Commissioned Research Overview
Turning evidence into action across academia, policy and practice
Commissioned Research: evidence for policy, practice and scholarship
This hub coordinates commissioned research and evaluation projects that connect evidence, policy and practice across multiple sectors. We work with universities, public agencies, development programmes and field‑based initiatives to design and deliver focused studies, reviews and evaluations that produce clear, usable outputs.
Commissioned research is the “production engine” of our commons: it is where questions become structured inquiries, evidence is synthesized or generated, and findings are translated into briefs, reports, tools and learning resources that can be applied in real‑world contexts.
Whether you are a policymaker looking for timely evidence, a practitioner seeking practical guidance, or a researcher aiming for rigorous, citable work with real‑world impact, this is the place to propose, co‑design and track commissioned projects.
- To see how the process works step by step, visit [How commissioned research works].
- To propose a project, go to the Commissioned Research group and use the Project Request Form.
- To explore current and completed projects, browse the group’s Running Projects and Final Outputs & Reports topics.
This hub coordinates commissioned research and evaluation projects that connect evidence, policy and practice across multiple sectors. We work with universities, public agencies, programmes and field‑based initiatives to design and deliver focused studies, reviews and evaluations that produce clear, usable outputs for decision‑makers, practitioners and researchers.
Commissioned research is the “production engine” of our commons: it is where questions become structured inquiries, evidence is synthesized or generated, and findings are translated into briefs, reports, tools and learning resources that can be applied in real‑world contexts.
The hub is intentionally multi‑sectoral. It serves:
- Academic communities seeking rigorous, publishable and citable work.
- Policy actors needing timely, credible evidence to inform strategies, reforms and regulations.
- Practitioners and development organisations looking for practical guidance, tools and lessons to improve programmes and services.
Why commission research through this hub?
Commissioning research here offers advantages for all three communities:
For academic partners
- Rigorous, methodologically sound projects
Projects are designed with appropriate methods, clear questions and transparent documentation, supporting academic quality and potential for publication.- Connection to real‑world questions
Work is grounded in actual policy and practice challenges, increasing relevance and impact beyond academia.- Pathway to citation and reuse
Outputs are prepared with repository deposition in mind (Layer 3), so that reports, briefs and data can later be assigned persistent identifiers and properly described for academic use.For policy actors
- Decision‑oriented evidence
Projects are framed around specific policy questions, reforms or strategies, with outputs designed for busy decision‑makers (executive summaries, options, recommendations).- Timely and focused syntheses
Rapid reviews and targeted analyses provide usable evidence within realistic timeframes.- Transparent process
The workflow (request → scoping → delivery → final outputs) is documented, supporting accountability and trust.For practitioners and development organisations
- Practical guidance and tools
Outputs include not only reports, but also briefs, checklists, case studies and OER modules that can be used in training and daily work.- Learning from real implementations
Case studies and evaluations capture what works, what does not, and why, in specific contexts.- Reusable resources
Where open licences are used, materials can be adapted to different programmes, countries or sectors, with proper attribution.
What kinds of work can be commissioned?
The hub supports a range of research and evaluation activities, always with an emphasis on rigour, relevance and usability. Examples include:
- Rapid evidence reviews
Focused syntheses of existing research and grey literature to answer specific policy or practice questions within a short timeframe. Useful for policy units, programme teams and academic collaborators needing a quick but structured overview.- Case studies and comparative analyses
In‑depth examination of one or more initiatives, programmes or policy approaches, with attention to context, implementation and lessons learned. Valuable for practitioners, evaluators and researchers interested in “how it works in practice”.- Programme and project evaluations
Structured assessments of ongoing or completed initiatives, covering design, implementation, outcomes and implications for future work. Relevant for donors, implementing organisations and policy bodies.- Policy briefs and guidance notes
Concise, decision‑oriented documents that translate research findings into clear options, recommendations and implementation considerations. Designed for ministries, agencies and senior management.- Data work and datasets
Collection, cleaning, analysis or synthesis of quantitative or qualitative data, with documentation that makes the data understandable and, where appropriate, reusable. Supports academic analysis, monitoring and evaluation, and evidence‑informed planning.- OER modules and training materials
Open educational resources that translate evidence into teaching and learning materials for professionals, students and other audiences. Useful for universities, training institutes and field‑based capacity strengthening.- Mixed‑method and multi‑output projects
Projects that combine, for example, a full report, a policy brief, a dataset and an OER module, tailored to different audiences and uses across academia, policy and practice.The exact scope and mix of outputs are defined together with the commissioner during the scoping phase.
