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The Global Development Research Division conducts research that promotes social justice and equality, and raises awareness of the global challenges surrounding the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Our work builds on the long tradition of development research at the University. We work with partners in countries around the world to explore common themes such as relative poverty, precarious work, marginalisation, urbanisation and cities, rural development, and climate change. Our research cuts across disciplines, including Agriculture, Economics, Geography, Law and Meteorology, and working across these boundaries is a key part of what we do. Division members possess expertise in a wide range of methodological approaches, with particular strengths in communications and public engagement. The Division has close links with the Walker Institute.

In the latest Research Excellence Framework 2021 results, our research was ranked ninth in the UK by Grade Point Average (research quality), with 91% of our research overall rated 4* (world-leading) and 3* (internationally excellent). Our research was submitted as part of Unit of Assessment 22: Anthropology and Development Studies.

Meet Our Staff

Staff conducting research into Global Development spans four of the University’s schools and departments: 

  • Agriculture, Policy and Development
  • Economics
  • Geography
  • Law
Tea pickers work during a monsoonDelivery of Cholera Vaccines to HaitiUN meeting on Prevention of Use of WMDs by Non-State ActorsChild waits at lake to fill up water jugs

Research highlights

The Global Development Division is home to many research projects aiming to tackle global challenges and support the delivery of the UN’s sustainable development goals. Some examples include:

Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA)

Smallholder farmers are key to food security in sub-Saharan Africa, where two thirds of the population depend on small-scale, rain-fed farming as their main source of food and income. But these farmers face high risks and difficult decisions when planning their activities because of highly variable climatic factors such as the amount of rainfall in a growing season, the timing of seasonal changes, and extreme conditions like dry spells and floods. 

The PICSA approach, developed by agriculture specialists and meteorologists in Reading and local partners in African countries links local climate, crop, livestock and livelihood information with participatory planning and decision-making tools for farmers. These tools help them decide the best farming and livelihood options for them, for example when to plant crops. 

Safeguarding children in crisis and conflict

An approach developed by Professor Rosa Freedman is being used by international peacekeeping organisations to facilitate the protection and safeguarding of children in conflict and crisis zones around the world.

Based on research conducted in peacekeeping entities in Liberia and Haiti, Professor Freedman has worked in partnership with NGO Keeping Children Safe to develop a safeguarding toolkit to tackle this complex challenge. The approach outlined in the toolkit now underpins the child safeguarding policies used by all UN agencies, including the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the UN Refugee Agency, as well as those used by the armed forces of many troop-contributing countries and by 16 of the largest NGO partners of the UK Department for International Development. 

Professor Freedman has been appointed to the UN’s newly established Civil Society Advisory Board on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. She has advised over 300 military personnel and diplomats on safeguarding and been invited to serve on the FCO’s Women, Peace and Security Steering Committee. 

Improving security of water supplies in Africa

Secure access by the rural poor to water in Africa is central to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. More than 500 million Africans are dependent on groundwater.

With growing demand for its use, the resilience of aquifers in the face of climate, population growth, and changes in land-use is key to ensuring secure access to water. To address these challenges, the Walker Institute is leading the BRAVE project implementation in Ghana and Burkina Faso.

The programme communicates data provided by the Rainwatch platform and aims to help local communities prepare for the challenges related to climate and water in the coming months. 

Study Opportunities

Undertaking postgraduate studies in Global Development brings significant opportunities for rich intellectual endeavour and transdisciplinary study.

The Global Development Division cuts across several departments offering doctoral students in affiliated schools the opportunity to benefit from supervision and support from across the Division, if they so desire. Opportunities for global development doctoral research are available in the four schools from which Division members are drawn. Find out more on the Doctoral and Researcher College’s Find a PhD page.

The Division is particularly looking to attract potential students with research interests in the following areas: 1) Politics, justice and environmental governance; 2) Livelihoods, food and agriculture; 3) Wellbeing, gender and care; 4) Empowerment, participation and labour.
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