This paper seeks to contribute to and catalyse efforts to implement rigorous impact evaluations and other rigorous empirical research in fragile and humanitarian settings. It draws upon qualitative interviews with 10 researchers and 10 research commissioners and funders. It describes what sets apart research in fragile and humanitarian settings; identifies common challenges, opportunities, best practices, innovations and research priorities; and shares some lessons that can improve practice, research implementation and research uptake.
The concluding section provides some reflections on areas of agreement (and disagreement) between researchers and their research commissioner and funder counterparts. Recommendations are provided for increasing the quality and quantity of impact evaluations and other rigorous empirical research in fragile and humanitarian settings, focusing on and highlighting areas of agreement between researchers on the one hand, and research commissioners and funders on the other.
