Understanding, referencing, and applying the best available research are critical elements of the IRC’s approach to being an outcomes-driven and evidence-based organization. Whether it is to examine options for a crisis response program or intervention, how a project was previously operationalized, or what activities were or were not successful in a given context, knowing the research is essential for better impact and greater effectiveness. The IRC created Evidence Maps to make accessing and interpreting research evidence quicker and easier. With the Evidence Maps, tasks that previously required hours of desk research and a reliable internet connection can now be accomplished offline in a matter of minutes. Due to their broad appeal, IRC staff have been increasingly using them for a wide variety of purposes, including writing proposals, informing strategic planning, developing program guidance, and keeping up to date with the latest research. The IRC has five main Evidence Maps, which assemble peer reviewed research investigating the impact of a variety of interventions on the organization’s five main outcomes areas: health, education, economic well being, safety, and power. In addition to these five, we built three cross-cutting Maps focused on cash transfer interventions, service delivery interventions, and interventions in humanitarian emergencies.
Evidence Maps Key Facts
1. New tool that improves practitioner’s access to and speed of interpreting research
2. Unique filtering mechanism allows you to quickly sort through hundreds of studies
3. Switches between detailed and birdseye views of research evidence
4. Caters to broad evidence synthesis and subject-matter experts
5. Provides access to unprecedented levels of detail about research conclusions