Social and Development Research

We research community needs, lived experiences and barriers to services to help development teams design more relevant and inclusive programmes.

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What we research

01
Community needs research
We identify community priorities and how they differ between groups.
02
Service-access research
We investigate practical, social and financial barriers to using services.
03
Participation and inclusion
We seek perspectives missing from existing information and consultation.

How we carry out the research

01
Define the groups to hear from
We identify the groups whose experiences the study needs to represent.
02
Combine breadth and depth
We combine surveys with interviews or group discussions to explore patterns and explanations.
03
Plan accessible participation
We plan language, consent and accessible participation around the people involved.

What you receive

Deliverables are tailored to your study and confirmed in the agreed scope.

Thematic findingsA synthesis of community experiences and differing perspectives, with anonymised excerpts where consent permits.
Survey tables and documentationSurvey breakdowns, question wording and sampling limitations to support interpretation.

Related case studies

Related published case studies and their reported research approaches.

Baseline and Performance Monitoring of a Livelihoods Programme

Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment · Cameroon, 2025 · n = 1,600

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Impact Evaluation of Community Health Intervention

Public Health · Zimbabwe, 2025 · n = 1,800

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Quality and Coverage

Confirm where the study can take place and which controls it requires.

Country capability

Review geographic feasibility, languages and delivery arrangements.

Country capability

Quality and ethics

Agree participant protection, validation and data-handling requirements.

Quality and ethics

Planning your community study

How should local languages be handled?

List the languages and literacy needs of intended participants. Include translation, review and interviewer briefing in the proposed scope.

How do we hear from people who do not currently use the programme?

Can interviews or group discussions be used alongside a survey?

Which community or development question are you working on?

Tell us the decision you need to make and the evidence you need. We will discuss a research scope suited to your question.

Discuss your research