LASER-PULSE

This was a five-year (2018-2023) program implemented by a consortium led by Purdue University and funded by USAID. The other consortium partners included: Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Indiana University, Makerere University, and University of Notre Dame. This consortium established a global network of universities dedicated to translating research into practical development solutions. The LASER-PULSE model was built on several core principles: engagement of development practitioners throughout the research process to ensure relevance; use of research translation to optimise research evidence uptake along the research-to-impact value chain; and emphasis on capacity building for both researchers and practitioners. The project implemented a structured process for research translation including: co-creation meetings bringing together researchers and practitioners; collaborative design of research methodologies; and development of dissemination strategies.

The consortium employed a demand-driven approach, with research priorities identified through consultation with USAID missions and implementing partners facing specific development challenges. RAN’s role as a key consortium partner involved convening university researchers on the African continent to implement development research. RAN also contributed particular expertise in resilience research, innovation ecosystems, and community engagement methodologies. The consortium supported over 30 research projects across multiple sectors, with RAN leading or co-leading several studies on topics including education in conflict settings, humanitarian-development nexus programming, and indigenous knowledge systems. The project also developed digital platforms for knowledge sharing and collaboration, including a repository of research translation tools and knowledge products. A particularly valuable output was the gap analysis report on understanding research contexts in higher education institutions in conflict settings.

The LASER-PULSE model demonstrated several benefits over conventional research funding mechanisms, including faster turnaround from problem identification to evidence generation, higher utilization of research findings in programming decisions, and stronger relationships between academic and development communities. Below is a list of projects that were implemented under the LASER-PULSE consortium in which RAN was part of the implementation.

• Tusome Case Study
• Impact Evaluation of Psychosocial Support in South Sudan
• Voices of the Indigenous People of Uganda
• Evaluation of Somalia’s Accelerated Quality Learning Program
• Multi-Year Emergency Program Impact Evaluation in South Sudan
• Assessment of Research Context, Research Capacity and Capacity Gaps in Higher Education Institutions in Somalia and South Sudan