The Social Research Center of the American University in Cairo (SRC-AUC) invited a group of researchers, NGO’s and professionals interested in development issues to discuss the topic within the framework of the needs and practical development conditions of Egypt. This group of the different constituents (researchers, non governmental and governmental units) formed an advisory group from different disciplines. The deliberation process included a number of meetings during the period of November, 1997 to March 1998, the preparation of papers on the importance of research for development specifying the factors hindering the use of the research results and proposing the mechanisms to overcome these obstacles. To ensure a broad base participation for this program, a second activity was proposed. A “Users’ Workshop” was held in Upper Egypt for 3 days. The purpose of the workshop was to have the actual involvement of the stakeholders in defining the program, articulating their concerns and suggesting mechanisms for implementation. The participants of both groups agreed on the importance of a research program addressing developmental issues which could be implemented and achieving participation and partnership among the researchers, the implementers and the policy makers. They also noted a number of constraints which prevented research from playing its directive role. Some of the problems mentioned relate to the researchers and their isolation from society, others pertain to the specific, bureaucratic nature of the group carrying out the research.