Development Studies Association
@devcomms.bsky.social
The UK based membership organisation for all those studying, researching and teaching in the field of global development. For now, you'll find our news posted on LinkedIn and in our monthly newsletter.
DSA member Vasilios Stouraitis’ new book explores entrepreneurship education in emerging markets, with case studies from 15 countries. It highlights impact, value, and the challenges faced by students and staff. @elgarpublishing.bsky.social Read more: buff.ly/XK9qi8D
Visa access, passport privilege & equity were recurring concerns at #DSA2026, with members reporting increasing challenges securing visas. We share some AGM perspectives and invite members to engage with us to on possible solutions: buff.ly/1YEhtq1
Latest webinars from the Land, Labour and Food study group: 🌍 Pastoralist migration & climate shocks in South Sudan – @jongethon.bsky.social, @crisisgroup.org 🌾 Renegotiating land, labour & gender in India – Prof Nitya Rao, @developmentuea.bsky.social Watch here: buff.ly/PRp8O0r
As our sister organisation, @eadi.bsky.social rounded up their conference days before #DSA2026, DSA member. Prof Nicola Banks, gave a talk on hope. We thought it was a powerful rallying call for how we take forward our thoughts and ideas from the two conferences. buff.ly/f1lARvp
UK aid spending is expected to fall by around 42% – or £6.5 billion – from a record high in 2023 to a historic low in 2027-28, according to a report by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI). buff.ly/svnk9eq
The UK’s new PM Andy Burnham has set out a vision centred on decentralisation, ‘bottom-up’ growth & a more active state. @ids.ac.uk researchers highlight 4 ways this agenda could help reduce inequality. buff.ly/Unyk3T2
Sincere thanks from the DSA Council to outgoing Student Reps Zechariahs Benapugha & Dr Sheila Ronoh. Your work has shaped DSA, strengthened our community, and supported the next generation of development scholars. Read more: buff.ly/1NiuBc9
Africa’s Greater Horn region is facing a looming polycrisis fueled by conflict, prices, climate and disease buff.ly/iI74LRl
In a new blog, @odi.global Research Fellow, Carmen Leon-Himmelstine examines how inequality and elitism are shaping the World Cup, and what it will take to reclaim the people's game. buff.ly/VOrCJ2H)
✨ New DSA Council ✨ 🎉Congratulations go to @mikejennings101.bsky.social, @soasdevelopment.bsky.social on his election as President, Kamna Patel, DPU as Secretary & Laura Camfield, @kings-sga.bsky.social as Treasurer. Read more: buff.ly/B9tRHFl
New special issue of Work in the Global Economy explores “Living at Work” — and why the link between work and housing deserves far more attention. Read more via @kings-sga.bsky.social: buff.ly/Wq2p7G6
📣 @globaldevinst.bsky.social have a taster course. Global Development in a Divided World, with Charis Enns from @manchester.ac.uk. Try this university course before you apply - 100% free! buff.ly/M3qJqTk
Labour MPs call for Andy Burnham to restore aid spending target set by Brown. Think tank urges prime minister to reclaim UK’s role as an international leader on development. buff.ly/59xTf6d
A book authored by Professor Naila Kabeer from @lseid.bsky.social has been shortlisted for the @acls1919.bsky.social Open Access Book Prize. You can read it online or download for free! buff.ly/R1dhfDm
New paper by Yafa El Masri from @developmentuea.bsky.social explores how some Palestinians use heritage research as strategic resistance—accessing restricted knowledge, challenging extractive practices, and subtly reshaping outcomes.
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Ever wondered how the DSA makes decisions or prioritises its work? We will share stories on how our Council operates in further newsletters but the best way to know more is to be a member. Our membership year starts in February. Find out more: buff.ly/VDo7XPF
In Autumn 2026 @globaldevinst.bsky.social will open their call for new Ghana scholarships. Get ready and find out more: buff.ly/wmEeIig
FCDO Annual Report “Lays bare the scale of UK aid cuts” says Professor Anuradha Joshi, Director, @ids.ac.uk buff.ly/OiYU9ar
From imagining a more just world to making it possible, the #DSA2026 plenaries offered more than diagnoses of today’s uncertainty. Together, they traced a path for rethinking development. Caitriona Dowd & Supriya Garikipati , co-convenors of DSA2026 reflect: buff.ly/1vI8gGS
New PM Andy Burnham needs urgent Foreign Office strategy to manage aid cuts, experts warn buff.ly/BjRnLUf
Cuts to humanitarian and development aid cost lives. But so do the financial flows from impoverished countries to wealthy ones – which outweigh aid many times over. buff.ly/Xjuxlf3
Dr Myfanwy James from @lseid.bsky.social has been interviewed on the dynamics of the current outbreak in eastern DRC and Uganda, highlighting the complex challenges of disease surveillance, vaccine development, and community trust. Read more: buff.ly/bo6K4Tc
Grateful to @devcomms.bsky.social for the opportunity to present my work on the NGO crisis’ impact on civil society adaptations in autocracies ( #Egypt and #Syria), and to hear from #Gaza scholars about best practices and challenges in academic solidarity against scholasticide at #DSA2026 🇮🇪🇵🇸
✨ @ucddublin.bsky.social brought together a diverse gathering of academics and practitioners for #DSA2026 Tell us about your #DSA2026 experience! Read more: buff.ly/ktneGZM
DSA Council member Touseef Mir leads Pend Online, a digital initiative empowering Kashmiris locally and globally. They’ve launched Fading Horizons—a 6-part series on the hidden realities of addiction. buff.ly/RSqvidP
Development studies can survive the drying-up of foreign aid – if it adapts Students must be taught a more community-based form of development, less dependent on the goodwill of donors, says Noam Schimmel. Read more: buff.ly/HEDFtkW via @timeshighered.bsky.social
👋🏽 Farewell to DSA President Uma Kambhampati “If we’ve strengthened the DSA so that it is more open, more inclusive and better able to support its members into the future, then I think we’ve achieved something worthwhile.” Read more: buff.ly/Vzkh8uO
Development economists now have a global professional home. The International Development Economics Association, @ideadevecon.bsky.social, founded by 89 scholars across 40+ countries, invites economists worldwide to join its community today. buff.ly/JxL9qlp
