Knowledge Centre for Development Cooperation officially launched

The new Knowledge Centre for Development Cooperation was officially launched in Bergen today, bringing together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to discuss how research-based knowledge can strengthen the impact of development cooperation. The launch event also featured a panel discussion on job creation, one of the Norwegian government's key priorities for development cooperation.

Opening the centre, State Secretary Stine Renate Håheim emphasised the importance of employment and economic opportunities for long-term development.

-Job creation is one of the Norwegian government's main priorities in long-term development cooperation. When we talk to partner countries, what they ask for investments, trade and private capital, said Håheim.

She also stressed the importance of making development cooperation more strategic, and identifying the areas where Norway’s efforts have an added value.

The panel discussion highlighted a major challenge facing many low-income countries: every year, more young people reach working age than there are jobs available. When asked about their concerns, a majority of respondents in partner countries mention employment and a stable income on top of their lists.

Hosted by the Development Learning Lab (DLL) at CMI, the Knowledge Centre for Development Cooperation aims to strengthen the use of research-based knowledge in development cooperation and support organisations in making better-informed decisions. The centre is a collaboration between CMI, NHH, the University of Bergen, the Frisch Centre, NUPI, 3ie and IRC.

According to Håheim, the new centre is key to connecting existing knowledge with the organisations that can put it into practice.

-There is a great deal of knowledge available, but we need to become better at using it, and it needs to be easier to find and apply. The new centre plays an important role in contributing to this, she said.

The centre will work closely with civil society organisations and their partners to make research more accessible and actionable. Through knowledge reviews, Evidence-to-Action workshops, thematic learning networks, expert consultations and a digital knowledge hub, it will help organisations identify and use the best available evidence for decision-making.

Read more about the Knowledge Centre for Development Cooperation: 

CMI awarded funding for new knowledge centre to strengthen evidence in aid