Research

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BIGD is a social

science research and academic institute, grounded in

developing country context and practices, with a mission to

improve governance and development outcomes.

We conduct rigorous, multi-method social science research, grounded in developing country operations, on a range of social and economic issues to promote practical, time-sensitive innovations for tackling governance and development challenges. Our research spans innovations taking place in government, non-profit, and private sectors for improving lives.

Our Priority Areas

Economic development and growth,with an aim to promote equitable, sustainable economic development

Gender and social transformation, to addressdiscrimination and

inequalities faced by women and other vulnerable groups

Governance and politics,honing in on issues of accountability,

institutional reform, governance efficiency, and public service

Cross-cutting and emerging themes:BIGD is expanding research on critical emerging questions—how to usedigital technology for inclusive developmentand how to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the population vulnerable toclimatic shocks.

We lead the research on the socioeconomic

empowerment programs of BRAC—the global leader among NGOs focusing on poor and marginal people—

including their ultra-poor graduation, integrated development, skills development, migration, microfinance, gender justice and diversity, community empowerment, climate change, humanitarian, and urban development

programs.

Photo credit: Climate Bangladesh by IMF Photo/K M Asad, made available by CC BY-ND 2.0

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Research Methods

We believe that the research method should depend on the research question and context.

Thus, we are not inclined to any specific method, rather we strive for high standards in any method we apply.

Impact evaluations using experimental methods, e.g., randomized control trials (RCTs), is one of our key strengths. We have a strong track record of conducting RCTs on poverty reduction and skills development. We are expanding our experimental research in other topics, e.g., women's empowerment, climate change adaptation, and digitalization.

We also do large-scale surveys, often with nationally representative samples, to help policymakers and practitioners better understand important issues.

Quantitative

In collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), BIGD is implementing a multi-arm RCT with 9,000+

youths participating in a BRAC program to determine their willingness to pay for skills training and understand whether the

willingness affects training outcomes. The RCT will help BRAC find more scalable, effective solutions for upskilling

underprivileged youth.

Can we reduce the cost of

entrepreneurship yet maintain or even increase its impact?

BIGD has an unmatched track record of qualitative research in Bangladesh. The State of Governance, a flagship yearly publication of BIGD, primarily utilizes qualitative research techniques to provide thorough analyses of critical governance issues. Alongside quantitative methods, our gender research team extensively uses advanced qualitative research methods, significantly contributing to understanding how pervasive cultural and religious norms and values affect women’s empowerment in countries like Bangladesh.

Qualitative

TheBRACpartnership gives us a unique opportunity to find innovative, effective, and scalable approaches to complex development challenges through formative and large-scale field research on BRAC interventions in Bangladesh.

Our affiliation with the Independent Evaluation and Research Cell(IERC)of BRAC International helps us reach countries in South Asia and Africa.

Historicizing BRAC is an investigation of BRAC's approach to development, growth trajectory, and critical inflexion points, with an aim to theorize its success factors in the socioeconomic and political realities of the developing world.

Photo credit: Nusrat Jahan/BIGD

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Rapid Research

Response to COVID-19

We frequently follow a mixed method in our research because development challenges are complex and can only be understood and solved using multiple lenses.

Gender norms and women’s occupational choice

BIGD collaborates with stakeholders to conceptualize models, then pilot and scale them through continuous research and adaptation. For

example, we have been working with the government for years to develop and incorporate a citizen

engagement model in government procurement through the Digitization for Implementation of Public

Procurement Project (DIMPPP).

We also conduct participatory research to actively involve participants themselves in the research process, capturing their unfiltered perspectives and

experiences. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we frequently employed peer researchers in slums to document the lived experiences and community responses.

Action and participatory Mixed method

In March 2020, BIGD started the Rapid Research Response (RRR) to COVID-19 initiative to draw attention to the pandemic’s impact on the lives of different vulnerable groups. We conducted over 20 surveys, many with thousands of participants, on the impact of COVID-19 on diverse issues, including livelihood, business, migration, education, and gender-based violence. This provided real-time insights to policymakers and practitioners on the fast- evolving pandemic scenario. The emergence of a group of mostly urban “new poor” during the pandemic is one of the most significant findings of our collaborative study with the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC).

In 2015, BIGD conducted a representative survey of women from different districts of Bangladesh, combining in-depth interviews with a sub- sample of women to understand how different cultural barriers interact with the economic considerations in women’s occupational choice.

The study finds that strong social stigma against many available employment opportunities for women force many women to choose home- based, low-paying work despite clear economic incentives to take up outside employment.

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Learning

BIGD provides high-quality academic training and certifications and engages with government and civil society actors, as well as the public, to build current and future capacities for

improving governance and development outcomes and foster informed citizenry.

Academics

Master of Development Studies (MDS), a pioneering development studies program in Bangladesh, with a strong emphasis on research and practice for enhancing analytical and practical skills required to address emerging development challenges

Master of Arts in Governance and Development (MAGD), one of its kind in Bangladesh, developing effective future leadership in the public sector

Masters in Procurement and Supply Management (MPSM), also one of its kind, building capacities to improve transparency and efficiency in public and, increasingly, development and private sector procurement

BIGD also offers specialized technical and managerial skills training for improving development-focused outcomes.

Evidence to Action

Global Ambition

For long-term and focused engagement with the government and for finding and nurturing suitable entry points, we established a dedicatedGovernment

Engagement Team (GET), consisting of experts with deep knowledge in this field.

We engage withAccess to Information (a2i)—an agency leading the Bangladesh Government’s public service innovations—to improve the usage and quality of digital services for all citizens by providing research-informed recommendations.

a2i has already set up a Customer Innovation Lab based on our discussion around the low uptake and use of digital public services.

BIGD is a global institution with a strong local root.

We are expanding our international partnerships, attracting high-calibre researchers, and investing in systems for delivering a superior standard in

research and academics. We have a diverse global network of researchers—from institutions like LSE, Monash University, the University of Washington, and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at Sussex.

An institution based in the Global South, BIGD maintains an international standard in conducting research cost-effectively and simultaneously building local capacities—a much-needed service.

BIGD’s Women’s Economic

Empowerment and Digital Finance (WEE-DiFine) initiative

commissions and conducts research to generate a

comprehensive body of evidence about the impact of digital financial services on women’s economic empowerment across South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. WEE- DiFine has already commissioned six research studies in five

countries.