CIDIN (Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands) is an interdisciplinary academic institute addressing issues of development, poverty and empowerment. Valuing its independency, CIDIN maintains strong ties with academic institutes worldwide, Northern and Southern civil society organisations and bi- and multilateral donor agencies.

1. How does the network benefit your organisation?
The network provides us with useful insight into the issues at stake in development practice, and the challenges that practitioners and policy makers are struggling with. These insights are an important feed into our research agenda, and can guide our research questions and objectives. In that way, the synergy between practice and science can be strengthened.

2. Please give an example of a joint action, in which the APF network played a visible role.
The cooperation in the gender in value chains learning group is a good example. It has been worthwhile to collect best practices and build a community of practice. As we all know chain innovation is still hampered by relations of inequality and exclusion. We don’t only need short term action to change this. More opportunities should be created to do fundamental research on gender in value chains.

3. If you were in charge, what should the APF network look like in 5 years’ time?
We would be in favour of a strong focus on knowledge building in the network. The potential of APF is to connect practitioners’ and academic knowledge. Yet, we do not feel that this potential has been fully realized. In addition to the common focus on short term results and on practical research, the network could also explore opportunities to invest in more long term studies in which NGO’s and universities collaborate. Such studies which in a profound way connect practitioners’ and academic knowledge have the potential to stimulate triple-loop learning. Ultimately many people will benefit from this.

4. How will your organisation contribute to the APF network in the next 2 years?
We are very happy to participate in the thematic projects of Agri-ProFocus in the next 2 years.

Contact: Roldan Muradian

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