The conference on ‘Research & policy: two peas in a pod?’ aimed to strengthen the link between researchers, their stakeholders, and policymakers in the broad field of food security.

Social-democratic political parties in Europe have suffered election losses in recent years. In a debate dominated by right-wing nationalists and advocates of a neo-liberal Europe, the political left is struggling to find its way.

The Broker, supported by the Food & Business Knowledge Platform (F&BKP), has recently started an explorative study on conflict sensitivity of Dutch Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) policies. Mali, Burundi and Ethiopia have been chosen as case countries. Recognizing the context specificity of FNS programmes and the uncertain and ambiguous relationship with conflict and stability, The Broker aims to identify what is already being done, formulate a checklist for “asking the right questions” and deepen the debate on conflict sensitive approaches in FNS programming.

By the beginning of 2016, The Broker had switched from pro-actively supplying knowledge to responding more to the needs and demands of those involved in global development policy and national policies with global consequences. The results of this transition have now been published in our 2016 annual report.