer

Considering climate displacement and social cohesion

Lily Salloum Lindegaard & Francis Jarawura

Read publication (external link)
Photo/illustration by Greenshoots Communications / Alamy Stock Photo

DIIS Comment

2023

Loss and damage and social cohesion

Current knowledge and next steps for programming and practice

Lily Salloum Lindegaard

Read publication (external link)
Photo/illustration by Jakob Glad

DIIS Policy Brief

2023

Private investments in climate and sustainable development are still not catching on in Africa

Abel Gwaindepi & Krige Siebrits

Download (pdf, 30.4 MB)
Photo/illustration by Rasmus Fly

DIIS Policy Brief

2023

Managing Africa's resources equitably demands accountable states

Peter Albrecht, Marie Ladekjær Gravesen, Frank Agyei, Kwesi Aning, Richard Asante, Deborah Atobrah, Anne Bartlett, Sandra Bhatasara, Veronika Čáslavová, Mamadou Cisse, James Drew, Esther Egele-Godswill, Sophie Erfurth, Abel Gwaindepi , Rahma Hassan, Sti…

Download (pdf, 1.5 MB)
Photo/illustration by KRCS-Denis Onyodi via Flickr copyright license

DIIS Blog

2023

African Climate Summit

A potential turning point for global diplomacy and climate action

Esbern Friis-Hansen & David Lyndorff Paris

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Photo/illustration by Rasmus Fly

DIIS Policy Brief

2023

Three frontlines in Africa's resource conflicts

Green transitions, nature conservation and the drylands

Peter Albrecht & Marie Ladekjær Gravesen

Download (pdf, 432.6 KB)
Photo/illustration by Marie Gravesen

DIIS Blog

2023

The face of climate change along Turkana’s Turkwel river

Marie Ladekjær Gravesen & David Lyndorff Paris

Read publication (external link)
DIIS Policy Brief

2023

Security professionals are changing how humanitarian organisations operate

Jethro Norman

Download (pdf, 2.4 MB)
DIIS Policy Brief

2022

No climate security without human security

Insights from Africa’s climate hotspots

Louise Wiuff Moe & Signe Marie Cold-Ravnkilde

Download (pdf, 565.5 KB)
DIIS Policy Brief

2022

Our climate future depends on conflict dynamics in Congo

Climate and conflict

Peer Schouten, Judith Verweijen & Fergus Simpson

Download (pdf, 6.1 MB)
DIIS Interview

2022

Fra bliktag til landsby-business

Esbern Friis-Hansen & Jon Clausen

Read publication (external link)
DIIS Policy Brief

2022

Making headway on Loss and Damage

Identifying key gaps and charting ways forward

Lily Salloum Lindegaard, Heidi White & Zoha Shawoo

Download (pdf, 533.3 KB)
DIIS Comment

2022

Experimental politics in a future of global crises

Adam Moe Fejerskov

Read publication (external link)
DIIS Policy Brief

2022

Free association: between self-government and dependence ,

Some insights from the compact of free association between the US and the Republic of the Marshall Islands

Rens van Munster

Download (pdf, 387.9 KB)
Interview

2022

Somali or part of the Somali diaspora?

Marie Barse & Sahra Ahmed Koshin

Photo/illustration by Jada Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Livestreaming

Rethinking climate change support in violent conflict-affected states

DIIS Auditorium

Countries affected by violent conflict and state fragility receive extremely low climate change funding, thus leaving behind populations considered most vulnerable to climate change. How can this paradox be addressed and what role can the UN play?
Photo/illustration by Rasmus Fly Filbert

Webinar

Locally-led climate change adaptation: From principles to practice

Online via Zoom

Climate change adaptation in the Global South is urgent. Locally-led approaches are gaining momentum. But what does that mean in practice and does it work? This webinar launches a new DIIS report on lessons from locally-led adaptation in East Africa
Photo/illustration by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Webinar

