The Impact Initiative

Our mission is to increase the uptake and impact of research from two major research programmes jointly funded by the UK's Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Department for International Development (DFID): the Joint Fund for Poverty Alleviation Research and the Raising Learning Outcomes in Education Systems Research Programme. [read more] 

The Impact Initiative 

Explore the research

Education
Teaching and learning, poverty, gender, disability

RLO
Children & Young People
Health, education, protection, livelihoods
Gender
Health, education, social norms, power, rights
Governance
Participation, accountability, citizenship, rights
Health
Infectious diseases, NCDs, injury, maternal health, nutrition
Livelihoods
Making a living, securing basic necessities
Security
Development and conflict contexts, local governance, religion, gender
Urban/Rural
Issues specific to urban and rural contexts, migration, environment, economics

Track the impact

Testing and showcasing ways that research can bring about change

Reforming Higher Education Teaching Practices in Africa

Innovative research is enabling changes to teaching practices that support the development of students’ critical thinking skills in sub-Saharan Africa.

Financial Entrapment of Street Vendors in Colombia

The Mayor of Cali has incorporated a financial policy to enable street vendors to borrow money quickly and reasonably, and build a sustainable livelihood.

Providing Alternatives to Fossil Fuels in Nepal

Research in Nepal shows how indigenous oil seed plants can be an alternative, more environmentally friendly energy source than fossil fuels.
see all

Download the resources

Download

Raising learning outcomes in diverse Indian contexts

Improving learning outcomes in India requires a rethinking of educational strategies. While improvements in physical access to schools are welcome, improving learning outcomes requires different stakeholders to adapt teaching content and methods to local contexts.

Download

Women and conflict

Research evidence explores social norms, economic empowerment and women’s political participation in fragile and conflict-affected states including Jordan, Pakistan and Somaliland.

Download

Gender and education

This collection presents strategies to ensure commitments to eliminate gender disparities in education are met and draws on research from Honduras, Malawi, Niger and South Africa.
see all

Catch up on the news

COVID-19: Thinking differently about education research impact
Being able to achieve specific changes in policy and practice through new evidence will undoubtedly be affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic - researchers will have to adapt quickly to the current realities. This webinar is part of a series being organised by the Impact Initiative and will focus on ‘how do we need to think differently about impact for education policy and practice in the context of COVID-19?’
The opportunities and challenges of achieving impact - Impact Initiative webinar series
From May to October 220, the Impact Initiative will convene monthly discussions online to draw on some stand-out examples of particular impact pathways and strategies that have emerged over the course of the Impact Initiative programme. The process will be designed to produce reflections on opportunities and challenges of working on a portfolio of research in different ways to maximise impact.
COVID-19 may be the ultimate test of science and policy partnerships
The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed debates about the politics of science into the mainstream. A new report suggests there are some key qualities that may go towards determining the success of research-policy partnerships and those seeking to influence them. The ability of diverse communities of researchers and policy actors to find common ground, sustain their interactivity and adapt to change, will have real consequences.
Blog: Can a national curriculum reduce inequality? Reflections from South Africa
Focus groups with academics and practitioners in the KwaZulu Natal province examined how the context in which national policy is implemented and monitored differs for poorer schools versus schools in urban, advantaged areas. Data generated by an ESRC-DFID funded project indicates that the national curriculum alone cannot improve learning outcomes in a highly heterogeneous, unequal system.
see all

Access support

The Impact Initiative exists to connect policy makers and practitioners with the world class social science research supported by the ESRC-DFID Strategic Partnership. We seek to identify research synergies and support grant holders from the Joint Fund for Poverty Alleviation or Raising Learning Outcomes in Education Systems Research Programme to exploit influencing and engagement opportunities, and facilitate learning. Discover how to maximise the impact of your project.

access support now

Motorcycles and food security in African 'secondary cities'

Researchers, civil society groups, and policymakers, explored policy opportunities to support motorcycle taxi transport in addressing urban food security challenges.

Migrants provide solutions for urban sustainability

Researchers and policymakers from city and national planning agencies discussed the insights and challenges faced by migrants in rapidly growing cities in Bangladesh.