In the last 60 years many different development paradigms have been adhered to. Approaches, modalities and instruments were challenged accordingly, and very frequently altered or adjusted. It is, however, still questionable whether we truly understand the relation between aid and development.

In 2008, MDF training & consultancy, Vice Versa and the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) organised a broad discussion to get development theories and models back on to the Dutch debate agenda. The aim was to revive the debate on the fundamental drivers of development in order to come to a better understanding of development and the ways aid may catalyse it. The main event within this process was a three-day conference organised on 27-29 August 2008 in Ede, the Netherlands.

During the conference the relations between aid and development were approached and analysed from different theoretical and practical angles. Sixteen papers were written as input for the discussion. The meeting brought together 96 development experts, including senior staff from funding agencies, government and semi-government organisations as well as researchers and development practitioners.

After the conference, MDF, Vice Versa and ISS published a paper assessing how several Dutch ministers of development cooperation have understood development and the ways aid can spur it.

The process was followed up in 2009 by another DPRN process entitled ‘Singing a new policy tune’, organised by the same three organisers and carried out in close cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This process aimed to search for the contours of a policy theory, amongst others through the organisation of discussions on the ideas and concepts underlying current policies.