5. Knowledge, Development and Governance

Muhammad Azizuddin, University of Tampere, azizuddin08(at)gmail.com

Tiina Kontinen, University of Jyväskylä, tiina.t.kontinen(at)jyu.fi

Elias Pekkola, University of Tampere, elias.pekkola(at)staff.uta.fi

In international development, the recent evidence-based drive has emphasized the role of knowledge in decision-making concerning development policies.  At the same time, the results-based management has gained more currency, potentially contributing to increased use of knowledge at the level of planning and implementation of development interventions and organizational management. However, there is also a growing critique concerning the methodologies of knowledge creation, as well as the real preparedness of policy makers to engage with academic knowledge on diverse contexts, thematic concepts, or best practices identification. The aim of this working group is to facilitate multidisciplinary discussion on knowledge related to governance in international development and developing country contexts from a wide spectrum of disciplinary perspectives including administrative sciences, sociology, political sciences, evaluation and impact assessment,  and  development studies, to mention a few. 

The working group invites scholars in different stages of their careers to present their ideas.  The topics of the papers can include, for instance management and leadership, organizational studies, good governance, evaluation and impact assessment, and capacity building.  The working language of the group is English. However, papers can be submitted also in Finnish or Swedish.