Overseas Development Institute

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Abbreviation ODI
Motto To inspire and inform policy and practice which lead to the reduction of poverty, the alleviation of suffering and the achievement of sustainable livelihoods in developing countries
Formation 1960
Type Think Tank
Headquarters 203 Blackfriars Road London SE1 8NJ
Location London, United Kingdom
Director Alison Evans
Website http://www.odi.org.uk

The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) is an independent think tank on international development and humanitarian issues. Based in London, its mission is "to inspire and inform policy and practice which lead to the reduction of poverty, the alleviation of suffering and the achievement of sustainable livelihoods in developing countries." It does this by "locking together high-quality applied research, practical policy advice, and policy-focused dissemination and debate."[1]

ODI began life in small premises in Regent's Park, central London and operated a library devoted to international development issues as well as performing consultancy work and contracts with the Department for International Development (then known as the Overseas Development Agency) of the UK government.[2] Since then it has moved several times and is currently on Blackfriars Road.[3] Unlike its counterpart, the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at Sussex University, it does not engage in teaching. The director is Dr Alison Evans, formerly of the IDS.[4]

In July 2007, ODI was named 'Think Tank of the Year 2007' by Public Affairs News magazine. It was named 'Think-tank to Watch' in the Prospect 'Think-tank of the Year' awards in 2005.

It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010, with guests including former ODI Fellow and current UK Business Secretary, Vince Cable.[5][6]

ODI has published many books, papers, briefings, and two leading academic journals, Development Policy Review and Disasters.

It has had a Partnership Programme Arrangement with the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) since 2004.[7]

Contents

Organisation and departments [edit]

ODI has many programmes that focus on aspects of international development.[8] These are:

  • Private Sector and Markets
  • Centre for Aid and Public Expenditure (CAPE)
  • Climate Change, Environment and Forests
  • Communications (for dispersal of ODI events and publications)
  • Growth, Poverty and Inequality
  • Investment and Growth
  • Humanitarian Policy Group
  • Politics and Governance
  • Protected Livelihoods & Agricultural Growth
  • Social Development

Event series [edit]

ODI hosts a regular events series, with conferences/panels discussing a wide range of development issues. Speakers include ODI staff,[9] visiting development policymakers,[10] DFID officials and other prominent figures such as Justin Yifu Lin, the former World Bank Chief Economist.[11]

Fellowship scheme [edit]

The Overseas Development Institute runs a fellowship scheme, which sends young postgraduate economists of all nationalities to work in the public sectors of developing countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific on two-year contracts. The Scheme has been running since 1963 and has sent over 900 post-graduate economists to work in 40 mostly low-income countries. Participants were initially known as Overseas Development Institute Nuffield Fellows (ODINs) before later titled as ODI Fellows.[12]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Organisational information - About us - Overseas Development Institute". ODI. Retrieved 2012-07-06. 
  2. ^ "at 50 - About ODI - Overseas Development Institute". ODI. 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2012-07-06. 
  3. ^ "Contact details and directions - About us - Overseas Development Institute". ODI. Retrieved 2012-11-09. 
  4. ^ "Alison Evans - Staff - About ODI - Overseas Development Institute". ODI. Retrieved 2012-07-06. 
  5. ^ "at 50 - About ODI - Overseas Development Institute". ODI. 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2012-07-06. 
  6. ^ "Vince Cable MP at ODI's 50th Anniversary". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-07-06. 
  7. ^ "Partnership Program Arrangement (PPA) between UK Department for International Development (DFID) and Overseas Development Institute (ODI) 2008-2001" (PDF). 
  8. ^ "Programmes - Work - Overseas Development Institute". ODI. Retrieved 2012-07-06. 
  9. ^ "Governance for development in Africa: building on what works - Events - Overseas Development Institute". ODI. Retrieved 2012-07-06. 
  10. ^ "After 2015: new challenges in development - learning from success - Events - Overseas Development Institute". ODI. Retrieved 2012-07-06. 
  11. ^ "The role of industrial policy in development (Audio / video) - Events - Overseas Development Institute". ODI. Retrieved 2012-07-06. 
  12. ^ "Fellowship Scheme - Overseas Development Institute". ODI. Retrieved 2012-07-06. 

External links [edit]

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