WOTRO Science for Global Development

As a cross-domain initiative within NWO, WOTRO Science for Global Development programmes, finances and facilitates research for inclusive global development. The WOTRO research programmes are aimed at providing knowledge and skills that contribute to sustainable solutions for social and ecological problems in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

  • Strategy

    Together with its partners, WOTRO develops research programmes that stimulate innovative research in emerging economies and developing countries. To increase the impact of research, WOTRO focuses on the sharing of knowledge and the application of research results in policy and practice. WOTRO engages local knowledge institutions and societal actors from the start in its research programmes and aims for equitable research partnerships.

    The objectives of WOTRO are:

    • generating, disseminating and utilising high-quality knowledge
    • increasing knowledge synergy for development
    • strengthening research capacity in developing countries.

    WOTRO achieves these objectives by developing research programmes and activities together with national and international stakeholders from within and outside the scientific community. These stakeholders include researchers, policy makers, development workers and the private sector.

  • International cooperation

    WOTRO supports forming platforms and networks for international development and research into development cooperation. These platforms and networks contribute to the sharing, utilisation and expansion of knowledge by bridging the gap between science, policy and practice.

    WOTRO makes international collaboration possible in a broad context. This gives researchers from developing countries better access to funds, and the work of different research funders can be better coordinated.

  • Research Impact

    WOTRO aims to support researchers in increasing the impact of their research projects, on all levels but in particular on the level of societal impact and policy influence.

    What is impact?

    Societal impact of research is understood as the cultural, economic, industrial, ecological or social changes that are entirely or in part the consequence of knowledge and expertise generated by research.

    Approaches, tools and methods to achieve impact

    NWO has an integrated strategy in which productive interactions in research are promoted by using the Theory of Change and Impact Pathways.

    And also take a look at some WOTRO communication examples! Or check out the NWO developments on research for impact that are used for e.g. the Impact Plan Approach.

  • Organisation

    Until 2024 WOTRO was governed by an autonomous steering committee. As from 1 January 2024, the NWO Executive Board is the decision-making body for the WOTRO and Merian Fund Programmes

  • Contact

    WOTRO Science for Global Development

    T: +31 70 344 09 63
    E: wotro@nwo.nl

    Visiting address
    Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indië 300 (Java Building) 2593 CE The Hague, The Netherlands
    Route

    Postal address
    PO Box 93461, 2509 AC The Hague, The Netherlands

    For suppliers:

    • KvK 27367015
    • WOTRO invoice number: LB575700-11

    Team lead

    Dr Eric Beerkens
    T: +31 70 349 41 09
    E: e.beerkens@nwo.nl

    Policy officers

    Helena Arntz, MA
    Policy officer
    T: +31 6 23453158 / +3170 349 40 23
    E: h.arntz@nwo.nl
    Contact for: Merian Fund Brazil;, SDG Tackling global challenges,; Merian Fund China

    Martijn Bal, MSc
    Policy Officer
    T: +31 70 3494426
    E: m.bal@nwo.nl
    Contact for: NL-CGIAR partnership;, UDW

    Greta van der Brand, Msc
    Policy Officer
    T: +31 70 3494305 / +31 683 222974
    E: g.vandenbrand@nwo.nl
    Contact for: NL-CGIAR partnership

    Dr. Monika Brasser
    Policy Officer
    T: +31 70 349 45 03
    E: m.brasser@nwo.nl
    Contact for: Food & Business Global Challenges Programme; LEAP-Agri, CGIAR-NL, Merian

    Petra Griffioen, MSc
    Policy Officer
    T: +31 70 344 09 76
    E: p.griffioen@nwo.nlContact for: Merian Fund, NL-CGIAR partnership, Impact & Innovation Grants

    Matthijs Kallenberg, MSc
    Policy Officer
    T: +31 623 94 23 88
    E: m.kallenberg@nwo.nl
    Contact for: NWA - SDG interactions and policy interventions,; Merian Fund South Africa – the Netherlands.

    Rachel Kelders, MSc
    Policy Officer
    T: +31 70 349 4085
    E: r.kelders@nwo.nl
    Contact for: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR); Urbanising Deltas of the World (UDW)

    Maaike Spiekerman, MA
    Junior Policy Officer
    T: + 31 70 349 40 94
    E: m.spiekerman@nwo.nl
    Contact for:Merian Fund; Cooperation Indonesia-The Netherlands

    Dr. Gerrie Tuitert
    Senior Policy Officer
    T: +31 70 344 07 05
    E: g.tuitert@nwo.nl
    Contact for: PopDev; Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR); ERAfrica; International partnerships

    Léonie Uijtdewilligen
    Policy Officer
    T: +31703440977 / +31657993392
    E: l.uijtdewilligen@nwo.nl
    Contact for: Merian Fund, Science Diplomacy Fund, NL-CGIAR Partnership

    Jelte Verberne
    Junior Policy Officer
    T: +31 70 349 41 48
    E: j.verberne@nwo.nl
    Contact for: Security and Rule of Law (SRoL), Supporting the Political Role of Civil Society Organisations for Inclusive Development (Assumptions)

    Jacomijn Verbruggen - Zoutewelle, MSc
    Policy Officer
    T: +31 70 344 09 72
    E: j.zoutewelle@nwo.nl
    Contact for: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR); Prince Claus Chair, Merian Fund, Cooperation South Africa – The Netherlands

    Dr. Martijn Wienia
    Senior Policy Officer
    T: +31 70 349 4352
    E: m.wienia@nwo.nl
    Contact for: Integrated Programmes; Global Health Policy and Health Systems; MFS II Evaluations

    Archive

    Nathalie Nieuwveld - Meijer
    T: +31 70 344 09 51
    E: n.nieuwveld@nwo.nl

    Assistants

    Loes Buitendijk
    T: +31 70 344 0988
    E: l.buitendijk@nwo.nl

    Naomi Strubbe
    T: +31 623 20 25 55
    E: n.strubbe@nwo.nl

    Stephanie de Wal
    T: + 31 651 32 02 08
    E: s.dewal@nwo.nl

    Communications

    Marjolie Mankoto
    T: +31 70 349 43 68
    E: m.mankoto@nwo.nl

WOTRO Steering Committee to be disbanded on 1 January 2024

Global challenges are increasingly appearing in all of NWO’s regular programmes. NWO therefore wishes to bring the decision-making process for international cooperation programmes more in line with the current decision-making process for thematic programmes. As of 1 January 2024, the Executive Board will once again decide on NWO’s international programmes.

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