Research transforms lives. It helps us understand complex problems and create solutions across cultures, regions, and sectors. Research-based tools, approaches, and innovations improve the way we plan for and respond to disasters, design our health systems, build resilience, boost productivity in agriculture, strengthen educational systems, and understand environmental changes.

USAID is committed to evidence-based decision making through its investments in research and development activities. By partnering with higher education institutions and increasing the use of scientific research, tools, and analysis, USAID is improving development outcomes.

Programs to advance research

Research increases the commitment and capacity of our partner countries to plan, finance, and implement solutions based on informed decision-making. We partner with higher education institutions in the United States and in USAID partner countries, governments, civil society, and the private sector to build local research capacity and use an evidence-based approach to development work.

The Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) 1.0 Portfolio extends a commitment to engaging creatively with Higher Education institutions, including USAID’s original HESN and PEER programs (see Legacy Programs below), to new higher-education based programs and partnerships designed to leverage the expertise of the higher education community domestically and overseas.

Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) is a grants program that funds researchers, scientists, and engineers in USAID partner countries to conduct research in partnership with U.S. government-funded researchers on local development challenges. PEER helps to build capacity among local researchers and research institutions, strengthen research partnerships worldwide, and better translate data and evidence into policy and action. Since its launch in 2011, PEER has awarded more than $100 million to more than 400 projects in 57 countries.

The Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) is a global network of nearly 900 university-affiliated researchers and experts associated with over 300 organizations. These scholars provide USAID with short-term expertise and technical assistance across all sectors and geographic areas, which helps USAID make strategic choices and evidence-based programming decisions.

The Long-Term Assistance and Services for Research (LASER) is a global network of university researchers and development practitioners collaborating on practical solutions to critical development challenges. LASER translates data and findings into development impact and builds technical and research capacity in USAID partner countries.

The Science, Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Annual Program Statement (STIP APS) is a program that allows higher education institutions across the globe to create evidence-based solutions in partnership with USAID. The STIP APS encourages higher education institutions to collaborate with local institutions including the private sector, government, and civil society organizations to build support for resolving significant local development challenges.

The Accelerating Local Potential (ALP) program builds the research and scientific capacity of higher education institutions in USAID partner countries to become global leaders in science education and research. Local government officials, policymakers, and other development actors can use these higher education institutions as sources of knowledge and innovation for development.

The Building Research and Innovation for Development, Generating Evidence, and Training (BRIDGE-Train) program uses partnerships between higher education institutions in the United States and USAID partner countries to develop research, innovation, and training centers. These centers generate knowledge to address local and national development priorities.

The Bringing Research to Impact for Development, Global Engagement, and Utilization (BRIDGE-U) program works with higher education institutions in USAID partner countries to promote the effective use of research; to strengthen the pipeline of local researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners skilled in facilitating research utilization; and to build a knowledge base for effectively using research evidence to create development impact.

Fellowships

Fellowships provide researchers, scientists, and engineers the opportunity to use their technical expertise to address critical challenges in development while gaining firsthand experience working at USAID. Fellows apply their diverse backgrounds and technical knowledge across USAID’s sectors to support new approaches to development. 

Fellowship programs include:

Policy & Coordination

USAID’s Innovation, Technology, and Research (ITR) Hub uses research and evidence-based practice to drive successful programming and development. We do this by providing trainings, publishing USAID-supported research results on public platforms, and supporting the use of research within the Agency and among development practitioners. The ITR Hub leads the Agency’s coordination of research through the Research and Development Council. The following documents are tools to help ensure high-quality research is used for development and to increase the use of scientific research evidence:

Public Access Plan (launched in 2016)
Scientific Research Policy (launched in 2014)
Scientific Integrity Policy (launched in 2009)

International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 

At Regeneron ISEF, USAID presents the Science for Development Award to recognize innovative student projects in science and technology that could advance our ability to meet current and future development challenges.

Our flagship programs include:

The Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) is a partnership between USAID and seven top universities to harness the ingenuity and passion of university students, researchers, and faculty to deliver solutions to global development challenges. USAID created eight Development Labs that incubate, catalyze, and scale new science and technology-based solutions. Since its launch in 2012, HESN  has created over 150 innovations and 160 research projects and has benefited nearly 20 million people in USAID partner countries.

The Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) is a grants program that funds researchers, scientists, and engineers in USAID partner countries to conduct research in partnership with U.S. government-funded researchers on local development challenges. PEER helps to build capacity among local researchers and research institutions, strengthen research partnerships worldwide, and better translate data and evidence into policy and action. Since its launch in 2011, PEER has awarded nearly $100 million to over 350 projects in 50 countries.

Research Publications and Evaluations

Read publications and evaluations on how scientific research is contributing to international development.

Stories

Get first-person perspectives on how our programs are impacting lives and livelihoods.

Concluded Programs

Research and Innovation Fellowships (2014 - 2018)
Seeding Labs (2014 - 2016)