Better funding: Best practices in policy research funding

1. Long-term vision

Funders must transition away from short-term, project-based models and instead focus on cultivating resilient research organisations and systems. This involves nurturing people and innovative ideas, as well as diversifying funding networks to include various geographies and organisational sizes. By supporting the development of local education agendas, funders can foster a more sustainable and robust research environment.

Achieving this vision requires a fundamental shift toward an ecosystem-oriented approach that prioritises institutional endurance and flexible overhead support. Current funding structures often rely on short cycles and restricted grants that impede true research autonomy and long-term strategic planning.

To drive lasting impact, funders need to invest in the long-term capacity of local institutions and the emergence of diverse local leadership.

2. Support local missions

Financial backing should be direct, demand-driven, and thoughtfully aligned with the specific missions of local organisations. Funders should offer a variety of support and funding options that match the unique characteristics and long-term developmental needs of local researchers. It is also essential to involve local experts directly in the design of funding strategies and to collaborate with pre-existing continental efforts.

Historically, locally led education research in low and middle income countries has been underfunded, with a vast majority of research funds flowing to international partners and high-income country authors rather than the local institutions themselves. This pattern can be seen at the national level – everywhere. Better resources research centres, often far from the populations in greater need, tend to concentrate research funding.

By reforming funding practices to place local organisations at the center, funders can ensure that research is genuinely contextually grounded, locally owned, and significantly more likely to effectively inform education policy and practice across the world.

3. Fund generation, communication and use of evidence

Support for education research must extend far beyond the initial stage of data generation to fully encompass the active communication and practical use of evidence. This includes championing and quoting local research in global media, supporting dissemination efforts in local languages, and assisting local systems in cultivating a robust culture of evidence-informed decision-making.

Currently, there is an “impact gap,” where substantial resources are poured into research production while knowledge translation and policy engagement are treated as secondary activities. High-quality local research often fails to reach intended audiences because of a lack of dedicated funding for these engagement efforts. Therefore, funders must treat relationship-building and communication infrastructure as integral components of research funding, ensuring that local knowledge directly shapes policy.

4. Deliberately support inclusion

There must be an intentional and purposeful emphasis on integrating women, youth, and other minority populations into research. This requires directly tackling systemic barriers, such as a lack of childcare provisions or insufficient mentorship opportunities. Additionally, it is vital to ensure that diversity and equity principles are deeply embedded within the funding consortia and frameworks themselves.

Addressing these barriers involves moving beyond individualised interventions and instead funding organisations — like universities and think tanks — that possess the right enabling environments to support marginalised groups.

By providing earmarked funding, early career grants, and organisational development support, funders can help dismantle the systemic hurdles that currently limit equitable opportunities and career progression for these underrepresented researchers.

5. Promote dynamic learning

Because the research ecosystem flourishes through continuous experimentation and feedback loops, funders must actively cultivate environments conducive to this growth. They should establish trusted spaces where researchers, practitioners, and policymakers can engage in deep listening, shared reflection, and the collaborative co-creation of solutions. This approach allows stakeholders to iterate and continuously improve upon their funding strategies.

Learning proves most effective when it is embedded in ongoing dialogue and relationships rather than treated as a mere compliance requirement or a one-off exercise. By fostering a learning-oriented community of practice, funders can openly discuss constraints, test their assumptions, and generate actionable insights. Ultimately, this collaborative reflection reduces duplication of efforts and strengthens strategic decision-making on complex challenges that no single organisation can address alone.