Primary research in the settings where it is hardest to do well.
Low-connectivity, multilingual, informal, dispersed. Through researchers already part of the context. Recent ground: electric transport in Nairobi, decentralised clean energy in Lombok, water transparency in Nairobi.
Informed, recorded, revocable consent. Anonymisation by default. Sampling, translation and quality control managed end to end.
Held to the Belmont Report, the WMA Declaration of Helsinki, IPA and J-PAL, EU GDPR, and the ESRC Framework for Research Ethics. See Research Ethics.
Commissioned work stays private unless the client chooses to publish; the case studies are the exceptions.
See Who We Serve for the fit in each case.
If this reads close to a decision you are weighing, we would like to hear about it. A short note is enough to start.
The Lab is an independent research team, not an advocacy organisation. We do not campaign, endorse products, or accept commissions where a finding is expected in advance. Where a partner's own theory of change is what needs testing, that is a legitimate engagement, and the Lab tests it honestly.