Commissioned Research FAQ
Commissioned Research Frequently Asked Questions
This page answers common questions about commissioning research and evaluation through the hub. It is written for commissioners, partners, researchers, and practitioners across academic, policy, and development contexts. If your question is not answered here, you can post in the Commissioned Research group forum or contact a group admin directly.
General Questions
What is commissioned research in this hub?
Commissioned research refers to studies, reviews, evaluations and related work that are requested by an organization or partner (the “commissioner”) and carried out by researchers, evaluators or practitioners through the hub. The work is designed to produce clear, usable outputs for policy, practice and/or further research.
Who can commission work?
Public agencies, ministries, development programmes, universities, research centers, networks and practitioner organizations can all propose and commission work. The key is having a clear question or need for evidence that can be addressed through a structured project.
What kinds of questions are suitable?
Suitable questions are those that:
- Relate to real policy, programme or practice challenges.
- Can be addressed through evidence (existing or new).
- Are specific enough to be answerable within a realistic scope and timeline.
Examples include: “What evidence exists on the effectiveness of X policy?”, “What lessons can be drawn from Y programme?”, “How can Z approach be adapted to our context?”
Process and Timelines
How long does it take to commission and complete a project?
Timelines vary depending on the type and scope of work:
- Rapid evidence reviews or short briefs may take a few weeks to a couple of months.
- More in‑depth case studies, evaluations or mixed‑method projects may take several months.
The indicative timeline is discussed and agreed during the scoping phase and recorded in the project thread.
Can we commission work on a confidential basis?
Yes, in some cases. Parts or all of a project can be treated as confidential, for example:
- Internal policy advice not intended for public release.
- Sensitive evaluations or data that must be restricted.
Confidentiality arrangements should be agreed during scoping and documented in the project thread and outputs. Even where full public release is not possible, the hub encourages at least a summary or learning brief to be shared when feasible.
What if we need to change the scope mid‑project?
Changes in scope can happen as new evidence or constraints emerge. The expectation is that:
- Significant changes are discussed and agreed between the commissioner, project lead and relevant partners.
- Implications for timeline, resources and outputs are considered.
- Changes are documented in the project thread.
Outputs, Licensing and Use
Who owns the outputs?
Ownership and licensing depend on the agreement between the commissioner, project team and hub. In many cases:
- Authors retain copyright, but grant a licence (often Creative Commons) for use and sharing.
- Commissioners may have specific rights (e.g. to use, adapt or restrict) as agreed during scoping.
All arrangements should be documented in the project thread and stated in the outputs.
Can we restrict sharing of outputs?
Yes, where there are good reasons (e.g. confidentiality, political sensitivity, donor requirements). Options include:
- Internal‑only reports.
- Restricted access in the repository (e.g. metadata visible, file available on request).
- Time‑limited embargoes before public release.
The hub encourages as much openness as is compatible with safety, ethics and partners’ requirements.
Can we adapt outputs for our own use?
In most cases, yes, subject to the license:
- Open licences (e.g. CC BY) allow adaptation with appropriate attribution.
- More restrictive licences (e.g. CC BY‑NC‑ND) may limit commercial use or adaptation.
The license for each output is stated in the document and in the repository record. If you are unsure, check the license text or ask the project team.
How should outputs be cited?
A suggested citation format is provided in each output and on the Data, licensing and reuse page. In general, include authors, year, title, commissioner, publisher (hub/group), license and URL or repository link.
Costs, Resources and Support
Is there a cost to commission research?
This depends on the nature of the project and the arrangements in place:
- Some work may be undertaken on a pro bono, collaborative or in‑kind basis.
- Other projects may require explicit budgeting for researcher time, data collection, travel, etc.
Any financial or resource arrangements should be discussed and agreed during scoping and documented in the project thread.
What resources do commissioners need to provide?
Commissioners are often expected to contribute:
- Clear articulation of the need and questions.
- Access to relevant documents, data or stakeholders.
- Timely feedback on drafts and key decisions.
- In some cases, financial or in‑kind support (e.g. staff time, field access, translation).
Exact expectations are agreed during scoping and reflected in the roles and responsibilities for each project.
What support does the hub provide?
The hub provides:
- Coordination and workflow support (request, scoping, documentation, final outputs).
- Links to relevant thematic groups and experts.
- Guidance on quality, ethics, licensing and repository deposition.
- A visible, structured record of projects and outputs.
Depending on the project, the hub may also help identify lead researchers or evaluators.
Ethics, Safeguarding and Data
What if our project involves sensitive data or vulnerable groups?
Projects involving sensitive data or vulnerable groups should follow the Quality, ethics and safeguarding guidance. This includes:
- Appropriate consent procedures.
- Confidentiality and data protection measures.
- Attention to risks and safeguarding concerns.
- Where required, formal ethics review through an institutional mechanism.
Key ethical and safeguarding measures are documented in the project thread and/or outputs.
Can data be shared openly?
Where possible and appropriate, yes. The hub encourages open data sharing with suitable licences and documentation. However:
- Personal, confidential or high‑risk data may need to be restricted, anonymised or aggregated.
- Some data may only be shareable under specific conditions or on request.
Data‑sharing arrangements are agreed during scoping and documented in the project thread and outputs.
Academic, Policy and Practice Considerations
Can commissioned projects lead to academic publications?
Yes, where appropriate. Many projects can be designed to produce both:
- Practical outputs for policy and practice (briefs, guidance, OER).
- Academic outputs (journal articles, conference papers, working papers).
Authorship, timing and any embargoes should be agreed early between the commissioner, project lead and co‑authors.
How do you ensure outputs are useful for policymakers and practitioners?
Projects are designed with intended users in mind:
- Clear purpose and audience are defined at the start.
- Outputs are shaped to be accessible (e.g. executive summaries, briefs, visuals).
- Recommendations and implementation considerations are highlighted where relevant.
- Feedback from policy and practice stakeholders is sought during drafting.
Can practitioners use outputs for training and capacity strengthening?
Yes. OER modules, training materials, case studies, and briefs are explicitly intended for such use. Where open licenses are applied, these materials can be adapted and integrated into local training programmes, with appropriate attribution.
Getting Started
I have an idea but I’m not sure how to frame it. What should I do?
You can still submit a Project Request Form and indicate that the idea is at an early stage. In the form, you can:
- Describe the context and broad question.
- Note that you would welcome a scoping conversation.
- Leave some fields as “to be discussed”.
A group admin or review team will help you refine the idea into a feasible project.
I am a researcher/practitioner. How can I get involved in projects?
You can:
- Indicate your interest and expertise in the Commissioned Research group forum.
- Respond to project requests or scoping discussions where your skills are relevant.
- Offer to lead or contribute to projects, subject to agreement with commissioners and the project team.
Where can I see current and completed projects?
Once projects are running, summaries and links are posted in:
- 02_Running Projects – for ongoing work.
- 03_Final Outputs & Reports – for completed projects and their outputs.
In time, there may also be dedicated “Current projects” and “Completed projects” pages under the Commissioned Research section.
How this page fits with other guidance
This FAQ should be read alongside:
- How commissioned research works – for the full step‑by‑step process.
- Roles and expectations in commissioned projects – for responsibilities of different actors.
- Quality, ethics and safeguarding – for standards on ethical and safe practice.
- Data, licensing and reuse of outputs – for openness, attribution and sharing.
- Project Request Form – for the starting point of any new commission.
See also