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What we do

International development research and evidence often lacks the participation of southern practitioners who work directly with communities living in poverty - and the views of those communities themselves. We aim to change that.

We work:

  • in partnership to create spaces for southern knowledge
  • for communities, and those living in poverty, to be involved in the generation of research and evidence relevant to them
  • to produce and support high-quality ethical research and evidence on poverty, to contribute new approaches to tackling and eradicating it
  • to guide evidence use and learning, and strengthen technical knowledge related to research, evidence, impact and engagement - all through online materials, tools and training courses
  • to influence wider debates in the development sector, to improve how programmes and policy work is designed and delivered

Doing research ethically: a guide

Our guide and toolkit aims to help NGO staff, partners and consultants to conduct research and evaluation in an ethical way.

Image credits and information i
An interview taking place in the village of Nyamdehun Bessima, Sierra Leone. Credit: Tom Pilston/Christian Aid
Image of the cover of the report Doing research ethically
Image credits and information i
Two activists embrace in KwaMashu, an informal settlement north of Durban, South Africa. Credit: Simon Hutchinson, Irish Methodist World Development & Relief
Two activists embrace in KwaMashu, an informal settlement north of Durban, South Africa. Christian Aid’s partner, Church Land Programme, works closely with the shackdweller movement (Abahlali baseMjondolo) so that people in KwaMashu can live without fear.

Learning from working in partnership

These Christian Aid reports share learning from decades of close collaboration with local and national organisations in Angola, Brazil, Ghana, Guatemala, South Africa and the Philippines. 

Research projects

We're supporting research projects in a number of countries, and related to a range of themes:

  • 'Building Alternatives' is a project gathering evidence to build a feminist agroecological model in Brazil
  • The Evidence and Collaboration for Inclusive Development (ECID) project aims to reduce poverty, realise rights and improve the well-being of the most marginalised in Myanmar, Nigeria and Zimbabwe
Image credits and information i
Women farmers in Brazil, looking over the land they have farmed sustainably. Credit: Miriam Nobre
A group of 4 thoughtful-looking women farmers in mountainous tropical countryside, looking over their land

Latest research

Addressing impunity for GBV among Haiti's displaced population

This findings from this study are relevant for state and non-state actors, including funders who are interested in addressing GBV in Haiti, with a particular focus on displaced populations.

How Covid-19 Shrank Civic Space

This study urgently raises issues around the increasingly restricted civic space since the onset of Covid-19.

Further reading

Our research and reflections on practice

Research, practice reviews and impact assessments we have commissioned, supported or written

Evidence for Development

Find out about our online course on research evidence for development practitioners.

Capacity development

Learning resources, one-page guides and toolkits for practitioner and partnership research

Key resources

Listen to our six-part podcast series, and read our reports.

Toward a decolonial ethic for building equitable research partnerships

Cathy Bollaert reflects on building fair and equitable research partnerships.

Evidence for Development podcast

Stream all episodes of our podcast about research and learning related to International Development.

Decolonisation and decoloniality of research and evidence cultures

What does the on-going conversation about decolonisation mean for the way we do our research?

Decolonising evaluation: whose value counts?

How we at Christian Aid are decolonising our evaluation practice.

Meet the team

List Contacts – by content reference (specific page match)

Adebola Adeeko

Strengthens communication and knowledge engagement so our research has greater impact.

Dr. Anupama Ranawana

Strengthens research design and ethics particularly with regards to diversifying knowledge production, ‘shifting’ power in research and applied research methods.

Dr. Cathy Bollaert

Leads the Research, Evidence and Learning team.

Dr. Claire Launchbury

Manages and maintains the knowledge and evidence produced by Christian Aid.

Dr. Tara Korti

Strengthens the research and evidencing capacity of Christian Aid staff and partner organizations.

Jo Garrad

Provides support and advice on external research funding schemes.

Saifuddin Ahmed

Maps evidence of the impact of programmes at Christian Aid

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