The research helpdesk provides rapid desk-based research on questions related to governance, social development, conflict and humanitarian topics. We provide a report that synthesises the key issues and literature and includes expert comments from academics and practitioners.
Search or browse more than 700 helpdesk reports in the GSDRC Publications section. They are available to download without charge, along with more extensive literature reviews, conflict analyses, topic guides and professional development reading packs.
Submit a Research Query
DFID staff are invited to use the new ‘helpdesk’ service provided by the K4D (Knowledge for Development) programme; please see http://www.ids.ac.uk/k4d for more information or email helpdesk@k4d.info. The GSDRC is a collaborating partner of the K4D programme.
Staff of the Australian aid programme, and the European Union’s Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace, please email helpdesk@gsdrc.org to request research under our existing agreements.
The helpdesk service is also available at a cost to organisations with whom we have no existing agreements. Please email enquiries
gsdrc.org for details.
How the Helpdesk service operates
Use this service to support project or programme planning, produce briefings or policy papers, prepare for missions or meetings or get quickly up to speed with the latest debates on any issue. For questions that require more in-depth investigation, we can also undertake extended assignments according to your specification.
- Email us via the ‘Submit a research query’ link above to outline your question.
- A researcher will contact you to confirm your query and ensure that we fully understand your needs.
- The researcher will send you a report on the findings by the agreed deadline.
The Helpdesk is staffed by a team of researchers located at the University of Birmingham and the Institute of Development Studies. Researchers can call on the GSDRC’s established networks of expert academics and practitioners both within our consortium and in the wider development community.
An important part of ensuring the quality of Helpdesk responses is discussing and clarifying your query before research begins. This helps us to understand your exact needs and tailor our response to match the purpose of your query.
