Information for policymakers

Making informed decisions that are just and sustainable, both for people and the environment. IIED supports policymakers by providing clear and accessible briefings, opinions, policy recommendations and research findings — written by authoritative experts — on timely topics at the interface of environment and development.

Research quality

What does ‘excellent research’ mean? And how can it be achieved? Together with our partners and other policy research organisations, we are exploring new ways of thinking about research excellence that acknowledges the diverse, and often complex, political and social conditions in which sustainable development research takes place. We appreciate the importance of rigour and reliability in research. But we also value other principles of excellence, including careful ethical reflection, participatory processes and useful results.  

At IIED, we believe that applying these principles to achieve research excellence in practice requires a five-pronged approach that brings together meaningful engagement, review, process management, evaluation and communication. Each is important in its own right but it is only when they are combined that excellent research can really be achieved.