Who can commission or partner in this work?
The hub works with a variety of partners across sectors:
- Public sector bodies (ministries, agencies, local authorities) seeking evidence to inform policies, strategies or reforms.
- Development programmes and initiatives (regional, national or thematic) that need evaluations, syntheses or learning products.
- Networks and coalitions that want to document experiences, extract lessons or build shared learning resources.
- Universities and research centres that wish to co‑produce evidence and tools with direct relevance to policy and practice.
- Practitioner networks and professional associations interested in translating evidence into guidance, standards or training.
If you represent an organization or initiative with a clear question or need for evidence, you can propose a commissioned project through this hub.
How the process works (overview)
The full step‑by‑step process is described on the [How commissioned research works] page. In brief, the journey of a project follows four stages:
1. Request
- A commissioner or partner submits a Project Request in the Commissioned Research group.
- The request outlines the purpose, key questions, expected outputs, timeline and any special requirements.
- Group admins or a review team may ask clarifying questions and suggest refinements.
2. Scoping and design
- Once a request is accepted, the scope is clarified:
- Main questions and boundaries
- Type and depth of analysis
- Most useful formats of output (report, brief, dataset, OER, etc.)
- Roles, responsibilities and timeline
- A dedicated Running Project thread is created to log progress and share working documents.
3. Delivery
- The project team carries out the agreed work (evidence review, data collection, analysis, drafting, etc.).
- Key steps and decisions are documented in the project thread.
- Draft outputs are shared for feedback with commissioners and, where relevant, with wider stakeholders via the hub’s groups.
4. Finalisation and dissemination
- Final outputs are reviewed for clarity, accuracy and relevance.
- A summary is posted in Final Outputs & Reports, with links to the final documents.
- Later, outputs are deposited in the repository layer with proper metadata and persistent identifiers.
This structured but flexible approach ensures that projects are well‑designed, transparent and oriented towards real use in academia, policy and practice.
What makes a strong commissioned project?
Experience shows that the most impactful projects share several features:
- Clear purpose and audience
It is evident who the work is for (which decision‑makers, practitioners or researchers) and what it is intended to support (a decision, a reform, a training programme, etc.).- Focused questions
The main questions are specific enough to be answerable within the available time and resources, yet broad enough to matter for policy, practice or further research.- Realistic scope and timeline
The design matches the ambition: rapid reviews remain rapid; deeper evaluations are given sufficient time and access to data and stakeholders.- Early attention to use
The desired outputs and formats are discussed from the start, so that the final products fit the ways in which different audiences actually work (academic articles, policy briefs, guidance notes, OER modules, etc.).- Openness to iteration
As evidence emerges, the framing may be refined. Commissioners and project teams remain in dialogue to ensure the work stays relevant across sectors.If you are unsure about any of these aspects, you can still submit an initial idea; the review and scoping process is designed to help you sharpen it.
How outputs are used and shared
Commissioned projects are intended to have life beyond the immediate commissioner. Outputs are designed to be:
- Accessible
Written in clear language, with executive summaries and visual aids where appropriate, so that busy decision‑makers, practitioners and researchers can quickly grasp the main points.- Action‑oriented
Focused on implications, options and recommendations, not only on description. Where relevant, implementation considerations and potential risks are highlighted for policy and practice audiences.- Reusable
Where possible, outputs are prepared with open licences (for example, Creative Commons), allowing them to be shared, adapted and integrated into other materials, with proper attribution. This is particularly important for development partners and training institutions.- Connected to the commons
Findings and tools feed back into the hub’s groups, discussions and training activities, enriching the wider knowledge base across academia, policy and practice.Later, when the repository layer is fully active, each major output will also have:
- A persistent identifier (such as a DOI).
