Research Design
Research questions, study design, conceptual frameworks, variables, measurement and analysis planning.
Multidisciplinary research across health, evidence synthesis, data analytics, finance, development and humanitarian contexts
The research portfolio spans substantive domains and methodological areas, connecting research questions, data, evidence and analytical methods.
This page helps researchers, universities, medical professionals, NGOs, development organisations and other organisations understand the questions addressed, the methods that may support them, and their links with scholarship, services and selected projects. It describes an established, varied portfolio—not universal expertise across every topic.
A portfolio of domains and methods
These areas reflect a combination of published research, analytical work, applied research and consulting experience. The depth and type of evidence vary by area; they do not each have an equal publication record.
Public Health
Population-level health questions and evidence relevant to health programmes, communities and health systems.
Established themes
- Population health
- Epidemiology
- Infectious disease
- Vaccination
- Health systems
- Community health
- Health awareness
- Health-related quality of life
- Prevention and screening
- Maternal, neonatal and child health where relevant
- Population-health decision support
Relevant approaches
- Cross-sectional studies
- Observational research
- Secondary data analysis
- Descriptive and inferential statistics
- Regression modelling
- Evidence synthesis
- Programme evaluation
Clinical & Health Research
Research questions involving clinical populations, health outcomes, screening, diagnostic or treatment-related contexts and health-service questions.
This research area does not represent clinical practice, medical diagnosis or treatment provision.
Established themes
- Colon cancer screening
- Complicated appendicitis
- Sexual health
- Health outcomes and related clinical questions
Relevant approaches
- Study design
- Clinical data analysis
- Descriptive statistics
- Hypothesis testing
- Regression analysis
- Statistical modelling
- Subgroup analysis
- Interpretation
- Publication-oriented analytics
Health Behaviour
Research examining how knowledge, beliefs, perceptions, social influences and behavioural factors relate to health decisions and outcomes.
This area concerns research rather than behavioural or psychological clinical practice.
Established themes
- Vaccine intention
- Vaccine hesitancy
- Adherence to public-health guidance
- Trust and distrust
- Health knowledge
- Community perceptions
- Screening behaviour
- Behavioural intention
Relevant approaches
- Survey research
- Behavioural frameworks
- Quantitative analysis
- Regression modelling
- Association analysis
- Subgroup analysis
- Interpretation of behavioural determinants
Evidence Synthesis
Systematic approaches that bring together existing research to answer focused questions and identify patterns, uncertainty and evidence gaps.
The appropriate review approach depends on the question and evidence base; not every review includes meta-analysis.
Established themes
- Systematic reviews
- Meta-analysis
- Scoping reviews
- Rapid reviews
- Evidence mapping
- Structured evidence reviews
- Qualitative evidence synthesis where appropriate
Relevant approaches
- Effect-size preparation
- Quantitative synthesis
- Heterogeneity assessment
- Subgroup analysis
- Meta-regression where appropriate
- Sensitivity analysis
- Publication-bias assessment
Financial Inclusion & FinTech
A longstanding research area concerning relationships between financial services, technology, behaviour and access to financial systems.
Established themes
- Financial inclusion
- FinTech adoption
- Mobile financial services
- Mobile microfinance
- Digital finance
- Banking preferences
- Financial behaviour
- Investment decisions
- Technology adoption
- Financial education
Relevant approaches
- Survey research
- Behavioural models
- Quantitative analysis
- Regression modelling
- Statistical modelling
- Secondary data analysis
- Predictive analytics where methodologically justified
Development Economics
Socioeconomic questions relevant to development, institutions, public finance and economic participation.
Established themes
- Public finance
- Financial inclusion
- Socioeconomic development
- Institutional reform
- International assistance
- Economic behaviour
- Access to financial services
Relevant approaches
- Quantitative research
- Secondary data analysis
- Statistical modelling
- Programme analysis
- Policy-relevant interpretation
Humanitarian Research
Applied research in humanitarian, fragile-state and regional-assistance contexts, including established research concerning Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan.
