This study investigated how development research funded through the Australian Development Research Awards Scheme (ADRAS) has influenced policy and practice. It was conducted by the Research for Development Impact Network (RDI Network), and sought to provide insight to funders and researchers on how to maximise development outcomes arising from such research.

The study consolidates, reviews and provides examples of when and how research conducted under this scheme contributed to development outcomes, and should not be taken to represent an evaluation of the funding scheme per se. The documented outcomes and impacts include research that influenced development policy, changed practice, strengthened capacity, and/or increased the reach and effectiveness of Australia’s development assistance.

The ADRAS was the Australian Government’s flagship development research grant scheme from 2007 to 2016. It involved annual to biennial open competitive calls. ADRAS formed a pillar of the then Australian Agency for International Development’s (AusAID’s) development research strategy (2008–2012) to increase quality, diversity and transparency in aid program research funding. In total, 129 primary research projects were funded over the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2012 rounds, representing an investment of just over A$58 million under priority themes for Australian aid programming. Three-quarters of the awards were made to Australian universities as the primary recipient institutions, and nearly 90% of all grants included a developing country partner.

The scheme focused on development outcomes. From its commencement, the ADRAS required researchers to identify the target end users, and to formulate strategic communication and engagement strategies to reach these groups. This is the first study of the contribution of ADRAS research to development policy and practice outcomes. Since all ADRAS-funded projects were completed by 2017, it was an opportune time to undertake such an analysis.

The study followed a rigorous methodology. Key informant interviews were conducted with 25 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) current and former staff situating the research in the current policy context. A strong theoretical underpinning was developed in the form of a Framework for Exploring Research for Development Impact (FERDI) which drew on relevant academic and grey literature (see Figure 1). The framework identifies five key areas of potential research influence: (i) capacity building; (ii) product development; (iii) policy; (iv) practice, systems and sectoral influence; and (v) economic and societal impacts.