Full Report - English | French
Executive Summary - English | French
Summary:
What does the research system, and the social sciences in particular, look like in a country that ranks second to last on the World Development Index? The Doing Research in Chad country report, produced by the Center for Research and Socio-Economic and Political Studies (CRESPO) in collaboration with the Global Development Network (GDN), offers an objective diagnostic of the current state of the ecosystem.
The assessment confirms several expected structural challenges. Decades of political instability and recurring conflict have historically diverted public resources away from the social sciences toward security and basic state functions. As a result, public investment remains low, at just 0.3% of GDP, and researchers face acute shortages of physical infrastructure, computers, and specialised software. Women are also significantly underrepresented, accounting for only 7.25% of the country’s approximately 780 social science researchers. However, the report also highlights a number of counterintuitive findings. While overall funding is limited, annual expenditure per researcher ($55,437 PPP) exceeds international benchmarks, largely due to the very small size of the research community. Despite institutional constraints, 52% of researchers report that mentors are accessible and express high levels of satisfaction with the guidance they receive. Most social scientists also perceive a high degree of independence from political influence, with more than half indicating that policymakers rarely interfere with their findings. Finally, despite weak financial incentives, 72% of researchers believe that attractive career opportunities exist within the national system.
Authors: CRESPO
- Alfred Ramadji
- Madjindaye Yambaidje
- Christian Nadjiarabeye Béassoum
- Douzounet Mallaye
- Mahamat Foudda Djourab
- Zakaria Beine
- Kelma Manatouma
- Nasra Djimasngar
- Zakinet Dangbet
- Dieudonné Djokina
Funder: This report is the result of a multi-country expansion of the Doing Research global initiative in Francophone Africa, generously funded by the Ministry of Finance of France, through the Agence Française de Développement, as part of the Pôle Clermontois de Développement Internationale.
Doing Research (DR) is a global initiative launched in 2014 to systematically assess how the characteristics of a national research system impact the capacity to produce, diffuse and use high-quality social science research for social and economic development in developing countries. By providing original data and analysis through a comparative framework that captures trends across countries and over time, the initiative enables national policymakers, donors, research institutions, and academics to strategise efforts in support of stronger and internationally competitive national research systems.
For more information, please contact Francesco Obino at fobino@gdn.int.
If you cite this resource, please notify communications@gdn.int with the subject line 'GDN citation'.
