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Key documents

There are too many documents and multi-media resources to list here,
which shed light on the different aspects of research communication.
But we're going to include a few which we think are useful, at least in describing
what DFID thinks is important to 'get right' in communicating research.
We know that there are lots more that you've found invaluable: please add them to the list by sending them to with a two-line description of how you've found them to be helpful in your work.

DFID Guidance Notes

To include start-up and ongoing support materials for developing and implementing strategy

DFID Research Strategy Communication Working Paper

This Working Paper on Research Communication is one of a series of 10 papers published alongside DFID's Research Strategy 2008-2013. It presents the case for DFID-funded research on Research Communication - drawing on the responses given during a global consultation that DFID convened in 2007 about its future research.

DFID Research Strategy and supporting documentation

The world is changing rapidly in ways that often affect poor countries most. For example, in coming decades climate change, population movements and higher oil and food prices could challenge the livelihoods and resilience of millions of people in developing countries.

The UK government believes that research is essential for understanding and tackling challenges like these. Through the Department for International Development (DFID) it will invest up to £1 billion on development research in the next five years. Our new Research Strategy explains how we will use these funds to put research at the heart of efforts to reduce poverty in developing countries. It builds on the success of our past work and takes it in new directions.

Lessons Learnt through Workshops

1. Lessons Learnt on Designing Communication Strategies for Research Programmes. Report of a Workshop held at DFID, 26th July 2006
2. Lessons Learnt in Research Communication: Monitoring and Evaluation and Capacity Development. Report of a lesson-learning workshop, DFID, Palace Street, 2nd August 2007
3. Lessons Learnt in Research Communication: DFID's 10% policy on communicating research - Successes, Challenges and Next Steps. Report of a lesson-learning workshop, DFID, Palace Street, 22nd July 2008
   This is the report of a workshop held to discuss the effectiveness of DFID's policy on research communications (i.e. 10% minimum spending on RPCs) based on some preliminary findings from a review being conducted by the Overseas Development Institute, and to explore the potential of Web 2.0 tools to increase visibility of research, and to promote engagement so that results are useful and subsequently used.

Towards a DFID Research Policy on Open Access

This report, by Peter Ballantyne (September 2009), 'scopes' how DFID Research could take forward an open access policy that will lead to greater public access to the research outputs it finances.

Learning Lessons on Research Uptake and Use (TripleLine Reports)

1. A review of DFID's research communication programmes, Part 1
   Key evidence and findings of the review of 17 DFID-funded research communication programmes and the recommendations for action.
2. A review of DFID's research communication programmes, Part 2
   The tools used to collect information for this study, and the raw data.
3. Donor review on research communication
   

Key Lessons Learnt by the Joint Wetlands Livelihoods Project

As part of the Joint Wetlands Livelihoods Project's overall communications strategy, this paper is intended for sharing the experience of the project with a broad range of key players in integrated land and water resources management : donor agencies, project/programme managers and river basin authorities.