What is
‘Research for Impact’?

Across the development sector, organizations are doing critical work to improve livelihoods, strengthen climate resilience, and create lasting social and environmental impact. Yet, building strong evidence systems often takes a back seat due to limited time, capacity, or access to specialized research and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) expertise. At CoLab, we believe that high-quality research should be accessible to organizations working to create positive change. Research for Impact is our pro bono initiative designed to provide focused, time-bound research and MEL support to organizations with clearly defined evidence challenges.
Through this initiative, selected organizations will receive technical support to strengthen research design, monitoring and evaluation systems, data use, and learning, helping them generate meaningful evidence, inform decisions, and improve programmes. Beyond supporting individual organizations, we hope to contribute to a stronger culture of evidence and learning across the social sector by making research expertise more accessible.

What is ‘Research for Impact’?

Across the development sector, organizations are doing critical work to improve livelihoods, strengthen climate resilience, and create lasting social and environmental impact. Yet, building strong evidence systems often takes a back seat due to limited time, capacity, or access to specialized research and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) expertise.

At CoLab, we believe that high-quality research should be accessible to organizations working to create positive change. Research for Impact is our pro bono initiative designed to provide focused, time-bound research and MEL support to organizations with clearly defined evidence challenges.

Through this initiative, selected organizations will receive technical support to strengthen research design, monitoring and evaluation systems, data use, and learning, helping them generate meaningful evidence, inform decisions, and improve programmes.

Beyond supporting individual organizations, we hope to contribute to a stronger culture of evidence and learning across the social sector by making research expertise more accessible.

What Services Are Included In The Program?

These examples are illustrative rather than exhaustive. If your organization has another research, evaluation, or learning challenge, we encourage you to apply, we’re happy to explore whether this pilot is the right fit.

Deliverables will be finalized during the initial scoping phase and tailored to the organization’s needs and CoLab’s capacity.

What Is Not Included in the Program Now?

This initiative is intended for focused, short-term technical support and currently, we will not be able to include:

Who should apply?

This initiative is intended for non-profits, social enterprises, and mission-driven organizations working in areas such as:

Domains we are looking to work with

We encourage organisations working in these spaces to apply.

Climate resilience, conservation, and adaptation.

Environmental and natural resource management.

Domains
we are looking to
work with

We encourage organisations working in these spaces to apply.

Livelihoods and economic inclusion.

Other closely related development sectors.

Livelihoods and economic inclusion.

Environmental and natural resource management.
Climate resilience, conservation, and adaptation.
Other closely related development sectors.

Process Timeline

4th September

Applications Closes

12th August

Applications Open

14th September

Selected
Organizations notified

7th - 11th September

Reiview Period

11th - 15th September

Outreach and discussion with selected organization

1st October

Engagement begins

Engagement period

Engagement duration

Item Title #1

Applications Open

4th September

Applications Closes

7th - 11th September

Reiview Period

14th September

Selected Organizations notified

15th - 11th September

Outreach and discussion with selected organization

1st October

Engagement begins

Engagement period

Engagement duration

Testimonials

Shared Stories of Success and Change

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee to participate?

No. Research for Impact is a pro bono initiative. Selected organizations will receive research and MEL support at no cost.

As this is a pilot initiative, we anticipate supporting one or two organizations. Applications will be reviewed based on the selection criteria outlined above.

Primary data collection and fieldwork are outside of the scope of work.

Applications will be reviewed against the selection criteria. Shortlisted organizations will be contacted for a follow-up discussion to better understand the challenge before final selections are made.

For this time, eligibility is limited to organizations working in livelihoods, climate resilience, environmental conservation, and related development sectors.

For any additional queries, you reach out to one of us:

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