Modified Date: 2026 May 31
The Policy and Program Research Department conducts research, assessments, evaluations, and analytical studies in the fields of agriculture and rural development, focusing on food security, sustainable farming systems, climate-resilient agriculture, rural livelihoods, and value chain development to strengthen income opportunities and resilience in rural communities.
The department undertakes research on culture, heritage, and creative industries to promote cultural preservation, intercultural understanding, and the development of cultural assets as drivers of identity, social cohesion, and economic opportunity.
Research in economic development and entrepreneurship explores pathways for inclusive economic growth, job creation, innovation, enterprise development, and sustainable livelihoods, with attention to both formal and informal sectors.
The department conducts studies on education and lifelong learning, including access to quality education, education policy reforms, skills development, learning outcomes, and the role of education in social and economic mobility.
Research related to elections, democracy, and governance examines democratic processes, civic participation, electoral systems, transparency, accountability, public administration, and the strengthening of institutions for good governance.
The department undertakes research in health, nutrition, and well-being, addressing public health systems, nutrition security, maternal and child health, access to healthcare services, and community-based health interventions.
Research on sports and development through sports explores how sports contribute to education, youth development, health promotion, social inclusion, peacebuilding, leadership, and community engagement.
The department conducts studies on climate change, environment, and sustainability, including climate adaptation and mitigation, disaster resilience, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development strategies.
Research in human rights, social justice, and inclusion focuses on equality, dignity, access to justice, social protection, and the promotion and safeguarding of fundamental rights for all individuals and communities.
The department promotes evidence-based research on women's empowerment and gender equality, addressing gender-responsive policies, leadership opportunities, economic participation, education, protection from violence, and inclusive development.
Research on community development and local development examines community resilience, participatory development, decentralization, local governance, and grassroots development initiatives that empower communities to lead their own development.
The department undertakes studies on youth development, leadership, and volunteerism, focusing on youth engagement in governance and development, leadership capacity building, civic participation, and structured volunteer programs that contribute to social impact.
Research in tourism and sustainable tourism development explores tourism’s role in economic development, cultural exchange, environmental conservation, and community-based tourism models that ensure local benefit sharing.
The department conducts research on sister city and international municipal cooperation, promoting city-to-city partnerships, knowledge exchange, cultural diplomacy, and collaborative development initiatives between local governments.
Research on disaster risk reduction, response, recovery, and resilience supports preparedness systems, emergency response mechanisms, post-disaster recovery, and long-term resilience building in vulnerable communities.
The department also conducts studies on civil society and NGO development, including organizational governance, institutional capacity, effectiveness, partnership systems, accountability mechanisms, and the overall strengthening of the civil society ecosystem.
A key component of the department’s work is NGO assessments and civil society mapping studies, which systematically examine organizations’ thematic focus areas, geographic coverage, institutional capacities, governance structures, funding models, operational challenges, and capacity-building needs. These assessments help identify gaps in the sector and provide a strong evidence base for designing targeted capacity-building programs, improving coordination among organizations, enhancing accountability, and strengthening the overall effectiveness and sustainability of civil society institutions.
Research in public policy and governance supports evidence-based policymaking, institutional reform, service delivery improvement, and the development of transparent, accountable, and responsive governance systems.
The department explores social innovation and social entrepreneurship as practical approaches to addressing complex social challenges through innovative, scalable, and sustainable solutions that combine impact with efficiency.
Research on technology, digital transformation, and innovation examines how digital tools, data systems, and emerging technologies can improve governance, development programming, service delivery, and knowledge sharing across sectors.
The department engages in studies related to international development and global partnerships, fostering cross-border collaboration, comparative learning, resource mobilization, and alignment with global development frameworks and goals.
The department also promotes research on knowledge management and capacity development, focusing on strengthening institutions, improving organizational learning systems, documenting best practices, and enhancing the effectiveness of development actors. In addition, the department may undertake research on other emerging issues and cross-cutting themes that contribute to sustainable development, social transformation, and the mission and objectives of DKI.
