Research Notes & Policy Perspectives
Field reflections, policy commentary, research methodology insights, and evidence-led thinking from the CSDR team — from ground-level surveys to national policy debates.
Why India's Community Consultation Processes Need a Research-First Approach
Policy decisions in India are increasingly shaped by consultations — but how rigorous is the evidence those consultations generate? After five multi-stakeholder consultation processes across three states, CSDR shares what works, what doesn't, and why research design matters before the first stakeholder sits down.
What Field Research Reveals About IEC Effectiveness in Rural India
After managing IEC campaigns across 5 states, CSDR shares findings on what communication approaches actually change behaviour at the community level — and which do not.
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Social Media as a Policy Advocacy Tool: Evidence from Development Campaigns
How strategic social media management amplifies community voices and creates measurable policy influence for civil society organisations — findings from 3 campaigns.
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Why Mixed-Method Isn't Optional: An Ethical Case for Research Integration
Quantitative data tells you what is happening. Qualitative evidence tells you why. A reflection on why integration is not a luxury but a responsibility in research affecting policy.
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Three Things Our Agricultural Survey in Rajasthan Taught Us About Farmer Decision-Making
After 400 household interviews across three districts, our field team reflects on the gap between government programme design and farmer-level realities on the ground.
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India's Social Protection Gap: Why Exclusion Errors Persist Despite Universal Coverage Claims
Our assessment of social protection scheme implementation in Jharkhand surfaces persistent exclusion patterns — and what evidence-based policy design could do to address them.
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Building MEL Capacity in Government: Lessons From Training 120 District Officials in UP
What we learned about learning — designing effective MEL training for government officials who have data tools but not always the frameworks to use them well.
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CSDR welcomes perspectives from development researchers, field practitioners, and policy professionals working in India's social development landscape.