SciDevNet May 22 2013

Use our content    Spotlights Spotlight Content  Editorial  Features  Opinions   The challenge of science and NGO practice joining forces  Dear Colleague, Development work may engage both NGO practitioners and scientists in research institutions, but they have limited opportunities for interaction. Our latest Spotlight explores this divide and asks what can be done to better align their efforts.   Read our Spotlight on the challenge of science and NGO practice joining forces This collection of articles presents an in-depth analysis with features including facts & figures, and opinions from former Nepali ministerDipak Gyawali; Rachel Hayman, International NGO Training and Research Centre; Harry Jones, Overseas Development Institute; andCharlie McLaren, UK Collaborative on Development Sciences Join the debate on social media, post a comment on any of our articles or email us at feedback@scidev.net. Kind regards, Anita Makri Opinion and special features editor, SciDev.Net www.scidev.net     Editorial Making space for science in NGO practice  There is a largely unexplored landscape of opportunity for collaboration between scientists and development practitioners.  EN  Features   Science and NGO practice: Facts and figures  What does science have to do with NGO practice? Anita Makri explores where they overlap and what stands in the way of fruitful collaboration.  EN Opinions   Too many Southern NGOs follow foreign agendas  Former Nepali Minister Dipak Gyawali says development NGOs need to stop acting like sub-contractors and start asking challenging questions.  EN     Technical input 'on the ground' deserves donor backing  Development needs collective local action. More science and technical advisors should be supporting that, says research officer Harry Jones.  EN     NGOs need more say in research priority-setting  Funding agencies should support closer interaction between development NGOs and scientists, argues research and policy analyst Charlie McLaren.  EN     Make development practitioners partners in research  Overcoming barriers to how research is used in practice is important — but it's just half the battle, says NGO research expert Rachel Hayman.  EN     Science and NGO success stories: how collaborating works  From kidnap alerts to solar lighting, some NGOs find the high-tech answers they need. Andrew Williams and Imogen Mathers explain how.  EN