The costs of connection in the age of big data and AI

Online Zoom meeting

This webinar takes stock of the concept of Data Colonialism to understand contemporary links between data, capitalism, and global inequality
Photo/illustration by Luisa Caria & Matheus Tanajura

Data extractivism for poverty alleviation and “Tech for Good”

DIIS, in front of the auditorium

Interrogating the implications of “tech for good” that quantifiy and commodify information about the poor
Photo/illustration by MSF/Stefan Pejovic

Deadly borders: politics of aid and people on the move on the Mediterranean

DIIS Auditorium

What does it mean to rescue at sea? And how does it feel to be rescued? This seminar sheds light on the work of Doctors without Borders on the current situation on the deadliest migration route in the world, the Mediterranean Sea
Photo/illustration by Mikkel Funder

Webinar

Governing climate change adaptation: Lessons from the ground

Online via Zoom

How should climate change adaptation be governed? This webinar examines how climate change adaptation policies and projects govern mobility, land rights and finance in the African context, and what the lessons are for adaptation governance.
Webinar

Experiences of women, peace and security in diverse African contexts

Online Zoom meeting

In this webinar, national and regional practitioners of the women, peace and security agenda exchange their experiences in advancing women’s role in peace governance and challenges for policy implementation in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali and beyond
Photo/illustration by Agencja Fotograficzna Caro / Alamy Stock Photo

Livestreaming

Data extractivism and humanitarian response: algorithms and predictive modeling

DIIS Auditorium

How do NGOs use algorithms and data-driven tools for predictive analysis in their humanitarian response?
Photo/illustration by Joerg Boethling / Alamy Stock Photo

Livestreaming

How can finance for climate change adaptation be spent more effectively?

DIIS Auditorium

The seminar analyses the institutional architecture of how and where finance for climate change adaptation is spent and which route of transfer it follows from national to local levels
Photo/illustration by Finn Stepputat

Studying state, sovereignty and other stuff

DIIS Auditorium

A retrospective seminar with and for senior researcher Finn Stepputat
Livestreaming

Somali diaspora humanitarianism in complex crises

DIIS Auditorium

When disaster strike, diaspora groups are often first responders and remain engaged during lengthy and complex crises. Join this roundtable where we discuss practices, possibilities and pitfalls
Photo/illustration by Finn Stepputat (background picture)

Livestreaming

Trade makes states: Governing the greater Somali economy

DIIS Auditorium

The control of trade and transport is key to statemaking. A new book suggests that this, rather than the control of people and territory, can make or unmake state projects in areas like Somalia. This seminar introduces the ideas behind the book
Photo/illustration by ICRC, Taaxta Ismail

Livestreaming

No climate security without human security: Insights from Africa’s climate hotspots

DIIS Auditorium

This seminar brings together scholars and practitioners to discuss pathways for a broadened climate security agenda on fragile states centered on addressing livelihood and security needs of populations
Livestreaming

Prosperity, conservation and development in rural Tanzania

DIIS Auditorium

Join us for the launch of two new unique research based books on Tanzania
Photo/illustration by Matt Palmer on Unsplash

Livestreaming is only for sign ups

Development challenges in a changing climate

DIIS, auditorium

Insights from DIIS' latest research on development efforts and challenges across the globe - and their interactions with increasingly widespread and acute climate change impacts
Livestreaming

Technocolonialism: Digital humanitarianism as extraction and experimentality

DIIS Auditorium

Join us for this seminar with Professor Mirca Madianou on how data practices revitalise colonial legacies in humanitarianism and technological development itself
New research

4 October 2022

Participation in UN missions has the potential to positively affect policing of terrorism in Ghana

Increased awareness of preventing war and terrorism in Ghana, and an understanding of the importance of engaging with communities to do good policing. These are two skills Ghanian police officers gain from UN missions.
New research

4 October 2022

New research uncovers a paradox about the Ghana Police Service

Namely why the police service is one of the most corrupt institutions at home but praised for integrity and professionalism in UN peacekeeping missions.
Photo/illustration by ICRC / Yazdi, Pedram

