Academic Network for Development Dialogue (ANDD) Paper Series
The Academic Network for Development Dialogue (ANDD) is a fundamental step in creating synergy and strengthening the cooperation and dialogue between the United Nations (UN) and Academia. It acts as a think tank in the region to influence the UN's work and the global dialogue on policy options to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ANDD was established as a partnership between universities and educational institutions regionally and worldwide with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) supported by the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) and Qatar University (QU).
The ANDD Paper Series is one of the initiatives of the ANDD; it aims to encourage structured dialogue over structural challenges and opportunities that the Arab region is encountered with, beyond those identifiable through sectoral and technical aspects. The ANDD Paper Series seeks to foster discussions on essential issues seldom tackled in the development conversations at the regional, national, and local levels. Addressing young Arab scholars and early-career UN staff working on development issues in the region, it provides a forum for the young generation to discuss critical ideas and innovative proposals for regional problems.
Academic Network for Development Dialogue (ANDD) Paper Series
About the Series
Introduction
The Academic Network for Development Dialogue (ANDD) Paper Series is an initiative that aims to encourage structured dialogue over structural challenges and opportunities that the Arab region is encountered with, beyond those identifiable through sectoral and technical aspects.
ANDD uses the paper series to foster discussions on essential issues seldom tackled in the development conversations at the regional, national, and local levels. Addressing young Arab scholars and early-career UN staff working on development issues in the region, it provides a forum for the young generation to discuss critical ideas and innovative proposals for regional problems.
History
On 14 July 2020, participants from 16 academic and research entities, along with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and Qatar University, met and launched the Academic Network for Development Dialogue (ANDD), which seeks to address the urgent need for more cooperation and dialogue between academia and the United Nations.
Relying on academic research and expertise to advise on new UN programs and policies is an initiative to drive the region towards proactive policy making, in line with national development plans. To this end, ANDD provides a platform for knowledge and expertise sharing between academicians and UN staff to better tackle “challenging problems” and support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals in the region.
The Research Paper Series is one of the several initiatives managed by ANDD. It started in 2022 when ANDD launched its first call of papers on the subject: “Building on the similarities between the Arab Countries for fostering sustainable development”. Authors of the final selected papers were invited to a workshop at Qatar University in September 2022, where they engaged in an interactive review process with university professors and UN professionals.
The Research Paper Series for the coming three years (2023-2025) will focus on the lessons learnt and good practices in the subject of human wellbeing and strengthening capabilities. The aim is to identify policy solutions, tools and recommendations to create enabling conditions based on evidence and good practices, for accelerating the implementation of the SDGs.
Managing Entity
The Research Paper Series is managed by the Academic Network for Development Dialogue (ANDD), which currently consists of 35 institutional members. ANDD activities are managed by a steering committee of the founding institutions with a rotating chairperson every year. The chair for the current year (2023-24) is Al-Quds University. UN-ESCWA provides secretariat support to the network.
Vision
Congruent with the vision of the Academic Network for Development Dialogue (ANDD), the Research Paper Series initiative aims to contribute to bridging the knowledge gap between academia and the work of the United Nations, and to shaping a future where the Arab region thrives through collaborative problem-solving on development issues.
Mission
By providing a dynamic platform for dialogue and knowledge sharing among young Arab scholars and early-career UN staff, the ANDD Paper Series makes it a mission to address structural challenges and opportunities in the Arab region beyond conventional development paradigms, and to encourage the exploration of innovative ideas and solutions for a transformative sustainable development.
Objectives
The ANDD Research Paper Series initiative aims to:
- Empower Young Minds: by providing a platform for the young generation and empowering them to voice critical ideas, innovative proposals, and actionable solutions for regional problems, nurturing their potential as change-makers.
- Address Critical Issues: by focusing on essential yet overlooked issues in the Arab region's development discourse, focusing on wicked problems that transcend traditional sectoral or technical boundaries.
- Promote Dialogue, Collaboration and Networking: by fostering robust and structured conversations among young Arab scholars and early-career UN staff, and encouraging diverse perspectives and knowledge sharing on complex regional challenges.
- Turn Ideas into Action: through an enabling environment that facilitates the transition of theoretical proposals into feasible solutions that support regional development.
- Contribute to Sustainable Development: by encouraging and supporting the creation and implementation of sustainable solutions that contribute positively to the social, economic, and environmental development of the Arab region.
Focus and Scope
All subjects proposed by the ANDD Research Paper Series are related to sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of the Arab region. Each year, the Paper Series Task Force decides on a specific topic under this umbrella for the call for papers.
Type of Publications
The ANDD Research Paper Series seeks papers that identify policy solutions, tools and recommendations to create enabling conditions, based on evidence and good practices, for accelerating the implementation of the SDGs. Published papers particularly aim at recommending intervention strategies and evidence-based policies for addressing systemic and structural challenges in the region.
Papers must (be):
- Based on recently collected primary or secondary data analysis from trusted and validated sources.
- Address a specific, concise subject or problem and objectives.
- Present a solution to a meaningful, topical and challenging problem.
- Highlight the most up-to-date innovations and developments in the field.
- Take into consideration the context and priorities within which it is studied.
- Original and foster innovation between different sectors and entities.
- Present valid, achievable and practical solutions.
Yearly topics:
For this year (2023-2024), contributors were invited to cover one of the following topics related to improving human wellbeing and strengthening capabilities:
- Education and scientific research: quality, language, participation
- Labor market challenges for young people: skills, capacity, and experience
2024 Paper Series Focus:
- Healthcare system, nutrition and food security.
- Sustainable resource management.
2025 Paper series Focus:
- Healthcare systems and related regulations.
- Peace & security.
- People capacities in access to information, knowledge and behaviors.
The Series Board
Founding Editor
- Prof. Mariam Al-Ali Al-Maadeed, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, Qatar University
Editorial Committee
- Prof. Mariam Al-Ali Al-Maadeed, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, Qatar University
- Dr. Elham Kateeb, Dean of Scientific Research, Al-Quds University, Palestine
- Dr. Math Noortmann, Senior Researcher, Maastricht University, Netherlands
- Dr. Talal Al-Emadi, Dean of the College of Law, Qatar University
- Dr. Mohammad Zuheir Bakleh, Information Management Officer, ESCWA, Lebanon
- Ms. Zalfa Hoballah (Secretariat), ESCWA, Lebanon
Scientific Committee
- Dr. Andreas Rechkemmer, Professor of Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar
- Dr. Badrane Benlahcene, Associate Professor, Qatar University
- Dr. Ebaidalla Mahjoub, Associate Professor, Qatar University
- Dr. Elham Kateeb, Dean of Scientific Research, Al-Quds University, Palestine
- Dr. Fatimazohra Iflahen, Vice President for Cooperation and International Relations, Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco
- Dr. Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi, Director of City Diplomacy Lab, Columbia University, USA
- Dr. Math Noortmann, Senior Researcher, Maastricht University, Netherlands
- Dr. Sukaina Al Nasrawi, Lead of Sustainable Urban Development Portfolio, ESCWA, Lebanon
- Ms. Souraya Zein, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCWA, Lebanon
Publishing Team
- Ms. Nathalie Younan, Research Projects Manager, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Office, Qatar University
- Ms. Sabine Saad, Senior Acquisitions Editor in charge of Journals, Qatar University Press
- Dr. Nabil Darwish, Section Head of Production, Qatar University Press
- Mr. Mohammad Al-Jaberi, Section Head of Library Information Systems, Information Technology Services Department
- Ms. Aisha Hassan Al-Abdulla, Section Head of Digital Repository and Archives Section, Qatar University Library