General Information
An Update from Our Project Director
The Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) has had a busy last few months facilitating meetings and trainings on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In September 2019, RTAC conducted a “Lab Culture” Focus Group and associated Key Informant Interviews on behalf of the U.S. Global Development Lab. The Focus Group, held in Washington, D.C., brought together recommended external Lab stakeholders with deep experience in collaborating on Lab projects. The purpose of the Focus Group was to provide research and ground-truthing on the Lab’s own identification of the core “elements of the Lab culture.”Stories and News
December 4, 2019 The world’s development challenges require that the most accurate evidence available is applied to finding solutions. But whose responsibility is it to make sure this evidence is properly understood, gets into the right hands, and will be turned into potential solutions? In fact, a variety of stakeholders must be involved in the research-to-action—or research translation (RT)—process.
December 3, 2019 In October, Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) team members Dr. Reshma Naik and Dr. Jose Rodriguez hosted a weeklong Research-to-Action workshop at Isabela State University in the northern Philippines. Dr. Flordeliza Bassiag and her team were selected by USAID to receive this specialized technical assistance to promote the use of their research on contact tracing to reduce childhood Tuberculosis (TB).
December 3, 2019 The Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) has had a busy last few months facilitating meetings and trainings on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In September 2019, RTAC conducted a “Lab Culture” Focus Group and associated Key Informant Interviews on behalf of the U.S. Global Development Lab. The Focus Group, held in Washington, D.C., brought together recommended external Lab stakeholders with deep experience in collaborating on Lab projects. The purpose of the Focus Group was to provide research and ground-truthing on the Lab’s own identification of the core “elements of the Lab culture.”
December 3, 2019 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.
November 21, 2019 One of the ways Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) supports evidence-based decisionmaking is by translating and synthesizing research into accessible and visually appealing communications products. Population Reference Bureau, a consortium partner on RTAC, uses a collaborative co-creation process with research teams to create products that foster policymakers, implementers, donors, and development partners to use development research.
September 30, 2019 NORC at the University of Chicago is pleased to invite leading academic researchers across development sectors to apply to join the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC).
September 10, 2019 On May 17, 2019, RTAC hosted a high-level policy convening related to “Digital Tools and the Future of International Development” in Washington, DC. Led by RTAC partner [email protected], the convening attracted almost 90 technology leaders and practitioners from USAID, academia, the private sector, and the donor community for a daylong event
June 26, 2019 Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is growing and evolving daily. In May, USAID’s Research Technical Assistance Center brought together more than 80 experts in IA and international development to discuss digital tools and the future of international development. This meeting was an opportunity to discuss AI, its potential, and the challenges that need to be managed when applying AI in development initiatives.
June 25, 2019 I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Ticora V. Jones, the Director of the Center for Development and Research within the Global Development Lab at USAID to discuss power of partnerships to advance development solutions. Excerpts below offer Dr. Jones’ insights on her vision for the Research Technical Assistance Center, the role of partnerships with academic researchers, and the value in diversity of perspective and experience.