Evidence into Policy and Practice

IDS has pioneered approaches to linking up the supply of inclusive research with the demand for evidence from governments, donors, international development agencies, and civil society. It has also helped shape the concept of the politics of knowledge and current understandings of the relationship between evidence, policy and practice being social, political and interactive.

We have significant experience of mobilising knowledge in response to urgent humanitarian crises, and also provide tailored development knowledge services to governments and donor agencies as well as centres of excellence for knowledge sharing and engagement.  Our research staff and knowledge specialists bring particular experience and expertise in the following areas:

Evidence into use –research design that integrates knowledge exchange and policy engagement mechanisms from the start.

Research communications – high quality accessible products designed for maximum engagement

Digitally-enabled knowledge exchange – making evidence more available and accessible with the thoughtful use of technology.

Monitoring, evaluation and learning – facilitated learning around research impact and the development of theories of change.

Capacity building and mutual learning – through research programmes and tailored training and strategy support for institutions and individuals working at the interface between research evidence and policy and practice.

Programmes and centres

Projects

Recent work

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Showing 97–108 of 15287 results

Brief

Local Self-Governance on the Somalia–Kenya Border

IDS Policy Briefing 219

Thirty years of civil war, insurgency, and counterinsurgency in Somalia and neighbouring northeastern Kenya have hollowed out state services and left borderland communities beleaguered. Yet in this apparently ‘ungoverned’ space, local self-governance persists. Citizen-led reflection shows...

24 March 2025

News

Community initiatives vital for addressing Brighton & Hove food poverty

Initiatives led by grassroots organisations and community projects in Brighton & Hove are filling in the gaps left by failing welfare and food systems, according to new research released today.  The new research, from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), found that initiatives...

19 March 2025

Opinion

What is the future of funding for international development?

International development and global humanitarian assistance has been uprooted at the beginning of 2025 due to a series of budget cuts announced to Official Development Assistance (ODA). Most notably, the USAID funding freeze caused shockwaves around the world, removing life-saving assistance...

19 March 2025

Brief

Is Poverty Underestimated Because Males and Females Report Food Security and Food Expenses Differently?

BASIC Research Research Briefing 4

Does the gender of household survey respondents affect the accuracy of reported food consumption? Findings from a randomisation-based survey of beneficiary households in the Productive Safety Net Programme in Ethiopia suggest that it might – with implications for the targeting of such programmes.

19 March 2025

Past Event

Sussex Development Lectures

Humanitarian diplomacy in a world gone mad

Join us for this Sussex Development Lecture with Martin Griffiths, former Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator of the United Nations, as part of the series on power, politics and hope. Watch now https://www.youtube.com/live/yxk57iwGJWo Martin...

19 March 2025

Opinion

Design and Development: A Dialogue part 2

Are designers doing development? Do development professionals practise design? Designers and development practitioners have in common that they try to (re)shape the future. They make financial, material, practical, processual, and institutional interventions to change lives and improve outcomes,...

Dominic Glover
Dominic Glover & 4 others

18 March 2025

Why learn with us.

In an extraordinary time of challenge and change, we use more than 50 years of expertise to transform development approaches that create more equitable and sustainable futures. The work you do with us will help make progressive change towards universal development; to build and connect solidarities for collective action, locally and globally. The University of Sussex has been ranked 1st in the world for Development Studies for the past five years (QS World University Rankings by Subject).

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