Research News

The UK Department for International Development (DFID) is piloting an exciting systematic review project that aims to strengthen evidence-informed decision making. This alert is to disseminate awareness of an upcoming call for systematic review groups.

Systematic reviewing is a well-established methodology that aims to bring the rigour of primary studies to secondary studies and surveys. In brief, they systematically map the evidence base, critically appraise the evidence and produce a synthesis of the best available evidence.

DFID will commission 25 systematic reviews in mid-February 2010 focusing on 5 thematic areas:

• Agriculture and Food
• Climate and the Environment
• Governance in Challenging Environments
• Growth
• Human Development

DFID is currently developing a set of priority systematic review questions. DFID will encourage a broad-based approach to systematic reviewing that incorporates theory and uses qualitative and/or quantitative data.

DFID will be commissioning reviewers and review teams in February and expect the review process to involve 1 lead researcher and 1 or 2 research assistants.

The systematic reviews should be suitable for publication in a peer review journal and will also provide a timely and rigorous assessment of the evidence base for key DFID policy questions. Delivery of systematic reviews should be between March and August 2010.

If you are interested in forming a review team and being part of a cutting-edge pilot to increase the use of evidence in policy, please look out for the call for proposals in February.

More information