Livestreaming

Loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change

DIIS Auditorium

At this seminar, we assess recent developments in loss and damage policy, research and practice to identify possible ways forward towards COP27 and beyond
Photo/illustration by Jemal Ould Mohamed Oumar via Wikimedia Commons copyright license

Call for papers

4 July 2022

Call for papers for conference on Natural Resource Management and Conflict in Africa

We invite abstracts and papers that are interdisciplinary and oriented towards providing unique perspectives on natural resource management and conflict in Africa.
Photo/illustration by Nauja Kleist

Livestreaming

Climate change and human mobility

DIIS, Auditorium

How is climate change and mobility linked and how do people cope through moving or staying? These are some of the questions four researchers discuss based on their research at this seminar
Photo/illustration by Sura Nualpradid / Shutterstock.com

Livestreaming

Beyond green grabbing: rights, governance and nature-based solutions in the Global South

Auditorium, DIIS

This seminar will discuss how the rights and benefits of indigenous people and local communities can be secured in nature-based solutions
Photo/illustration by Eddie Gerald, Alamy Stock Photo (background photo)

Webinar

Report launch: Devolved finance and governance of climate change adaptation

Online via Zoom

At this webinar, we launch a new DIIS report that examines issues of devolved adaptation governance in depth. Hear authors present highlights from the report as well as national and international perspectives from experts working with devolved adaptation finance
Photo/illustration by Rob Crandall / Alamy Stock Photo

Livestreaming

Development and Migration: Root causes and successful interventions

DIIS Auditorium

Lessons from Central America
Blogpost

31 January 2022

Doing a PhD during Pandemic Times

A Somali Mother’s Journey

Photo/illustration by AMISOM public information via Flickr.com copyright license

Journal Article

2023

Divided loyalties

Somalia’s political landscape is increasingly fragmented due to regional and clan differences. Is this the end of the centralized state and a unified, national identity?
Interview

12 November 2021

China’s global challenges

Al Jazeera (Arabic) interviewed DIIS senior researcher Luke Patey about his new book, "How China Loses: The Pushback against Chinese Global Ambitions", and China’s relations across the world

Glono - Global Norms and Heterogenous Donor Organizations

GLONO was a research programme on how international norms about gender equality are being used in concrete development policies and practices by seven very different donor organisations.

The...

Photo/illustration by Section from collage design by Luisa Caria og Matheus Tanajura. Photos by Marie Kolling and Thaíse Sá Santos

Podcast

2024

Tech for good: Are tech companies exploiting or empowering the poor?
Photo/illustration by AMISOM public information via Flickr.com copyright license

Podcast

2023

Diaspora groups have become key humanitarian actors

The case of Somalia
DIIS Podcast

2023

But it's been more than 50 years! How Africa's resource conflicts are still rooted in colonialism
Photo/illustration by Pexels. Jens Mahnke. copyright license

Podcast

2022

Adapting to a changing climate in Ethiopia

Climate change has become an apparent reality in world. The problem is more pronounced in developing countries, such as Ethiopia, where the majority of the population and the national economy are dependent on the agricultural sector.
Photo/illustration by Pexels. Jens Mahnke. copyright license

Podcast

2022

What drives migration in Ghana and Ethiopia?

We often hear that climate change will cause mass movements of people, but is that really the case? In this interview we hear from experts from Ethiopia and Ghana that for years have been studying how climate change affects migration.
Photo/illustration by Pexels. Jens Mahnke. copyright license

Podcast

2022

Is climate change really what drives migration in Ghana?
Photo/illustration by Pexels. Jens Mahnke. copyright license

Podcast

2019

Digitalization of money easily becomes a mechanism of exclusion

New podcast on the social consequences of digital economies
Photo/illustration by Pexels. Jens Mahnke. copyright license

Podcast

2018

Climate resettlement: the challenges of moving entire communities

Lessons from fieldwork in Vietnam and Zambia