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Development Research

AusAID funds research to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development. Good research leads to greater development effectiveness and AusAID has been a strong supporter of practical, policy-relevant social science research into development challenges.

AusAID Development Research Strategy 2008-10

Publication cover

This strategy outlines the way AusAID will increase the role of research in contributing to the effectiveness of the aid program.

AusAID will ensure an expanded program of quality research that is well communicated, informs AusAID's and partner countries' policies and programs, and builds capacity of researchers and research users.

There are five core elements to this new approach:

  • AusAID will increase funding for development research, through to 2010. In particular, AusAID will increase research funding across important thematic areas of the aid program, with a special emphasis on the challenges facing and solutions available to fragile states. Funding will also increase to cross-cutting research, so furthering important partnerships.
  • AusAID will establish new quality assurance and control processes, including:
    • stronger funding processes such as a competitive funding round for research, a robust peer review process and an increase in AusAID's investment in long-term partnerships with well-respected research institutions
    • new internal oversight arrangements that include a Research Steering Committee and a newly created Research Thematic Group to provide strategic guidance and practical advice to AusAID programs.
  • The link between research and policy-makers will be improved. Communication strategies will be required for all grants under the competitive funding round, with a greater emphasis on ensuring that AusAID leverages partnerships.
  • AusAID will increase its focus on capacity building needs when considering research. Whether the aim is to build research capacity or the capacity to use research, greater attention will be paid to meeting these objectives.
  • AusAID will leverage its existing linkages with the rest of the Australian Government and with other donors to bolster research quality.

2008