Who else is doing it?

You are not alone! There are many specialist organisations of all stripes working in research communications, many funded by DFID. Some help your stakeholders to access your work by providing a platform or tailoring research outputs to new audiences. Others can provide the resource materials or training to help you communicate more effectively throughout the research process.

DFID-funded Research Programme Consortiums

DFID currently funds 32 Research Programme Consortia to investigate a very broad range of development topics, from the role of taxation in building accountability, to exploring women's empowerment. Each one is required to spend a minimum of 10% of their total budget on communications and engagement, and to employ a professional responsible for the work. Collectively, they provide a rich seam of experience and growing expertise for us to share. They are listed below.

In its Research Strategy 2008-2013 DFID pledged to spend up to 30% of its total budget of £1bn over five years on knowledge management, lesson learning, and communication across its entire research portfolio. We hope that this means we can grow this list in the very near future.

Use the links below to find communicators in their respective fields.

Infomediaries

All of the following organisations use and repackage good information and stories for their audience. Check which ones are relevant for you, and then make sure you keep them up to date with your latest research and findings.

Communications training organisations

We are in the process of compiling this list and we plan to post it soon.

DFID-funded communications organisations

The following organisations are funded by DFID to work on aspects of research communications. The title of each organisation links to it's project record on R4D, and below the title are the project's objectives.

AHI - Africa Health Infoway (WHO)
In partnership with WHO, to implement a system to support the collection of sub-national health data and statistics for analysis, dissemination, and use to support decision-making in health, and to strengthen African capacity to use information in decision-making.
BBC World Service Trust
To ensure that senior-level policymakers within multilateral and bilateral donor organisations recognise that Information and Communication for Development interventions are fundamental for effective development strategies. Includes research component.
Research4Development / CABI and DFID
To showcase the full range of information about research programmes supported by DFID through a free-access on-line database and web portal that contains more than 20,000 research outputs.
Global Development Network (GDNet)
Facilitates the communication of research knowledge from developing and transitional countries, and its application to policy.
Information systems in Agricultural science and technology (FAO)
To develop and agree international (agriculture) standards and to co-ordinate information capacity-building efforts for international and developing-country research systems.
International Records Management Trust (IRMT)
To build a public-service culture where records and information management are valued as a basis for analysis, decision-making, monitoring and evaluation, and service provision. Capacity-building programme on records management.
Mediae Trust
To promote research information on education, health, and rural livelihoods to audiences in East Africa through entertaining soap opera TV dramas, and to promote discussion and engagement on these issues through new technologies such as text messaging and internet platforms.
Mobilising Knowledge for Development / Information Dept, IDS
To provide a range of web-based, electronic, and print information services to bring cutting-edge research to a range of development audiences, tailoring them to suit specific stakeholder groups.
PANOS Research Communication Programme (RELAY)
To promote public debate and understanding of critical development challenges through the production of media stories targeted at the South, and to build the capacity of developing-country media to identify and disseminate research effectively.
Practical Action
To deliver a range of practical technical information services to Southern users, and to explore the impact of such provision in different contexts.
Programme for the Enhancement of Research Information (PERI) / INASP
To strengthen the production of, access to, and dissemination of peer-reviewed or journal-published information at no cost to Southern users; and to promote dissemination of Southern research information to global audiences. Also to lobby for open-access agenda.
Research Africa / SARIMA
To enable Africa's research community to better access and develop knowledge through the provision of a paper-based newsletter and a range of on-line services bundled together as a collaborative knowledge network.
The Science and Development Network (Scidev.net) / SCIDEV
To enhance the provision of reliable and authoritative information on science and technology-related issues that are of most relevance to developing countries, through a free-access website and capacity development training for Southern journalists.
The ICT for Development (ICT4D) Research and Capacity Development Programme (IDRC)
To promote innovative use of ICTs in mainstream development sectors, and to generate evidence for well-informed ICT policies; Researchers, research institutions and research networks in Africa and Asia increase their capacity to generate new knowledge on ICT that has application for poverty reduction.
Wren Media
Change development partners' practices by providing information for quality decision-making through better communication of research and policy of sustainable development issues through multi-media channels; capacity building of journalists and researchers.
World Federation of Science Journalists
Working with IDRC and SIDA, to improve the quality of science reporting, promote standards, and support science and technology journalists worldwide through capacity support to the World Federation of Science Journalists.
InfoDev / World Bank
Think tank looking at role of ICTs in development and mainstreaming ICTs in development. Influential multi-donor programme to deliver a package of knowledge-based services that combine global good practice, local experience, and innovative research on ICTs' contribution to development and the MDGs.
Mainstreaming communication in development / multi-donor trust fund with World Bank
To generate, implement, and advocate innovative ideas in the policy and practice of communication to tackle leading challenges in the political economy of development.