Development Research Solution | Ipsos

Development Research

Generating the evidence to design more impactful policies, programmes and investments.

Strong development programmes begin with a deep understanding of the people, systems and contexts they aim to serve. Ipsos’s Africa Centre for Development Research & Evaluation works with development partners, government,  finance institutions, foundations, NGOs and the private sector to generate the evidence needed to design effective, inclusive and sustainable interventions. Combining rigorous social research with deep sector expertise and pan-African delivery capabilities, including facilitating high participatory approaches,  we help partners understand needs, identify opportunities, reduce risk and make informed decisions across the programme lifecycle. We have offices in 14 countries across Africa, and strong partners in all other countries.

  • Needs assessments & situation analysis: We assess the social, economic, institutional and policy contexts in which programmes operate, identifying priorities, gaps, opportunities and barriers to inform programme and policy design.
  • Political economy & systems research: We analyse the incentives, institutions, governance systems and stakeholder relationships that influence development outcomes, helping partners design interventions that are practical and sustainable.
  • Behavioural, social & human-centred research: We explore the behaviours, attitudes, motivations and experiences of citizens, communities and service users through qualitative, quantitative and participatory research to inform programme design and communication strategies.
  • Stakeholder & institutional research: We map and analyse stakeholders, institutions and delivery systems, identifying capacities, partnerships and engagement strategies that strengthen implementation and long-term impact.
  • Market systems & value chain studies: We examine markets, value chains, livelihoods and private sector ecosystems to identify constraints, opportunities and pathways for inclusive economic growth, enterprise development and financial inclusion.
  • Policy & strategy research: We provide evidence to support policy development, strategic planning and investment decisions through policy analysis, comparative research, evidence reviews and strategic assessments.
  • Baseline studies & programme design research: We establish robust baseline evidence and develop theories of change, results frameworks and evidence-informed programme designs that provide strong foundations for monitoring and evaluation.
  • Mixed-methods research & data analytics: We combine quantitative, qualitative and geospatial methods with advanced analytics to generate comprehensive insights that support evidence-based decision-making across Africa.