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Center for Development Research
The Center for Development Research (ZEF) is an institute of the University of Bonn, Germany. It started its research activities in 1997. ZEF researchers aim to find science-based solutions to promote sustainable development and planetary health. ZEF’s research divisions and groups conduct inter- and trans-disciplinary research in, for and with emerging economies and on global issues with its collaborating research partners around the world. ZEF educates and trains international doctoral students in its Doctoral Studies Program. ZEF is guided by an International Advisory Board.
Latest News
ZEF Director Matin Qaim highlights role of research in his keynote speech at Agricultural Research Day NRW 2026
Matin Qaim was invited as key note speaker at the Agrarforschungstag Nordrheinwestfalen (Agricultural Research Day North Rhine-Westphalia) 2026, which took place in Bonn on September 3, 2026. The topic of his talk was "The Importance of Agricultural Research for Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture".
The annual event is hosted and organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (Ministerium für Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, MLV-NRW).
Just published: Study on how sustainable diets are among adults in Ghana and Ghanaian migrants in Europe
There has been a rapid increase in cardiovascular and metabolic conditions in sub-Saharan Africa. What is the link between sustainable diets that are nutritious, environmentally friendly, economically affordable, and socioculturally acceptable, and cardiometabolic conditions? An international research team led by Prof. Dr. Ina Danquah, Hertz Chair for Innovation for Planetary Health in the Transdisciplinary Research Area “Sustainable Futures” and Director at Center for Development Research (ZEF) at University of Bonn, investigated this question among Ghanaian adults living in Ghana or Europe.
Summer School 2026 on Nutritional Epidemiology at ZEF: Insights and take-aways
From August 24-28, 2026, Prof. Dr. Ina Danquah, Hertz-Chair for Innovation for Planetary Health and Director at ZEF and Prof. Dr. Ute Nöthlings, Head of Nutritional Epidemiology at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, hosted 20+ participants and six facilitators for an engaging summer school on Nutritional Epidemiology at ZEF.
RLC Campus at ZEF offers scholarships for PhD students from Africa, Asia and Latin America for a 2-day workshop
The Right Livelihood Campus (RLC), which is based at ZEF, University of Bonn, Germany, offers scholarships for PhD students from Africa, Asia and Latin America to participate in the Transdisciplinary RLC Workshop on "Rural Development and Smallholder Agriculture”, October 6-7, 2026, in Bonn.
Who can apply?
PhD students from Africa, Asia and Latin America who currently study at a University in Germany, from disciplines in natural sciences, social sciences, economic sciences, development studies, and environmental sciences. Fluent English is mandatory. Applications by women are particularly welcome.
Latest BIGS-DR News
Fatima Ali obtains her doctoral degree for thesis on Participatory Valuation of Forest Ecosystem Services in Sudan
Fatima Salaheldin Mohamad Ali was granted her doctoral degree by the Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional and Engineering Sciences, University of Bonn, Germany. She successfully defended her doctoral thesis on "Participatory Valuation of Forest Ecosystem Services: A Synthesis of Sub-Saharan Africa and a Case Study from Sudan".
The supervisors of her doctoral research were Prof. Dr. Lisa Biber-Freudenberger and Prof. Dr. Christian Borgemeister. Her work was tutored by Dr. Jan Henning Sommer.
ZEF alumna Rohini Mitra receives Best Dissertation Prize by American Political Science Association
ZEF alumna Rohini Mitra was awarded the "Best Dissertation Prize" by the American Political Science Association (APSA) under their Migration and Citizenship Section. The award ceremony will take place during the Annual APSA meeting in Boston, USA, September 2026.
Jackson Elias Nzira successfully defends his doctoral thesis on Economic Essays on Rural Labor Markets
Jackson Elias Nzira successfully defended his doctoral thesis on "Economic Essays on Rural Labor Markets, Agricultural Policy, and Poverty Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa". His doctoral degree was granted by the Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional and Engineering Sciences of the University of Bonn.
His supervisor was Prof. Dr. Matin Qaim (ZEF/University of Bonn), his tutor Dr. Martin Parlasca (ZEF/University of Bonn).
Maureen Nabatanzi successfully defends her doctoral thesis on Modeling arbovirus emergence in Africa
Maureen Nabatanzi successfully defended her doctoral thesis on "Modeling arbovirus emergence: Integrating evolution, ecology, distribution and One Health policy performance in Africa". Her doctoral degree was granted by the Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional and Engineering Sciences of the University of Bonn-
Her supervisors were Prof. Dr. Lisa Biber-Freudenberger (ZEF/University of Bonn) and Prof. Dr. Sandra Junglen (Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin).
ZEF Research Projects
ZEF is running interdisciplinary research projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America.