Academic research and development aid. Investigating the collaboration in knowledge production between universities and NGOs Research collaboration in development aid projects shows emerging power asymmetries related to knowledge and “extractive” approaches to research data. The emergence of research co-production practices between NGOs and academy requires a reflection on the positioning of the actors. The paper proposes some reflections on the experience of a working group of the University of Cagliari within development aid projects in Africa. Keywords: Development aid; Academic research; North South collaboration.