Timely Research. Actionable Evidence. Development Impact.
The Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) supports USAID’s Missions, Bureaus, and Independent Offices to make evidence-based decisions. Our global network of 1000 plus university-affiliated scholars and development experts work to enhance the impact of USAID sponsored initiatives and guide decision making with the latest research.
Read about our workOur Global Network
RTAC Network
Research Translation
A Profile of RTAC’s Research-related Partnerships
As we enter the midpoint of the Research Technical Assistance Center’s (RTAC) fifth year, we take stock of the…
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Agriculture and Food Security
Update on Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security
This brief and methodological note have updated the previous analysis of the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the future of food security. To determine updated impacts, the most recent insights on COVID-19, specifically the effects the pandemic has had on economic growth and recovery, were used to quantify development progress on food security to 2040 in three scenarios
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Research Translation
Translating and Disseminating Existing Research: A Guide to RTAC’s Research Communications Products
Researchers often produce study findings that policymakers and practitioners need but the findings are rarely packaged in a manner that…
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Our Global Network
View all Universities
1048
Faculty, Graduate Students, Post-Doctoral Students
394
Women Researchers
524
Researchers affiliated with Developing-Country Academic Institutions
75
Countries Represented in the Network
474
Universities Around the World
55%
Members Outside the U.S.
Our Expertise
RTAC has specific expertise in implementing complex research studies, developing a range of research-translation products, organizing, and facilitating expert panels and convenings, designing and implementing tailored technical trainings, and offering other technical assistance and strategic support at the request of USAID. Learn more about RTAC and our nine distinct areas of expertise.
Education
Education is a foundational driver of development, and fundamental to achieving self-reliance. Education is transformational for individuals and societies–it creates pathways to better health, economic growth, a sustainable environment, and peaceful, democratic societies.
More Stories More ResourcesRTAC Celebrates African American History Month
In celebration of African American History Month, the Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) is highlighting some of our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) faculty and alumni members. Academic researchers affiliated with HBCUs, which were originally established to serve the educational needs of Black Americans, are an important part of the RTAC’s research network. RTAC aims to engage these researchers in its activities, whenever possible, drawing on their valuable insights, experiences, and knowledge to increase our collective impact in international development.
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Applying Novel Digital Strategies in Development: Education and Engaging Offline Communities
On April 8, 2020, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)/U.S. Global Development Lab’s Center for Digital Development (CDD), under the auspices of the Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC), hosted a live public webinar on “Digital Strategies in Education: Evidence from the Field as part of USAID’s “Digi-Know” series,” Led by RTAC partner Arizona State University (ASU) a second webinar entitled “Digital Strategies for Offline Communities: Cases and Lessons from the Field,” occurred on August 12, 2020, diving deeper into case studies based on the ASU faculty team’s research.
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Digital Strategies in Education – Evidence From the Field
On April 8, 2020, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)/U.S. Global Development Lab’s Center for Digital Development (CDD), under the auspices of the Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC), hosted a live public webinar on “Digital Strategies in Education: Evidence from the Field.”
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Climate and Environmental Protection
Forests, grasslands, rivers, lakes, coral reefs and other ecosystems provide essential resources that provide food, water, shelter and energy. But those ecosystems and resources are threatened further by global climate change.
More Stories More ResourcesScaling Back Wildlife Trade in the Mekong Delta: Applying a Political Economy Lens to the Farmer Loophole with a Focus on Vietnam and Laos
Growing economic prosperity in the Greater Mekong region in Southeast Asia has increased demand for wildlife products used in medicines, delicacies, and ornaments. This rise in demand has led to illegal animal trafficking, greatly threatening the survival of many endangered species in the region.
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Smoke Signals: Policy Solutions to Sustain Colombian Forests
This factsheet describes policy solutions that will help preserve Colombia’s tropical forests from wildfires and their underlying causes. It includes clear recommendations for policymakers, advocates, and other stakeholders to mitigate wildfires and improve the health and biodiversity of Colombia’s forests. The factsheet is based on research led by a team at the National University of Colombia.
Factsheet
Training Manual: Using Cocoa Pod Husks to Improve Crop Yields and Soil Quality
The training manual “Using Cocoa Pod Husks to Improve Crop Yields and Soil Quality” offers farmers in Cameroon step-by-step instructions…
Training Manual
Economic Growth and Trade
Broad-based economic growth is essential to sustainable, long-term development.
More Stories More ResourcesResearchers Team Up to Identify Strategies for Attracting Investment for Small and Growing Businesses in Uganda and Nigeria
Through USAID’s Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC), a research team is collaborating to identify and advance effective investment solutions for Nigeria and Uganda’s Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs)—commercially viable businesses with five to 250 employees seeking between $20,000 and $2 million in investment capital.
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RegTech in Honduras
By Gabriela Alcaraz, Research Director—NORC at the University of Chicago for USAID Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) This page features…
Report
Educating Moroccan Youth for a Productive Future
The fact sheet “Educating Moroccan Youth for a Productive Future” provides insights into some of the challenges for addressing youth…
Factsheet