At IDS, we believe that evidence-based research plays a vital role in bringing about a more equitable and sustainable world. And to achieve this, we…
7 principles for doing meaningful research communications
25/02/2022
Blog Posts
The Global Guide to Research Impact
Annabel Fenton is a Communications Coordinator in the Knowledge, Impact and Policy Cluster at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). She provides communications support and coordination for a portfolio of projects across the Institute, including Knowledge, Evidence and Learning for Development (K4D), the Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform (SSHAP) and others. Prior to joining IDS, Annabel worked across a variety of development sectors, from youth advocacy in policy forums with the South African Institute of International Affairs; working as a journalist across South Africa and Zambia; management consulting for South African government departments, private companies and non-profit organisations; to most recently working as the Head of Strategy, Impact and Special Projects at Thanda, a grassroots organisation implementing education and farming projects in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Annabel holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Economics and Geography from the University of Cape Town, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Geography from the University of the Witwatersrand, and is currently completing a Master of Arts (by Research) in Geography at the University of the Witwatersrand.
What does it mean to do research in “difficult places”? 🌍
Jon Harle’s blog series looks at South Sudan, Liberia, and the Somali regions—exploring both the challenges and the possibilities of using evidence in fragile contexts.
Follow the link in our bio to read all three articles 🔗
#ResearchMatters #EvidenceForImpact #GlobalDevelopment #FragileStates #KnowledgeInCrisis #ResearchInDifficultPlaces
Looking back at the #R2AArchive this week...
We have landed upon this 2013 piece by Jorge Benavides on what it really takes to turn research into policy.
Based on his work in Guatemala, Benavides shares 5 key lessons for influencing change:
👉 Politics matters – research alone won’t cut it.
👉 Timing is everything – wait for the right window.
👉 Choose allies wisely – coalitions amplify your impact.
👉 Play the long game – real change takes time.
👉 Frame it smartly – make it a win–win.
His takeaway? Evidence is essential—but without artful engagement, it won’t move the needle.
🔗 Read more: https://ow.ly/tfxp50WAE1s (or via #R2AArchive link on Linktree) 🔗
#PolicyChange #ResearchToAction #EvidenceMatters #PolicyInfluence
🗞️ How we tell stories matters.
Our latest blog reflects on Patrick Gathara’s critique of humanitarian storytelling—and how media narratives can uphold the very power structures aid aims to dismantle.
🔍 Big questions:
🧩 Should journalists rethink the stories they tell about crisis?
🧩 Can media and humanitarians work together ethically?
A thoughtful read for anyone passionate about:
🌍 Decolonising aid
📰 Ethical journalism
📣 Amplifying local voices
🔗 Link in bio to read the full blog!
#DecoloniseAid #MediaEthics #HumanitarianNarratives #TheNewHumanitarian #StorytellingMatters #ResearchToAction
Research To Action (R2A) is a learning platform for anyone interested in maximising the impact of research and capturing evidence of impact.
The site publishes practical resources on a range of topics including research uptake, communications, policy influence and monitoring and evaluation. It captures the experiences of practitioners and researchers working on these topics and facilitates conversations between this global community through a range of social media platforms.
R2A is produced by a small editorial team, led by CommsConsult. We welcome suggestions for and contributions to the site.
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