Research, Assessments & Evidence
Generate evidence that can inform real decisions.
GEMBA can support methodologically appropriate, field-grounded research and assessments - and translate findings into forms that decision-makers, programme teams and implementers can use. The value of evidence lies not only in how it is generated, but also in how responsibly it is interpreted, communicated and connected to action.
The challenge
Good evidence must be rigorous, relevant and usable.
Research can lose value when the question is poorly defined, methods are disconnected from operational reality, field processes are inconsistent or findings do not reach the people making programme decisions.
GEMBA's approach connects the research question, field context, quality processes and intended use of findings from the beginning. Ethics, permissions, safeguarding and data-governance arrangements are confirmed for each assignment rather than assumed.
This capability may be relevant when an institution is addressing:
- Evidence gaps that need a clearly scoped research or assessment question
- Complex field settings requiring careful planning and stakeholder liaison
- Primary and secondary evidence that must be synthesised for decisions
- Research findings that need translation into practical recommendations or communication products
- Quality, ethics, consent, confidentiality and data-governance requirements
How GEMBA can support
Research support from question to use.
The final combination of support areas is agreed against the institution's objective, scope, governance, timeline and available resources.
Research and assessment design
Clarify the decision need, frame the research question and support an appropriate design, sampling approach, tools and analysis plan within the agreed technical scope.
Primary and mixed-method research
Support quantitative and qualitative field studies, interviews, surveys, observations and mixed-method assessments with assignment-specific protocols.
Secondary research and review
Conduct literature, policy, programme and document reviews; synthesise available evidence; and identify relevant implications and gaps.
Implementation research
Explore how programme context, workflows, actors and adaptations influence implementation, and translate learning into feasible programme choices.
Field operations and quality
Support investigator planning, training, supervision, stakeholder liaison, quality checks, issue escalation and field documentation.
Evidence translation
Develop briefs, presentations, reports, dashboards, dissemination products and decision-oriented recommendations suited to the intended audience.
Our approach
Design backwards from the decision the evidence must support.
A research engagement should create a transparent line from the question to the method, field process, analysis and use of findings.
- Step 01
Define the decision need
Agree what must be understood, who will use the findings and which claims the study must or must not support.
- Step 02
Select an appropriate method
Shape the design, tools, sampling, ethics and field plan according to the question, population, access and available resources.
- Step 03
Protect field quality
Use clear protocols, training, supervision, checks, documentation and escalation processes appropriate to the assignment.
- Step 04
Translate findings responsibly
Distinguish evidence from inference, state limitations and develop usable outputs without overstating causality, attribution or generalisability.
Connected support
Combine capabilities around the requirement.
This capability can be commissioned on its own or connected with other GEMBA capability areas where the assignment requires a more integrated response.
Public Health & Health Systems
for programme diagnosis, system assessment and evidence-informed design
Governance & Digital Transformation
for institutional research, workflow inquiry, adoption studies and user feedback
SBCC & Strategic Communication
for research dissemination, audience insight and communication of complex findings
Experience behind the capability
This capability is informed by Dr Shweta Richa's individually attributed experience in public-health research and multi-district field operations, including ICMR-NIN's Diet and Biomarker Survey in Bihar and the NeVA evaluation. Amit Rakesh Dubey contributes experience in evidence translation, documentation and strategic communication where relevant. These assignments were not undertaken by GEMBA.
Start a conversation
Start with the question the evidence must answer.
GEMBA welcomes discussions around research design, field studies, assessments, implementation research, evidence synthesis and decision-oriented dissemination. Sample, geography, ethics arrangements, staffing and timelines are agreed only after scoping.