Long-term Assistance and Services for Research (LASER)

Long-term Assistance and Services for Research (LASER) will leverage and support international university networks, inclusive of universities from both the United States (U.S) and lower-middle income countries (LMIC), to undertake novel and innovative development research, collaborate with Missions and local actors to design and undertake research projects, and create connections that accelerate the uptake of research outputs by development actors and policy makers.

The resulting LASER network will not only generate new knowledge for USAID, but also initiate long term, sustainable collaborations between U.S. and developing country institutions that are characterized by equitable university partnerships.

Services this mechanism will provide: Co-creation and implementation of research activitiesResearch design, primary data collection and analysis; Technical reports with potential for USAID co-authorshipTranslation of research findings into policy and program relevant recommendations; Academic-style program evaluation (answers a sector relevant, hypothesis-driven question); Sustained engagement with research faculty.