The Knowledge for Development and Diplomacy (K4DD) Programme supports the use of learning and evidence to improve the impact of development and diplomacy policy and programmes.

It provides the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) with rapid synthesis of evidence and learning events on a wide range of topics including climate, health, education, conflict and more. Funded by FCDO, it is delivered by a consortium of leading development and diplomacy research groups.

Our services

K4DD supports research and learning for FCDO and other UK Government departments in the following ways:

• Providing a rapid research helpdesk for quick response and complex emerging issues reports
• Facilitating in-depth expert challenge sessions
• Leading collaborative evidence and policy clinics

Visit the K4DD website

Rapid Research Helpdesk

FCDO staff can request a Rapid Evidence Review (RER) on a subject of their choice. They receive timely, rigorous analysis from a network of researchers and global experts. RERs can be a review of the available evidence, experience, and emerging practice, a literature review, annotated bibliography, or similar. Once approved, rapid research reports use six researcher days and are delivered in one month, with Emerging Issues Reports stretching over a longer period.

K4DD shares all publicly available reports via the programme’s dedicated website.

K4DD Learning Service

K4DD facilitates learning exercises for FCDO staff. Led by a K4DD researcher, these learning sessions focus on addressing a specific thematic or geographic issue, or are focused on a specific policy measure. These in-depth clinics help to deepen understanding of contemporary issues, and provide evidence-based analysis of contemporary issues.

The K4DD learning service is delivered through ‘Expert Challenge Sessions’ and ‘Evidence and Policy Clinics’.