- Structured metadata (authors, date, type, keywords, links to related projects).
- A stable, citable record that can be referenced in policies, programmes and academic work.
Governance, ethics and quality
Commissioned research through this hub is guided by basic principles of rigor, integrity and usefulness:
- Methodological rigor
Projects are designed and conducted using appropriate methods for the questions at hand, with attention to the strengths and limitations of the evidence. This supports both academic quality and credible policy advice.- Ethical standards
Where projects involve people, data or sensitive information, ethical considerations (consent, confidentiality, data protection, risk of harm) are taken seriously and documented. This is critical for work in development and practice settings as well as for academic integrity.- Transparency
The workflow (request → scoping → running → final outputs) is documented in the hub, so that the history and rationale of each project are visible to all partners.- Quality assurance
Draft outputs are reviewed for coherence, accuracy and relevance. Feedback from commissioners and stakeholders is incorporated before finalisation.- Clear limitations
Where evidence is limited or uncertain, this is stated explicitly, along with any caveats for interpretation and use by policy and practice audiences.These principles help ensure that commissioned work is credible and trustworthy, as well as practical.
Roles in commissioned projects
A typical project involves several roles, which may be filled by individuals or teams from different sectors:
- Commissioner / partner organisation
- Articulates the need and high‑level questions.
- Provides context, access to information or stakeholders.
- Reviews drafts and gives substantive feedback.
- Supports the use and dissemination of final outputs.
- Project lead / principal investigator
- Leads the design and delivery of the work.
- Ensures methodological and ethical standards.
- Coordinates the team, timeline and communications.
- Oversees drafting and finalisation of outputs.
- Contributors and co‑authors
- Provide expertise, data, case examples or analytical support.
- May come from the hub’s existing groups (OER, policy, practice, academia, etc.).
- Reviewers and critical friends
- Offer constructive feedback on draft outputs.
- Help test clarity, relevance and usability for intended audiences across sectors.
- Group admins / coordinators
- Help refine requests and scope projects.
- Ensure the workflow is followed and well‑documented.
- Link projects to relevant groups and, later, to the repository.
Clear roles and good communication between these actors are key to smooth, high‑quality projects that serve academic, policy and practice communities.
How this fits into the wider hub architecture
Commissioned research is one layer of a larger, interconnected system:
- Groups (Layer 2) – Spaces for discussion, drafting and peer input across thematic communities (OER, policymakers, practitioners, researchers, etc.).
- Commissioned Research (Layer 4) – The “production line” for real projects, from request to final outputs.
- Repositories (Layer 3) – Long‑term storage and description of final outputs, with persistent identifiers and rich metadata.
- Outputs & Dissemination topics – In each group, highlighting relevant work for that community.
This architecture ensures that:
- Projects are grounded in active, multi‑sector communities of practice.
- Outputs are not only produced, but also organised, visible and reusable across academia, policy and development.
- Learning from one project can inform others over time, building a cumulative knowledge base.
Starting a conversation about a possible project
If you are considering commissioning research or evaluation, you do not need to have every detail worked out in advance. You can:
- Submit an initial idea via the Project Request Form in the Commissioned Research group.
- Indicate that the request is at “idea stage” and that you would welcome a scoping conversation.
- Use the forum to ask questions about what kind of design or outputs might be most useful for your context (academic, policy or practice).
The goal is to make it straightforward to move from a broad interest (“we need evidence on X”) to a well‑framed, feasible project that delivers clear, usable results for multiple audiences.
Learn more and get involved
- To see the detailed step‑by‑step process, visit the [How commissioned research works] page.
- To browse current and completed projects, explore the Commissioned Research group forums (once projects are live).
- If you represent an organization or initiative and would like to discuss a possible commission, you can start by posting in the 01_Project Requests topic or contacting a group admin directly.
Commissioned research through this hub is an invitation to collaborate: to ask better questions, build stronger evidence, and turn that evidence into practical guidance for policy, practice and further research across sectors.
See also