Our audiences are at the heart of everything we do: this key Â鶹Éç value is vital for us to create effective communication to change people's lives for the better. We talk to people across all the countries in which we work, to understand their lives and the impact of our work.
Researchers in our country offices use a range of methods to really understand how people live, what they believe, what issues affect them, what media engages them and how. This research is shared with production teams and media partners to develop and refine strategy, programme concepts, formats and script writing.
We monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our programmes with a range of techniques, including continuous panels, regular and experimental research, quantitative surveys and qualitative techniques. This work helps us to understand whether and how our projects are achieving impact on the development outcomes they are aiming to achieve.
Our in-depth analysis and insight, drawing on our robust research and evidence, helps shift and shape policy around the development and sustainability of public interest media, and about the role media and communication plays in international development - to inform, inspire and sustain change.
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Media consumption in Afghanistan
This report summarizes research that aimed to better understand Afghans' access to and preference for different media content and platforms, their trust in media, how people use and share mis- and disinformation and ways to counter these. -
Leading efforts to adapt to climate change – locally
This briefing summarises follow-on research conducted by Â鶹Éç Media Action understand how communities are adapting to climate related problems and the benefits, barriers, and drivers of these adaptations. The study focused on locally-led adaptation (LLA) techniques. -
How do social norms limit participation of women political leadership in Tanzania?
This research briefing examines social norms that hinder women’s participation in political leadership. -
Developing drama characters for inclusion
Our work and programmes in Nigeria are tackling stigma around disability and working for greater inclusion. Our head of research and learning, Anu Njamah; and head of production and Training, Deji Arosho, explain their journey from research to creative content in their latest project, addressing the barriers faced by people with disabilities to accessing healthcare -
Using interactive formats to engage young people in Nigeria about COVID-19 vaccination and services
Through multi-media content, the Youth Co-creation Project sought to increase COVID-19 vaccination and promote healthy lifestyle practices among young Nigerians. Our research found that the programmes helped to improve young people's understanding of COVID19, HIV and HPV and outreach events inspired some attendees to take the vaccines. -
Seven lessons from scaling up mHealth in India
We take a deeper dive into what we learned from Kilkari, Mobile Academy and Mobile Kunji– our mobile health communication projects for frontline healthcare workers and families in India - following on from our exciting series in BMJ Global Health. -
Big Tech, forest fires, and Indonesian media
Indonesia is in the top 10 countries for social media use globally. Now, it is looking at how it might regulate Big Tech - our senior advisor on media ecosystems, Maha Taki, and our Indonesia project director Helena Rea explore what it means. -
Changing gender roles and attitudes in times of conflict in Ukraine: a research study
Women in Ukraine feel acute impacts of the war on their mental and physical health, and risk returning to old gender stereotypes. This series of research briefings examines women's information needs, media usage and changing roles and is our largest-ever study in Ukraine.
Our research library
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Long reads
Read our comprehensive research reports of the evidence behind our work. All of our publications are freely available to download. -
Short reads
At a glance, explore key findings and evidence behind our work. All of our publications are freely available to download. -
By country
Explore our findings and analysis country by country. All of our publications are freely available to download. -
What are young Bangladeshi's most worried about? Are rural Kenyans interested in politics? Do Palestinian women trust the media? Find the answers in our data portal (last updated 2020).
In depth
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Our analysis - policy and practice
How people use, access and communicate information around the world has profound implications for development, and for diplomatic and foreign policy. Our analysis informs policy, research and practice on the role of media as it relates to our main areas of focus - governance and rights, health, resilience and humanitarian response. -
Read more insight
This blog is designed for development policy makers and researchers who may not be specialists in media and communication. Read to learn more about our policy analysis, insight and research findings, which debate and interrogate the issues.
Other resources
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We know from our research that we are having a major impact on people’s lives and wellbeing. By working in partnerships, we reach and engage millions of people around the world and our work has a lasting influence on the way audiences think and behave. How? Find out here.
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In this site we present evidence, case studies, media clips and commentary relating to past humanitarian emergencies. This draws on our own research and experience on the role of media and communication in emergency contexts.
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This site gives practical advice on women’s rights and gender equality to project managers and programme makers. The overarching aim is to equip users to challenge gender stereotypes and serve both men and women equally.
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How we inspired women to take action in their communities to help them have safer pregnancies and healthy babies - read the stories, explore our impact and insight.
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This site has tools and resources for media and aid workers on Lifeline programming and on using media and communication to help people in humanitarian emergencies.
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UPDATED Handbook for media: coronavirus and COVID-19 (April 2021)
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The International SBCC Summit 2022
Learn more about our presentations at the Summit in December 2022.