Research Design for Social Impact
Registration for our next cohort starting January 10th 2025 is now open!
An intimate, global, group program for non-profit, UX and academic changemakers who want to design equity-centred, anti-oppressive monitoring, evaluation and research for social action
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Conventional Monitoring, Evaluation and Research processes do not centre equity
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In academic and social impact spaces, monitoring, evaluation, and research processes often miss the mark on equity and inclusivity.
Too often, knowledge production is shaped by pressures to publish, secure funding, or achieve pre-determined metrics. Terms like “impact metrics,” “value for money,” and “deliverables” dominate the discourse, sidelining the human connections and systemic changes that truly matter.
For conscientious researchers like you, it’s not just about ticking boxes or producing data—it’s about designing evidence-based practices that center integrity, ethics, and the lived realities of the communities you serve.
You want to research design processes that will inform meaningful social impact projects.
But if you’re here, chances are you’ve struggled to align these values with conventional methodologies. That’s because traditional training wasn’t built for changemakers like you.
You need a different approach
Is this Program for you?
At Design for Social Impact Lab, we offer more than just a course—we foster a global community of practice committed to anti-oppressive, equity-centered research and evaluation.
Using our eight guiding principles—Co-Design, Pedagogies of Care and Solidarity, Anti-Oppressive Approaches, Environmental Justice, Intersectionality, Systems Thinking, Structural Change, and Action—you’ll learn how to embed these concepts into your work and transform research into a force for justice.
 So, are you....?
- In a programs role where you design “evidence” based social impact programs?
- A social impact/non-profit learning specialist or evaluator seeking practical tools to challenge extractive practices.Â
- An academic researcher or postgraduate student committed to ethical, equity-focused methodologies.
- A UX researcher or technical advisor interested in shifting power through inclusive evidence design.
- A learning specialist or evaluator seeking practical tools to challenge extractive practices.
- Fed up with tokenistic approaches to inclusion and ready to explore alternatives.
- Eager to apply theory to practice and connect with like-minded changemakers.
- Excited to learn from diverse guest speakers, including facilitators with lived experience of systemic injustice.
If the answer is yes, then come join us in January 2025.
We hold live sessions on Fridays, from 8:30 New York/ 10:30 Rio/ 13:30 GMT/16:30 Nairobi/
You'll come away with ideas and tangible actions, reshaping the narratives and power dynamics that perpetuate inequality. Most importantly, you'll have tried and tested methods that you can apply to your own work and practice.
What you can expect from the course, and us:
The Research Design for Social Impact course is not your standard online program. This 8-week immersive journey is designed to equip you with innovative tools, fresh perspectives, and actionable skills to transform your research and drive meaningful social change.
This course offers you the unique opportunity to join a global community of peers committed to integrating critical, participatory, and action-oriented approaches into scholarship, monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL).
Here’s what makes this program stand out:
- A Comprehensive 8-Week Structure: Weekly 1–1.5 hour live online sessions, including a 1:1 coaching session supplemented with independent learning activities, all grounded in equity-centered design thinking, anti-racism, and anti-colonial practices.
- Practical, Real-World Examples: Learn how to embed participatory research within resistant organizations and navigate challenges with skeptical funders.
- Creative and Participatory Methods: Gain hands-on experience with participatory research techniques and collaborative analysis.
- Flexible Learning: Engage with course materials through self-led readings, reflection exercises, or live interactive webinars tailored to different learning styles.
- Focus on Equity and Power: Explore critical topics like power dynamics and anti-oppressive approaches to MERL through discussions, case studies, and peer learning.
- Interactive, Peer-Led Learning: Experience dynamic, interactive sessions that prioritize peer collaboration over traditional lecture-style teaching.
- On-Demand Access: Can’t make it to a live session? Webinars will be recorded and available for you to revisit or catch up at your convenience.
This course is designed for changemakers who are ready to move beyond extractive methods and embrace participatory, equity-driven practices in their work.
By the end of the course, you will come away with:
- A Deep Understanding of Equity-Centered Research Design: Master the language, frameworks, and conceptual tools to integrate equity design principles into your research practices.
- Hands-On, Practical Experience: Apply theory to practice by tackling real-world challenges with guidance from a team of experts who bring decades of experience in equity-centered MERL.
- A Personalized Action Plan: Develop a tailored strategy to incorporate Design for Social Impact’s eight guiding principles into your projects and professional work.
- A Lifelong Learning Community: Join a dynamic network of peers committed to equity and justice. Through collaborative learning, open dialogue, and shared experiences, you’ll continue to grow alongside a supportive community that fosters solidarity and shares opportunities for growth.
Our Guest Speakers
On this course, you get to learn with and from a diverse group of people!
Each week we invite practitioners to share their experiences of integrating anti-oppressive research and evaluation methods. These community conversations are practical, enriching and show you how a diverse range of people, from around the globe, are applying these methods in a wide variety of non-profit and research roles.Â
Scroll below to see some of our previous faculty members.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What makes this different from other courses ?
What if I can't make every live session?
I'm not fluent in English, Is this available in other languages?
My job is pretty busy- what sort of time commitment do I need?
Do you offer subsidised places?
Who will facilitate the course?
Can we take this course as a team?
Course overview
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Week 1: Introduction to Research for Design for Social Impact (Foundations)
- Theme: Defining Research for Design for Social Impact.
- Exploring the motivations behind anti-oppressive approaches to monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL)
- Design for Social Impact's key principles, framework and ethical considerations.
Week 2: Intersectionality in Research
- Theme: Unveiling Interconnected Identities
- Discussing the role of power dynamics in shaping monitoring, evaluation, research and learning processes.
- Understanding the concept of intersectionality in monitoring, evaluation, research and learning processes.
- Ethics, informed consent through an intersectional lens.
Week 3: Anti-Colonial and  Anti-Racist Approaches in Research
- Theme: Challenging Colonial Narratives
- Critiquing colonial biases in MERL methodologies.
- Examining the importance of centering multiple knowledges and perspectives.
- Incorporating anti-colonial and decolonial approaches to monitoring, evaluation, research and learning design and execution.
Week 4: Activist MethodologiesÂ
- Theme: Bridging Theory and Action
- Exploring critical participatory action research and other activist methodologies.
- Photovoice
- CartographiesÂ
Week 5: Activist MethodologiesÂ
- Theme: Bridging Theory and Action
- Engaging with communities in the research process.
- QuantCrit ( critical quantitative approaches)Â
Week 6: Co-Analysis in Rebellious Research
- Theme: Collaborative Analysis for Collective Understanding
- Introducing co-analysis as a tool for collective interpretation of data.
- Facilitating collaborative sense-making within research teams.
- Case studies illustrating successful co-analysis in rebellious research projects.  Â
Weeks 7:Â Pedagogies of Care and Solidarity
- Explore the principles of care and solidarity in activist methodologies and how they challenge traditional, extractive approaches to research and practice.
- Collaboratively design strategies to incorporate care and solidarity into your own work, ensuring methodologies are community-driven and anti-oppressive
- Develop your own action plan for centring care and wellbeing in your personal practice.
Week 8: Research for Structural Change and Action
- Theme: Applying Research for Design Principles in Practice
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Organising research and evidence for advocacy and social action
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Practical tools for implementing change
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Reflecting on the challenges and successes of the research process
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Charting the path forward and encouraging ongoing engagement in rebellious monitoring, evaluation, research and learning processes.
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