Organisation profile
Organisation profile
The Centre for Development Studies (CDS) is home to critical and interdisciplinary research on just transitions in a rapidly changing global context. Bringing together faculty at the Univeristy, as well as researchers, partners at NGOs, development practioners across the globe, CDS addresses some of the most pressing challenges shaping development today.
Our research is organised around four core themes: resourses, energy and food; just transition and environment governance; labour and inequalities; conflict and humantarianism. These areas reflect both the Centre’s longstanding expertise and new directions responding to the contemporary political economy of development, including crises in the development-aid architecture, the geopolitical race for minerals, pressures on food and agrarian systems, and growing inequalities and unemployment.
Across these themes, CDS examines the role of institutions and governance, the dynamics of power and unfreedom, and the possibilities for political mobilisation and collective action. We adopt a methodologically plural approach, combining qualitative, quantitative, participatory, and visual methods to generate robust and policy-relevant insights.
By integrating research, policy engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration, CDS contributes to advancing equitable and sustainable development pathways at local, national, and global levels.
Centre for Development Studies
UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
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Noaman G Ali
- Department of Social & Policy Sciences - Lecturer
- Centre for Development Studies (CDS)
- Centre for Climate Adaptation & Environment Research (CAER)
Person: Research & Teaching, Affiliate staff
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Fran Amery
- Politics, Languages & International Studies - Senior Lecturer
Person: Research & Teaching
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Asha Amirali
- Department of Social & Policy Sciences - Lecturer
- Centre for Development Studies (CDS)
- Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems (SES)
Person: Core staff, Affiliate staff, Teaching & Other
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The politics of implementation of unilateral green trade policies
Sun, Y. (PI)
6/02/26 → 31/03/28
Project: Research-related funding
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Applying a strategic approach to active school travel: Barriers, facilitators and potential solutions in Wales
McCann, E., Pilkington, P., Rutter, H. & Bradley, J., 30 Jun 2026, In: Journal of Transport and Health. 49, 102317.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
A theory of change approach to enhance the post-2030 sustainable development agenda
Allen, C., Malekpour, S., Weitz, N., Bennich, T., Pedercini, M., Sagar, A., Griggs, D., Raven, R., Sun, Y., Pradhan, P., Sénit, C.-A., Stevance, A.-S., Leininger, J., Lafortune, G., Llanos, A. O., Onoda, S., Fernando, G., Lechner, A., Mohan, A. & Guan, T. & 3 others, , 15 Jan 2026, In: Science. 391, 6782, p. 241-244 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (SciVal)24 Downloads (Pure) -
Beyond Financial Market Dualism: An Empirical Analysis of Variations in Use of Financial Services in South Africa
Tshaka, M., Simatele, M. & Copestake, J., 7 Jan 2026, In: Journal of Risk and Financial Management. 19, 1, 47.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Datasets
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Data set for "A hidden web of policy influence: The pharmaceutical industry’s engagement with UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Groups"
Rickard, E. (Creator) & Ozieranski, P. (Creator), University of Bath, 28 May 2021
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00943
Dataset
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Qualitative data for states of emergency: citizenship in crisis in Sierra Leone 2017
Enria, L. (Creator), University of Bath, 31 Jan 2019
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00596
Dataset
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Impact assessment in complex contexts of rural livelihood transformations in Africa. Part 2- Interview data
Copestake, J. (Creator), Remnant, F. (Contributor), Allan, C. (Contributor) & Thomas, E. (Contributor), UK Data Service, 4 Feb 2016
Dataset
Student theses
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An institutional analysis of savings group development using evidence from Kenya
Malkamaki, M. (Author), Johnson, S. (Supervisor), 21 Mar 2016Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › PhD
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A study of post-colonial statecraft in the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone in the Southern Shan State of Myanmar, 1988-2015
Yue, R. W. K. (Author), Wong, P. N. (Supervisor) & Thomas, S. (Advisor), 31 Oct 2018Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › PhD
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Between Nonviolence and Violence: A Comparative Analysis on the Dynamics of Choice in the Ogoni and Ijaw Movements in the Niger Delta
Mai-Bornu, Z. (Author), Thomas, S. (Supervisor) & Bull, A. (Supervisor), 23 Nov 2017Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › PhD
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