Social Science Research

The SSR Unit, part of Central Research Team in Policy Division, manages social science research funded by DFID. DFID funds research in this area in order to generate knowledge, which will influence policy and practice in development in line with DFID objectives. A wide range of research of practical relevance to transitional and developing countries is financed and carried out by the whole spectrum of social science disciplines.

The results of DFID-funded research are highlighted on the ID21 website. 

There are two principal vehicles for DFID-funded research – Development Research Centres, and the responsive programme:

Development Research Centres

We are increasingly moving our funding to Development Research Centres. These are consortia, each led by a single institution, working for five years on specific topics: Details of existing Development Research Centres, and their Websites.

Responsive Programme

During October 2003, policy orientated research bids were invited for a "responsive window" fund of £2 million with a maximum size of grant limited to £100,000. Awards for spending in 2004/2005 will be made at the beginning of March 2004. Priority will be given to the following:

1. Social science research 

2. Syntheses or state of the art surveys of the following topics:

• Direct and hidden costs of "free" primary education
   
• Teacher motivation and incentives
   
• Decentralisation of education planning and management
   
• Education provision in countries emerging from crisis
   
• Evaluating literacy
   
• Contribution of post-basic education to poverty reduction
   
• Globalisation and education

Publications

Poverty Elimination: The Role of Economic and Social Research - A report by the Economic and Social Research Unit draws on a wide variety of research programmes to show how investment in knowledge and analysis can change policy and practice.

If you have any questions, please e-mail: SSRU@dfid.gov.uk 

Back to Top