Silke leads the research program at the SLE and combines sound scientific research with practical implementation. As an experienced participatory action researcher and project developer, she brings more than 25 years of experience in development-oriented research and international cooperation—from Southeast Asia to Europe and Africa.

“Conduct research that’s closely tied to real-world practice, and as a practitioner, remain research-oriented”—that’s her approach. It is precisely this attitude that shapes her work. Silke develops projects together with local partners and focuses on genuine collaboration rather than purely theoretical concepts.

Her focus is on climate-resilient agriculture, agroecology, co-creation of knowledge, and the development of socially inclusive solutions in partnership with rural communities. Her goal is to design research in a way that enables concrete change—practical, participatory, and effective.