Established themes
- Humanitarian assistance
- Regional assistance
- Crisis response
- Fragile and conflict-affected contexts
- Development and humanitarian programmes
- Programme evidence
- Socioeconomic conditions
Relevant approaches
- Applied research
- Secondary-data analysis
- Programme analysis
- Evidence synthesis
- Mixed-methods research where appropriate
- Monitoring and evaluation
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Research and evidence connected with programme implementation, results measurement and organisational learning.
Evaluation design should match the question; not every evaluation establishes causal impact.
Established themes
- Monitoring systems
- Indicator development
- Programme performance
- Baseline assessments
- Midline assessments
- Endline assessments
- Results measurement
- Programme evaluation
- Learning and adaptive management
Relevant approaches
- Indicator analysis
- Descriptive statistics
- Comparative analysis
- Outcome analysis
- Secondary data analysis
- Data visualisation
- Evaluation methodology
Data Science & Analytics
Statistical and computational analysis that supports research and organisational questions.
Machine learning and advanced modelling are used only when justified by the question, data and validation requirements.
Established themes
- Secondary data re-analysis
- Exploratory data analysis
- Statistical modelling
- Machine learning
- Predictive analytics
- Data visualisation
- Dashboards
- Analytical automation
Relevant approaches
- Health research
- Population health
- Financial inclusion
- Programme analytics
- Research analytics
- Decision support
A common methodological foundation
Methods are selected for the domain, question and evidence available; every research area does not use every methodology.
Quantitative Research
Descriptive analysis, hypothesis testing, association analysis, regression and statistical modelling.
Mixed-Methods Research
Integration of quantitative and qualitative evidence where appropriate.
Secondary Data Analysis
Re-analysis of existing datasets for new questions, validation or deeper analytical insight.
Evidence Synthesis
Structured synthesis of existing research evidence.
Statistical Modelling
Modelling relationships and outcomes according to the study question and data structure.
Machine Learning
Predictive and computational methods where justified by the research objective and validation requirements.
Programme Evaluation
Systematic assessment of programme design, implementation, performance and outcomes.
Methodology follows the question
The aim is methodological fit rather than forcing a preferred analytical technique onto the problem.
Research Question
Research Design
Data / Existing Evidence
Analysis / Synthesis
Interpretation
Research or Decision Output
- Methodological fit
- Analytical rigour
- Transparency
- Reproducibility
- Careful interpretation
- Appropriate communication of uncertainty
Questions grounded in varied contexts
Published and applied research has addressed questions in the contexts listed here. Geographic coverage varies by publication, collaboration and project and does not imply permanent employment, institutional affiliation or physical presence in each country.
- Kenya
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- United Arab Emirates
- South Sudan
- Other African contexts
Follow the evidence behind the portfolio
The strongest evidence for these areas is available through the formal publication record, transparent analytical contributions and applied project examples.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
The formal publication record, organised by research domain.
Research Analytics & Scholarly Contributions
Analytical contributions to studies and publication-oriented research.
Selected Projects
Applied examples connecting questions, evidence and analytical methods.
Methodologically connected, conceptually distinct
Research identity and consulting services have different purposes, while sharing approaches to design, evidence and analysis. The four service families apply relevant methods to defined organisational questions.
Research & Evaluation
Study design, quantitative and mixed-methods research, evaluation and secondary analysis.
View service areaEvidence Synthesis
Systematic, scoping and rapid reviews, meta-analysis and evidence mapping as appropriate.
View service areaData Science & Analytics
Statistical modelling, machine learning, visualisation, dashboards and automation.
View service areaMonitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Monitoring systems, assessments, results measurement and programme learning.
View service areaResearch Collaboration
Potential collaboration may involve researchers, universities, medical professionals, research institutions, NGOs, development organisations, multidisciplinary research teams and other organisations.
Potential audiences include Researchers, Universities, Medical professionals, Research institutions, NGOs, Development organisations, Multidisciplinary research teams, Other organisations.
Research Design · Quantitative Research · Evidence Synthesis · Statistical Modelling · Secondary Data Analysis · Machine Learning · Programme Evaluation · Research Analytics
The appropriate scope is shaped by the research question, available evidence, methodology and intended output.
Exploring a research question or analytical problem?
Collaboration can begin by clarifying the research question, available data or evidence, appropriate methodology and intended output.