Building capacity for local development solutions
Building capacity • Supporting research • Informing policies
The Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP) is an international non-profit organization that links researchers globally to enhance local capacity for policy analysis in developing countries.
PEP’s unique research support program empowers local experts to achieve the highest international standards of scientific quality, while building productive relationships with decision-makers at home.
The program is combined with a sophisticated web-based Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system, which enables PEP to oversee progress and assess impact of supported projects in three key areas: capacity building, research quality, and policy outreach.
A global organization
The global scope and "networking" style of PEP's organizational structure provide a unique opportunity for developing country researchers to share and learn from experiences with peers around the world.
As of 2019, over 16,000 people (87% based in developing countries) interested in evidence-informed policy making for developing countries, are subscribed to the PEP website to be informed of PEP news stories, PEP impact stories, and learn about recent PEP findings.
Building capacity in developing countries
To promote greater participation of local experts in policy debates.
We do this by linking promising researchers with international field experts for customized training and support.
Since its creation in 2002, PEP has created and perfected a unique research support program that empowers developing country researchers to achieve the highest international standards of scientific quality, while building productive relationships with decision-makers at home.
Following a "learning by doing" approach, PEP's Grant Plus mechanism combines intensive training and mentoring in analytical techniques and policy engagement.
Find out more about the PEP Grant Plus research support program, summarized here:
PEP provides additional grants so researchers can organize or take part in dissemination activities to share their findings and policy recommendations. These contribute to promoting their expertise both nationally and internationally.
Find out more about teams’ achievements in PEP impact stories
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“PEP’s approach to research funding, as it aims to build the expertise of local researchers rather than require this expertise as a condition for funding, is unique and very important. A model that other international organizations should learn from. This approach results in both long-term and potentially large-scope effects, especially through junior researchers.” Damilola Olajide, Nigeria |
“Thanks to the PEP project and the knowledge acquired, the publication of my research findings in referred journals of three different papers, I was promoted to associate professor. Also, my participation in international conferences – with PEP support – allowed me to become a senior economist in an international organization.” Nadia Belhaj Hassine, Tunisia |
Supporting high-quality research
To address specific knowledge gaps from a local perspective.
We do this by providing continual mentoring and peer-review that strengthens expertise in advanced methodologies.
PEP researchers receive training in a variety of analytical perspectives, tools and techniques. This is provided through PEP's four global thematic research groups.
- Community-based monitoring systems (CBMS)
- Macro-micro policy modeling (MPIA)
- Experimental research (PIERI)
- Microeconomic analysis (PMMA)
Each group is supported by international experts in the specific research method or approach.
These approaches allow PEP researchers to analyze a broad range of policy issues related to poverty reduction and sustainable development.
Examples of themes covered by PEP research:
PEP has become a hub of expertise, knowledge and innovation in the field of economic and development policy analysis in developing countries thanks to the continual support and interaction of world-leading experts and institutions.
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“PEP has provided us with a series of analytical tools that are quite difficult for research teams working in developing countries to obtain; these include international bibliographic databases and program licenses.” Maria Ines Terra, Uruguay |
“PEP keeps high standards and pushed us beyond what we thought we were capable of achieving.” Nisha Arunatilake, Sri Lanka |
Informing development policies worldwide
With reliable evidence from local researchers.
We do this by fostering their engagement with policy stakeholders throughout the project.
PEP’s ultimate goal is for the research and researchers we support to help inform policy in developing countries. PEP’s unique research support program aims to address the challenges researchers face in producing and promoting research for policy.
Throughout the research cycle, project teams must provide evidence they have made meaningful efforts to consult, engage and communicate with key policy stakeholders and research users.
M&E data shows that PEP’s system helps increase policy uptake of research findings and researchers usually benefit from increased exposure and acknowledgement as field experts at the national level, which in turn ensures the long-term impact of PEP support.
Find out more about how PEP research has informed policy in PEP impact stories.
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“PEP support helped us attract the attention of key national policymakers for both our findings and our research methods.” Altantsetseg Batchuluun, Mongolia |
“The consultation process undertaken at the beginning of our project was important to inform the program managers of the impact evaluation and its initial results. As an external consulting group, we were able to inform decisions regardless of changes in management due to political transitions.” Fabio Veras Soares, Brazil |
International non-profit organization
PEP is a legally incorporated, non-profit international organization, registered in the USA and recognized as an IRC Sec. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, with public charity status under Sec. 509(a)(1) of the US Internal Revenue Service. As a legally registered and tax-exempt public charity organization, PEP is qualified to receive tax-deductible funds, bequests, gifts and transfers for its non-profit research and capacity building activities. PEP has been granted residence for its global head office by the Government of Kenya, based on a comprehensive host country agreement.
PEP continues to expand in terms of institutional networking and sources of funding, with a growing list of donors including AusAID, CIDA, DFID (or UK Aid), IADB, IDRC, IFPRI, ILO, UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women.