Research 2009 - 2014

The ICDD wants to contribute to knowledge generation on problems of development and decent work. It therefore combines social, agricultural and natural sciences in an inter- and trans-disciplinary approach, particularly addressing agricultural commodity chains and their potential for decent work opportunities. Agriculture provides jobs for 1.3 billion smallholders and landless workers in the developing world. Many of these jobs do not ensure decent levels of income or sustainable livelihoods, mainly for two reasons.  On the one hand, value creation is low due to low productivity and soil depletive practices. On the other hand, rural workers are among the most socially vulnerable due to the many obstacles they face against collective action. Three research clusters (RC01, RC02 and RC03) investigate these factors in more detail by addressing three main questions:

1. How can value creation be increased in order to allow for better working conditions and income of those engaged in value creation?
2. Which instruments are best suited to promote decent work in the respective contexts?
3. Which strategies are available for empowering workers to ensure decent work by political means?

• <link>Other research

Each research cluster comprises a number of projects investigating various aspects of the topic from different disciplinary angles. The PhD theses fit thematically into these research clusters and are complemented by post doctoral and senior scientist research based on shorter field trips.