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Applied research

KIT Institute addresses development challenges at local, regional and global levels through research that generates new insights and knowledge in our areas of expertise: health, sustainable economic development and gender.

Our front-runner research is always applied, generating knowledge for policy, implementation or advocacy. The research fills knowledge gaps identified by our partners, but we also formulate priority research questions. Our research creates a solid evidence base by testing common assumptions and beliefs and assessing intervention strategies that work best in different settings. The evidence, translated into policy recommendations or operational guidelines, helps public and private sector organisations to improve the impact of their development work.

Joint learning trajectories

KIT conducts (systematic) literature reviews, explorative—often qualitative—case studies, action research, survey-based quantitative research and studies which combine two or more of these methods. Our partners and clients are a crucial part of our approach to applied research. Their deep involvement enables us to produce joint learning trajectories and action learning.

Transparency in research data management is high on the KIT agenda. When possible, viewing and access to research data is made possible either through easy-to-access web-based data navigator facilities or—for advanced users—through Dataverse with downloadable data sets in STATA format.

Contact us

Do you have a question or want to know more? Contact us by sending an e-mail.

Related projects

  • Demystifying the Cocoa Sector in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire

    • Institute
    • Project

    This major study aims to contribute to the cocoa sector’s body of knowledge and provide a solid evidence base to test common assumptions and beliefs.  The research covers issues such as household demographics, food security and nutrition, and crop choices and crop diversification. Specific to cocoa, the study investigates why households grow cocoa, and analyses […]

  • Understanding Agribusiness Based Advisory Services: Research, Report and Workshops

    • Institute
    • Project

    In 2018, KIT Royal Tropical Institute, Agriterra, Moyee Coffee, and the Food & Business Knowledge Platform came together to try and better understand the functioning of agribusiness-based Advisory Services. The partnership focused on companies buying or selling agricultural produce, equipment and goods. In addition, the study also included farmer cooperatives operating as an agribusiness. Agribusiness-based advisory […]

  • Empowerment of Women and Girls: a Conceptual Model

    • Institute
    • Project

    KIT developed a conceptual model on the empowerment of women and girls in close partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The model was presented in a White Paper: Conceptual model of women and girls’ empowerment. KIT conducted in-depth background research that formed the basis for the Foundation’s Method’s Note for measuring women and girl’s empowerment.  […]

  • Enhancing the Effectiveness of Agriculture to Nutrition Pathways

    • Institute
    • Project

    Increased agricultural productivity does not automatically translate to improved nutrition. KIT Royal Tropical Institute addresses this challenge in a new report, in collaboration with the Food & Business Knowledge Platform. Key insights from a gender analysis of impact evaluation design KIT recently finalized a one-year research project to generate policy-relevant recommendations for the improved design […]

  • REACHOUT: Improving Close-to-Community Care Globally

    • Institute
    • Project

    REACHOUT generates knowledge to develop the role of close-to-community providers of healthcare in preventing, diagnosing, and treating major illnesses and health conditions in rural and urban areas in Africa and Asia. An ambitious international research project Close-to-community providers are health workers who carry out promotional, preventive or curative health services. They are often the first […]

  • South Sudan Health Action and Research Project (SHARP)

    • Institute
    • Project

    KIT assisted the implementation of the three-year South Sudan Health Action and Research Project (SHARP). Working closely with South Sudan’s Ministry of Health, the project aimed to improve the accessibility of reproductive health (RH) care in post-conflict South Sudan. Rebuilding and Envisioning  South Sudan had the highest maternal mortality rate in the world at 2,054 women […]

  • State of African Women Report

    • Institute
    • Project

    As part of an international partnership to improve the rights of women and girls across the African continent, KIT led a research team to develop the State of African Women Report. The report raises awareness of continental-African commitments to women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) and progress in their implementation. Realising women and girls’ […]

KIT MAG

KIT MAG: an annual magazine packed with stories about our activities, at our campus in Amsterdam and with partners worldwide.

Browse the magazine online or take a copy with you when you visit KIT (at the reception).