International Security and Development Center (ISDC)

The International Security and Development Center (ISDC) is a non-profit academic institute based in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 2014 by Tilman Brück, the ISDC aims to unite the topics of security and development and bring together the relevant communities in science, politics, and practice.

The ISDC focuses on conducting research to improve lives and livelihoods affected by violent conflicts, fragility, and humanitarian emergencies. The main activities include:

• Data Analysis and Evidence-Based Policy Advice: The ISDC collects and analyzes data to derive evidence-based policy recommendations and strengthen the capacities of institutions.
• Microdata Collection and Analysis: The research focuses on the behavior of individuals, households, groups, and businesses in extreme adversity situations and examines how policies can best support them.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The ISDC collaborates with international partners from various disciplines and sectors to combine quantitative and qualitative methods and develop comprehensive solutions.

The mission of the ISDC is to understand and alleviate suffering worldwide through the power of data and evidence. The values of the institute include:

• Rigorous Methodological Analysis: A strong emphasis on methodological rigor and microeconomic thinking.
• Ethics, Justice, and Effectiveness: The development of policies that are ethical, just, and effective.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Overcoming the divide between the communities of security and development by collaborating with actors from science, politics, and practice.

The ISDC is engaged in various research topics and projects aimed at promoting sustainable development and stability. Key areas include:

• Peacebuilding and Violence Prevention: Research on violence and peacebuilding to develop strategies for building peace and preventing violence.
• Humanitarian Emergencies: Analyses and consultations regarding humanitarian emergencies to improve responses and the resilience of affected populations.
• Livelihoods and Shocks: Investigations into the impacts of shocks on livelihoods and the development of strategies to strengthen resilience.
• Capacity Building: Supporting policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders in developing, testing, and implementing evidence-based policies and programs.

The ISDC works closely with national and local governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, and international organizations. It is a member of various networks, including the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), and the Households in Conflict Network (HiCN). The work of the ISDC has been praised by various partners, including UNDP and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for its methodological rigor and practical relevance[3].

• 1 - https://isdc.org/about/
• 2 - https://isdc.org/contact/
• 3 - https://isdc.org
• 4 - https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/11850/publikationen/23_2024_texte_uebersicht_ueber_indikatoren.pdf
• 5 - https://www.bafu.admin.ch/dam/bafu/de/dokumente/recht/externe-studien-berichte/optimierung-der-berichterstattungspflichten-der-kantone-an-den-bund.pdf.download.pdf/Berichterstattungspflicht_211214_Interface.pdf