The Knowledge for Development and Diplomacy (K4DD) programme was commissioned by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Research and Evidence Division to undertake a pilot of artificial intelligence (AI) research tools and their application in the work of the K4DD programme. This pilot explored the application of tools across different types of K4DD ...» more
Helpdesk Reports
These rapid-response reports provide digests of key research findings, lessons and expert thinking on specific questions from development practitioners and policymakers. If your question is not already covered below, ask us for a report (free for staff of agencies that we have existing arrangements with).
Influence of Political Culture on Development Outcomes
This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review looks at the evidence for political culture influencing development outcomes, specifically economic growth. It focuses on two indicators of political culture removed from the revised Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI): satisfaction with democracy (SWD) and consensus building. There is strong correlation between levels of SWD and ...» more
Early Warning Systems and Air Quality Forecasting
This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review collates available evidence on early warning systems and air quality forecasting. It identifies a diverse and expanding evidence base including academic articles and grey literature (particularly produced by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and UN bodies). The evidence base clearly highlights that predictive capabilities have ...» more
Digital Infrastructure Interventions to Address Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Needs
This rapid evidence review collates available evidence on digital infrastructure interventions to address climate adaptation and mitigation needs drawing on lessons from across the world to inform the Ethiopian context. The review draws upon an expanding evidence base that includes academic and grey literature. The evidence base is evolving with an increasing range of ...» more
Benefits of South South Cooperation
This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review explores the benefits of South-South cooperation, and the different approaches to cooperation. South-South cooperation (SSC) entails a wide range of collaboration among countries of the Global South, promoting collective action in relation to (among others) the economy, politics and the environment, and based on principles such as equality, ...» more
What Interventions Impact Migration in the Eastern Neighbourhood and Central Asia
This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review explores the evidence about what types of interventions impact migration flows in the Eastern Neighbourhood and Central Asia regions (including both overseas development assistance (ODA) and non-ODA programming). The regions are defined as: Eastern Neighbourhood: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Central Asia: ...» more
Can Education for out of School Children in South Sudan have Peacebuilding/Social Cohesion Benefits?
This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review explores the potential peacebuilding/social cohesion benefits of targeting out of school children (OOSC) in South Sudan through community-based education activities. It focuses on the targeting methods, activities, and approaches taken by Education in Emergencies (EIE) programmes. ...» more
GESI Dimensions of Human Smuggling and Trafficking in East Africa
This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review looks at the gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) dimensions of human smuggling and trafficking in five countries in East Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan (in their role as source countries), and Kenya (as a transit/destination country). It finds consistent evidence that women/girls and refugees/IDPs, in particular, as well as ...» more
K4DD Conflict Evidence and Discourse Summary December 2025
K4DD’s monthly Conflict Evidence and Discourse Summaries aim to signpost FCDO and others to the latest relevant evidence and discourse on conflict. ...» more
K4DD Conflict Evidence and Discourse Summary No.3
This K4DD Conflict Evidence and Discourse Summary shares the latest relevant evidence and discourse relating to conflict. The summary is organised by geographical region and covers the period of November 2025. ...» more
K4DD Conflict Evidence and Discourse Summary No.2
This K4DD Conflict Evidence and Discourse Summary aims to signpost readers to the latest relevant evidence and discourse on conflict. This summary covers the period October 2025, and is organised by geographic region. ...» more
Innovative Programmes in the Governance Sector
This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review gives examples of effective and innovative governance programmes, which move away from ‘traditional’ donor-driven approaches. The examples have been selected to be diverse in terms of geographic region and aspect of governance (access to justice, citizen participation, accountability, etc.). Other considerations were: large-scale (ideally ...» more
Enablers for the Effective Adoption of AI at the National and City Level
This rapid evidence review collates available evidence on key enablers for the effective adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at national and city level in low- and middle-income countries. The review draws upon an expanding evidence base that includes academic and grey literature. The evidence base is evolving with an increasing range of countries and cities rapidly ...» more
Case Studies on Progressive Taxation in Low-Income Countries
This rapid evidence review draws on a set of country case studies to examine how low-income countries have sought to make their tax systems more progressive. It looks at concrete examples of tax reforms aimed at improving fairness in how the tax burden is distributed and at strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation. By examining different policy approaches and reform ...» more
Long-Term Positive Impacts of Cash Transfer Programmes in LMICs
This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review looks at the positive long-term impacts of cash transfer programmes in non-humanitarian contexts in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Evidence of long-term impacts is very limited. From reviews of multiple studies/cash programmes, as well as of individual programmes, long-term positive impacts are seen in relation to health and ...» more
Women and Girls’ Political Empowerment
This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review explores the evidence about the approaches have been used to support girls’ and women political empowerment (WPE), focussing on their effectiveness and constraints. It particularly explores women’s political leadership and quotas in low- and middle-income countries. WPE has improved drastically across the world since the 1700s, however ...» more
Global Leaders in Science, Technology and Innovation
This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review collates available evidence on “Global Leaders in Science, Technology and Innovation.” The review draws upon an eclectic evidence base that includes grey literature, press announcements as well as policy documents, strategies and national action plans. The assessment of global leaders is based on a rapid review of available evidence and should ...» more
Successful Collaboration Models in Science, Technology and Innovation Ecosystems
This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review collates available evidence on successful collaboration models in science, technology and innovation ecosystems between India and other countries. The review draws upon an eclectic evidence base that includes grey literature, press announcements and Memoranda of Understanding as wall as the outputs of multi- and bilateral development actors. ...» more
Serious and Organised Crime in Tanzania
This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review explores the main serious and organised crime (SOC) markets, actors and dynamics in Tanzania. The review draws largely on grey literature, notably reports by think tanks and practitioners. Literature and data is limited due to the illicit nature of the subject. Given this and the limited timeframe for this work, this review should be ...» more
Serious and Organised Crime in South Africa
This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review explores the main serious and organised crime (SOC) markets, actors, and dynamics in South Africa. It particularly draws on literature from think tanks and practitioner sources, due to the applied nature of the question and its proximity to foreign policy and security interests, as well as academic and policy sources. Literature and data are ...» more
