What funders can do to strengthen transdisciplinary research for sustainable development in Africa

This policy brief provides research funders with practical guidance on good funding practices for transdisciplinary research (TDR) in Global North-South collaborations. It is based on a dialog between German and African actors as well as expert interviews. Funders are guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals when investing in solution-oriented research for sustainable development in Africa. Complex sustainability challenges can be addressed by a transdisciplinary research approach which integrates knowledge from research and practice. Setting the funding conditions right is crucial to enable the creation of evidence-based, actionable knowledge through research-practice collaboration. To maximize the impact of transdisciplinary research, current funding frameworks must be adapted to the specific needs of such collaborative research.