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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
Call for Workshop Scholarships by the Right Livelihood Campus ZEF/Uni Bonn
The RLC Campus 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 “Sustainable Use and Conservation of Natural Resources”, December 1-2, 2026, in Bonn.
Call for Applications: Ten PhD positions in the new DFG Research Training Group "Blue Cities"
There are 10 PhD positions to be filled in the new DFG Research Training Group „Urban Future – managing transformations for a better health in blue cities“ (RTG 3204/1).
ZEF hosted Right Livelihood workshop on Rural Development and Smallholder Agriculture
ZEF hosted a Right Livelihood workshop this week (October 6-7, 2026) on Rural Development and Smallholder Agriculture.
Seventeen doctoral researchers presented and discussed their work with Dr. Maximilian Abouleish-Boes, Chief Sustainable Development Officer at SEKEM, Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development, Egypt, an organization that obtained the Right Livelihood Award in 2003.
ZEF researchers at 8th Conference of the Assocation of African Agricultural Economists in Nairobi, Kenya
ZEF researchers have presented and discussed their research at the 8th African Conference of Agricultural Economists which was held in Nairobi, Kenya, September 22-25, 2026.
Latest BIGS-DR News
Sophia Falk graduated on Confronting Sustainable Artificial Intelligence
Sophia Falk's doctoral degree (Dr.agr.) was awarded by the Faculty Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional and Engineering Sciences of Bonn University.
Her first Supervisor was Prof. Dr. Lisa Biber-Freudenberger (ZEF/University of Bonn) and her second Supervisor Prof. Dr. Dirk Lanzerath (Director of the German Reference Centre for Ethics in the Life Sciences (DRZE/Bonn University).
Tikabo Gebreyesus Gerezgher graduated on Urban Climate Resilience and Sustainability in Ethiopia
Tikabo Gebreyesus Gerezgher successfully defended his doctoral thesis titled "Building climate-resilient cities through Nature-Based Solutions: Green Infrastructure as a strategy for enhancing urban system resilience in Ethiopia".
His doctoral research was supervised by Prof. Dr. Christian Borgemeister (ZEF, University of Bonn) and Prof. Dr. Cristina Herrero-Jáuregui (Complutense University of Madrid, Spain).
Tikabo obtained his doctoral degree from the University of Bonn's Faculty of Agricultural, Engineering and Nutritional Sciences.
ZEF welcomes Batch 2026 of its Bonn International Graduate School for Development Research (BIGS-DR)
ZEF welcomes 16 doctoral researchers, who start their 3-4 year interdisciplinary research journey at ZEF and the University of Bonn. Based at the University of Bonn, one of Germany’s Universities of Excellence, ZEF’s Doctoral Program combines rigorous interdisciplinary training with practical research experience and opportunities for international cooperation.
Altynay Kambekova graduated on Sexual Geopolitics and LGBTQ+ Activism in Kazakhstan
Altynay Kambekova successfully defended her doctoral thesis on “Between Empires: Sexual Geopolitics and LGBTQ+ Activism in Kazakhstan”.
Her degree was granted by the Faculty of Arts, University of Bonn. Her main supervisor was Prof. Dr. Kathrin Hörschelmann (Professor of Cultural Geography, University of Bonn) and her second supervisor was Prof. Dr. Eva Youkhana (ZEF CPC).
ZEF Research Projects
ZEF is running interdisciplinary research projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Upcoming Events
ZEF Public Lecture: Rabies Beyond Dogs - the Case of Ghana
ZEF, Genscherallee 3, ...
01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Rabies remain a public health threat in Ghana, with implications extending beyond human health to livestock production, livelihoods, and economic security. ...