Includovate has an ethical review board specialising in Research for Development (often abbreviated as R4D). Includovate is often asked why an ethical review board is needed to specialise in R4D when there are many domestic IRBs based inside universities or government departments. Although both share core research methodologies, R4D and domestic research can differ in their aims, contexts, funders and evaluation criteria. This blog outlines some of the differences.
Key Differences Between Research for Development (R4D) and Domestic Research
Research for Development (R4D) is research and evaluation to inform development work. It is typically funded by international aid budgets or philanthropic organisations and strongly focused on real-world
impact and effectiveness.
R4D aims to address critical development challenges, particularly to improve the lives and livelihoods of disadvantaged communities.
R4D has three critical elements that require specific attention from IRBs.
First, it sits at the intersection of academic research and practical development interventions, seeking to generate knowledge and drive societal change and achieve measurable development outcomes.
Second, R4D is usually implemented in complex, unpredictable and low-resource environments, and is held to the “results agenda” of international development.
Third, R4D is usually evaluated on both research excellence and development effectiveness, requiring a balance between academic rigour and the ability to produce tangible improvements in people’s lives. New knowledge and reports, empowerment, equity, sustainability, and real-world application define success. The outcomes of R4D may not even be academic publications. It faces higher scrutiny regarding its impact, as funders expect clear evidence of positive societal change, not just academic publications.
What is development?
International development is also known as overseas aid, development assistance, poverty reduction, charity, and humanitarian work. It aims to transfer resources, expertise, and technical assistance from richer countries to impoverished countries to improve the lives and livelihoods of disadvantaged communities worldwide.
It includes support for climate change, disaster relief, poverty reduction, food aid, refugee assistance, healthcare, education, gender equality, infrastructure, environmental protection, and human rights, among many other sectors.
The 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a global blueprint for international development to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) categorises aid through its Development Assistance Committee (DAC) as “Official Development Assistance” (ODA) if it is:
● Provided by official sector agencies (including state and local governments)
● Its main objective is to promote economic development and welfare
● Be concessional (e.g. if a loan, it must have a grant element of at least 25%).
● ODA can be bilateral (directly from donor to recipient) or multilateral (channelled through international organisations, like the United Nations).
Thus, taxpayers in rich countries pay for Official Development Assistance. States also fund United Nations organisations and other global entities through similar mechanisms.
Domestic Research
Domestic research primarily addresses issues relevant to the researcher’s own country or context. It is often funded by national governments, the private sector, or academic institutions, with evaluation often centred on research quality, innovation, and sometimes commercial potential.
Domestic research can be basic (knowledge-driven), applied (problem-solving), or experimental development (creating new products or processes), but is not necessarily focused on development outcomes for disadvantaged populations. As such, it is typically evaluated on academic merit, originality, and contribution to national or sectoral priorities. Impact is measured in terms of scientific advancement
and merit or policy influence relevant to the domestic context. Such research faces less pressure to demonstrate immediate, large-scale societal change, especially in basic research.
If the research is done in a rich country, then the resources available for the study are more advanced, including infrastructural resources such as transportation, internet connectivity, and reliability.
Methodological and Contextual Considerations
R4D methods are often participatory and context-sensitive, involving local stakeholders and adapting to target communities’ cultural, social, and economic realities. For example, research may be conducted sitting under a tree in a field.
Participants may be illiterate, and so prompts such as pictures may be used to aid comprehension. Research questions and approaches should be shaped by the needs and voices of those affected by development challenges.
Domestic Research may use similar scientific methods but is less likely to require adaptation to radically different contexts or to prioritise participatory approaches unless the research is community-based. It can focus on issues of national interest, such as technological innovation, health, education, or economic competitiveness.
Conclusion
Research for development is distinct from domestic research in its dual focus on generating knowledge and achieving measurable, positive change for disadvantaged populations, often in challenging contexts. It requires balancing
academic rigour with practical impact. It is held to high accountability standards for real-world results, whereas domestic research is more likely to be assessed on scientific merit and national relevance.
Domestic IRBs can clear development research. If a study is done in a low-income country, a domestic IRB from that country is valuable in clearing the research protocols. However, using a developed country IRB that comprises members from richer countries may miss some of the cultural nuances and pragmatic research approaches needed in low-resource settings. Includovate’s IRB specialises in providing ethical clearance for R4D, including multi-country studies.
For more information on Includovate’s IRB, email [email protected] or visit https://www.includovate.com/institutional-review-board/