"The reality in the DRC is just not the reality in Rwanda" - How context factors affect transdisciplinary research projects

cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and advanced research institute
cg.contributor.affiliationETH Zürich
cg.contributor.affiliationSwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
cg.contributor.affiliationSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Bern
cg.contributor.crpMaize
cg.contributor.crpRoots, Tubers and Bananas
cg.contributor.donorETH Zurich
cg.contributor.donorSwiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
cg.coverage.countryRwanda
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2RW
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionEastern Africa
cg.creator.identifierKINTCHE Kokou: 0000-0001-5533-476X
cg.howPublishedFormally Published
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2024.105035
cg.identifier.iitathemeNATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.issn0048-7333
cg.issue7
cg.journalResearch Policy
cg.number105035
cg.reviewStatusPeer Review
cg.subject.iitaAGRONOMY
cg.subject.iitaFOOD SECURITY
cg.subject.iitaLIVELIHOODS
cg.subject.iitaSMALLHOLDER FARMERS
cg.subject.impactAreaNutrition, health and food security
cg.subject.impactPlatformNutrition, Health and Food Security
cg.subject.sdgSDG 2 - Zero hunger
cg.volume53
dc.contributor.authorParli, R.
dc.contributor.authorByamungu, M.
dc.contributor.authorFischer, M.
dc.contributor.authorKantengwa, S.
dc.contributor.authorKintche, K.
dc.contributor.authorKonlambique, M.
dc.contributor.authorLieberherr, E.
dc.contributor.authorSix, J.
dc.contributor.authorWilde, B.
dc.contributor.authorSpath, L.
dc.date.accessioned2024-12-03T15:09:30Zen
dc.date.available2024-12-03T15:09:30Zen
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/162980
dc.title"The reality in the DRC is just not the reality in Rwanda" - How context factors affect transdisciplinary research projectsen
dcterms.abstractTransitioning toward more sustainable livelihoods requires tackling complex challenges in innovative ways. Positioned at the intersection of innovation and transition studies, transdisciplinary research (TD) has surfaced as a method to confront sustainability challenges by integrating various scientific disciplines and engaging non-academic stakeholders. Currently, there is a growing call from both policy makers and research funders to assess the effects of TD research, especially its societal impacts. However, TD research typically involves local projects where the context may substantially shape the effects of the research conducted. In this paper we explore how understanding the context factors of a TD project contributes to the understanding of its effects. We built a working model, based on different established concepts from policy studies to conceptualize context and effects of TD project. We applied the model to a comparative case study of two regional sub-projects of one large TD project on circular bioeconomy for sustainable agriculture in Sub Saharan Africa. The core concept and design were the same for both subprojects, but they achieved different effects. We studied the differences in context factors to explain this variation. We found that a strongly developed public and private sector and access to a variety of action resources such as political support or laws, supported the implementation of innovations as well as dialogue with policy. Nevertheless, a strong public sector can also hinder a project's success, if the interest of the government is not in line with the interests of the project. Further, we found that TD projects may achieve learning and social effects by tackling certain gaps in action resources. Our findings highlight that taking the context of a project into account is key to understanding the scope of action and possibilities of a project. Thus, the context should be considered not only when planning but also - and especially - when evaluating a TD project.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.audienceScientists
dcterms.available2024-06-04
dcterms.bibliographicCitationPärli, R., Byamungu, M., Fischer, M., Kantengwa, S., Kintche, K., Konlambigue, M., ... & Späth, L. (2024). “The reality in the DRC is just not the reality in Rwanda”–How context factors affect transdisciplinary research projects. Research Policy, 53(7): 105035, 1-12.en
dcterms.extent1-12
dcterms.issued2024-09
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCC-BY-4.0
dcterms.publisherElsevier
dcterms.subjecttransdisciplinary researchen
dcterms.subjectevaluationen
dcterms.subjectsustainable livelihoodsen
dcterms.subjectcircular economyen
dcterms.subjectsustainable agricultureen
dcterms.typeJournal Article

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Paper.pdf
Size:
689.53 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.75 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: