Development Policy Discussion Days

With the Development Policy Discussion Days (Entwicklungspolitischen Diskussionstage; EPDT), which the SLE organises every year in cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the SLE promotes the exchange of ideas and expertise between development studies, practical development policy, academia and private enterprise. The Development Policy Discussion Days consist each year of three events and bring together a total of around 450 visitors. This makes them one of the most visited development studies events in Berlin. Speakers from many different institutions and organisations discuss current topics and controversies. In 2015, for example, the theme was the direction and effectiveness of development cooperation in the context of refugees and displacement. In the International Year of Soils, the focus was on the importance of soil conservation and the role of the 'New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition' in combating hunger and poverty. Themes from previous years include Africa's natural riches, the implementation of adaptations to climate change, cooperation with fragile states, or civil-military cooperation and corruption in international cooperation. The development studies symposia reflect the current concerns and interests of the international cooperation community.

Students at the SLE and at the Heinrich Böll Foundation prepare the content and organisation of the symposium, as well as presenting the speakers, promoting the event and writing thematic briefing papers together with SLE staff. The event is therefore also an important component of the the SLE's training programme.

Information about the themes and content of the Development Policy Discussion Days in the last few years can be found here.

The following organisations have taken part in symposium panel discussions several times since 2002 (presented in order of frequency):





Overview