Stakeholder participation in development research
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In this context, stakeholder participation has gained prominence in development research. On the one hand, it can help researchers to learn about local realities and therefore question existing hypotheses, discover problems and coping strategies, and integrate local views and ideas about present and future (policy) solutions. On the other hand, it can enable local stakeholders to co-design the research process and to obtain new perspectives on specific issues they are concerned with. In the past years, a large variety of participatory processes and methods have been developed and implemented in development research. However, in order to be an integral and valuable part of the research, those processes have to be carefully designed and carried out. Critical reflection and exchange of experiences in this field can help to advance the quality and effectiveness of participatory processes.

Registration or Tel.: 01/317 40 10 or ÖFSE ()

Speakers:

Robert Burtscher is a liaison-expert at IIASA’s Water (WAT) program since 2016. Before joining IIA- SA, he worked as a Senior Advisor for Water and Sanitation in the Unit for Quality Assurance and Knowledge Management of the Austrian Development Agency in Vienna where he was in charge of advising and shaping the Austrian Development Cooperation’s water programs in its partner countries and also at regional (Africa) and global levels.

Alexander Hamedinger is an economist and urban sociologist at the Institute of Spatial Planning at TU Wien. Since more than 20 years he has conducted research on different spatial levels in main areas of urban sociology In his research projects he methodologically focuses on the use of action research and other forms of participatory urban research.

Alexandra Heis is research assistant at the Department of Development Studies. Currently her focus is on intersectionality and spatiality of migration in local business, and the conceptual interplay of mi- gration and entrepreneurship in development. Her expertise on reflexive methodologies and feminist critique is at the heart of her contribution to the teaching manual on transdisciplinarity in development studies (in preparation).

Karin Küblböck is an economist and senior researcher at ÖFSE. Her research focus lies on interna- tional economic and development policies, natural resource policies and private sector development. She is also a moderator and mediator, focussing on facilitating interactive dialogue events in the field of international development, and on stakeholder participation processes.

Robert Lukesch is consultant and coach of ÖAR GmbH. His professional life extends over local and regional development, development co-operation and organizational development. His scope of activ- ities includes designing and facilitating decision-making processes, strategy consultancy and lead- ership coaching, shaping and evaluating governance and programme management in the context of European cohesion policy and international co-operation.

Piotr Magnuszewski has been working for decades as a systems modeler, game designer, profes- sional trainer, facilitator and researcher to provide tools for people in all sectors to make better policies and decisions about the society and environment. He designed and applied many social simulations and role-playing games addressing the issues of resilience and sustainability such as climate change, energy transition, and management of natural resources.

Andreas Melcher is a senior scientist at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vi- enna (BOKU) and head of the BOKU Centre for Development Research (CDR). His work is based on trans-disciplinary and socio-ecological transformation concepts in the context of environmental pro- cesses His scientific interest also includes capacity building in higher education in countries such as Burkina Faso, Ethiopia or Nepal.

Last edited: 21 June 2019