This Conference sought to problematize knowledge production processes/research in relation to policies in the South. As there are gaps between policy and research at multiple levels, it raised questions such as: who are the knowledge producers, who raises the demands for knowledge production, what are the sites of knowledge production, who uses such knowledge, who benefits from new knowledge, what are the lessons learnt, and how can we bridge these gaps.

Specifically, the Conference focused on the problematique of knowledge production about southern contexts in the South. It explored policy/research gaps in two directions and found that in some places policy needs to be fed by better research while in others, policy needs to take better account of existing solid research. It focused on the ways and means for translating this knowledge into effective policy initiatives, locally, nationally, regionally and internationally, by identifying the multiple gaps between research and policies in different sectors.

The Conference sought to bring together theorists, researchers, creative thinkers, writers, activists, policy makers, academicians to debate bridging the real and imagined gaps. How can the research we produce in third world contexts be translated into effective policy for sustainable development (SD)? Is SD only a question of reorienting the research/policy connections? Or, is it about claiming and putting value into the fragmented and disparate work that speaks to and about the third world?

These questions were tackled at several inter-related levels: in purely third world contexts; in terms of the relationship with first world institutions; and, within and between third world contexts.

The conference addressed three themes.
1. Concepts and approaches: How can concrete situations be addressed in a transdisciplinary manner? How can specialized research be translated into effective policy measures?
2. Contexts and issues: Can specific contexts and issues be related to general trends and patterns? Can these trends and patterns identify the existing gaps?
3. Findings and recommendations: What are the lessons learnt and how can the policy/research gaps be bridged?

The Conference was multi and transdisciplinary and opened up new ways of seeing, which may help in leading to effective strategies for over-coming the gaps we presently face in policy making.

The Conference investigated critical policy issues ranging from the status of social sciences to issues of migration and urbanization, food security, employment, governance, gender, violence, poverty, the WTO regime and trade, renewable energy, and conflict. It highlighted the cross-cutting linkages between such diverse themes and the increasingly complex demands upon the policy arena to respond to these issues quickly and effectively.