Regional Research Networks
It is widely acknowledged that CDRI’s contribution to Cambodia’s development strategies and policies and her economic development has been significant since its establishment in 1990. CDRI has played a pivotal role as an independent research think-tank to inform policy makers through its evidence-based and policy-relevant publications. CDRI is a well-recognized centre of development knowledge and human resource development for Cambodian civil society.
These achievements well reflect CDRI’s mission, which is to contribute to Cambodia’s sustainable development and the well-being of its people through the generation of high quality policy relevant development research, knowledge dissemination and capacity building. Yet, Cambodia’s development has been dynamic especially in the area of policy cooperation under the framework of sub-regional, regional and global integration The nature of Cambodia’s growth and development is more interlinked with that within the GMS (rather than wider global influences), whereas Cambodia’s development policy has been driven by both regional and global initiatives. Such development requires Cambodia to design its development strategies and policies in broader context focusing on both national and regional issues. A shift in policy focus has raised new challenges for CDRI to keep its research programmes relevant and responsive to the needs of policy-makers.
To respond to emerging challenges and to achieve its mission, CDRI has not only focused on building partnerships with Cambodian public institutions, civil society and regional and international development partners but also on participating in regional research networks. Almost all research networks are designed to enhance collaborative research study, improve research quality, expand knowledge dissemination, deepen networks among researchers and build capacity. Experience suggests that CDRI’s participation in regional research networks has significantly contributed to its notable achievements & more participation in both existing and new research networks would be essential in achieving its mission.
Some Research Networks for CDRI.
1. Development Analysis Network
The Development Analysis Network (DAN) is a collaborative development research network of leading research institutes in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Yunnan province of China. Established in 1997, DAN has been undertaking collaborative studies to address major research issues of regional interest and to provide useful information to policy makers and academics alike. DAN’s current core partners are seven research institutes in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) based in Cambodia, China-Yunan, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. DAN membership is on an institutional basis and participation in DAN is via invitation. Currently DAN is facilitated by CDRI and the DAN resource can be accessed at http://www.cdri.org.kh/
2. Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade
Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade (ARTNeT), launched in 2004, is a regional network composed of trade research institutions across the UNESCAP region aiming at increasing the amount of high quality relevant research on trade in the region by building capacity to undertake research projects, enhancing research dissemination mechanisms, and increasing interaction between policymakers and researchers from least developed countries. CDRI is a founding member of ARTNeT which currently has over 20 member research institutions from developing countries of the Pacific region. Membership of ARTNeT is on a trade institutional basis through three levels of participation: (i) ARTNeT members who have received research funding or participated in the ARTNeT research project; (ii) ARTNeT core partners who provide financial and technical support to ARTNeT; and (iii) ARTNeT associate partners who participate in ARTNeT activities through ad hoc meetings and organizing capacity building and dissemination activities. Institutions interested in becoming core or associate partners are encouraged to contact the ARTNeT secretariat at:
Trade Policy Section
Trade and Investment Division
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Email:
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ARTNeT resources can be accessed through website: http://www.artnetontrade.org/
3. East Asian Development Network
The East Asian Development Network (EADN) is a network of research institutions in the developing countries of East Asia under the Global Development Network (GDN). Established in 1998, EADN aims for research capacity building and research networking. Its mission is to strengthen the capacity of research institutions and researchers in developing East Asian countries to undertake high quality development-focused and policy-relevant research in the social sciences that can be used in policy analysis, debates and inputs at the regional and national levels.
EADN membership is on an institutional basis but a large number of researchers are affiliated to EADN through the research activities and meetings of EADN and GDN. Currently, Northeast Asia is represented by China, Hong Kong and South Korea, and Southeast Asia is represented by Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Application of interest for institutional membership of EADN is via the country coordinators. EADN resources can be accessed via the online forum at http://www.eadn.org
Trade Institutes in Cambodia can contact the Cambodia Development Resource Institute at www.cdri.org.kh; contact person, Mr Larry Strange; email
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4. Evidence-based Policy in Development Network
Evidence-based Policy in Development Network (EBPDN) was established with support from the Global Development Network and is currently facilitated by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) under the Civil Society Partnership Programme (CSPP). This aims to establish a worldwide community of practice for think-tanks, policy research institutes and similar organisations working in international development, to promote more evidence-based, pro-poor development policies.
EBPDN membership is on an individual basis providing knowledge on bridging research and policy and it comprises four other networks: Africa EBPDN, South Asia EBPDN, Latin America EBPDN, and Europe EBPDN. In May 2009, Southeast Asia EBPDN (SE-EBPDN) was initiated under the RAPID/ODI. The core members of SE-EBPND are Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam.
Interested researchers can participate in the EBPDN at http://www.ebpdn.org/ and also contact Mr Em Sorany at the Cambodia Development Resource Institute, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , for participation in training activities.
In what ways has CDRI benefited from joining regional research networks?
Regional research networks are platforms where CDRI can improve five major activities: regional research studies, capacity building, broader dissemination, and networking.
- Enhancing regional collaborative research studies: Regional networks provide CDRI more exposure and opportunities to partner research institutions in other countries in the region to design and conduct studies that are of common interest. The collaborative research that CDRI has conducted so far covers wider development issues including cross-border trade, employment, migration, tourism, competitiveness and growth.
- Building the capacity of research staff: Many of CDRI’s researchers have attended capacity development through regional research networks. Capacity building was provided in the form of training workshops, mentoring and learning by doing research. For example, five researchers at CDRI have attended a series of research capacity building workshops on trade policy analysis.
- Broader research dissemination: Some of CDRI’s research studies have been disseminated broadly at sub-regional and regional levels; policy makers and civil society in Cambodia have also been informed through studies of other countries presented at regional dissemination workshops conducted in the country.
- enhancing networking among researchers, academia and policy makers in the region: Networking has been improved through research partnership, training and dissemination workshops.
- Building region and community—GMS, ASEAN, ASEAN + 3 and ASIA Pacific: This provides opportunity to build relationships with various key persons in different geographic areas of the region