The UK Collaborative on Development Sciences (UKCDS) is a group of 14 UK government departments and research funders working in international development. A small coordinating team (the Secretariat) brings this group together with researchers and other key organisations to share knowledge and identify opportunities for collaboration. By stimulating collaboration, UKCDS ensures the best science is funded and used to benefit international development, as well as the UK.
Real world challenges are complex and the research that helps address them rarely derives from a single discipline or funder. UKCDS is a collaborative. They work together to achieve their vision and add value to the area of international development. Bringing together stakeholders from funding, research and policy, they facilitate a more coordinated approach to research for international development.
Connecting the research with a changing policy landscape ensures solutions are relevant both nationally and internationally.
Recognising the value of science and research, they help identify future research needs and provide a gateway to funding and job opportunities, as well as events and international development news.