Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC)

The Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) is working to build a global network of university researchers to provide USAID with rapid, on-demand research expertise across all sectors and geographic areas. This technical assistance helps USAID Missions, Bureaus and Independent Offices (M/B/IO) make evidence-based decisions.

NORC at the University of Chicago leads USAID's RTAC Consortia in establishing a network of university-based researchers.

Their initial network is comprised of 254 faculty, graduate students, postdocs, and lecturers affiliated with 128 organizations that are available to support the scientific and research-based technical assistance needs for the Agency.

This network is institutionally and individually diverse, drawing a significant percentage of participants from U.S. minority serving institutions and developing country universities and inclusive of a high percentage of female researchers.

This activity supports the Agency's "Journey to Self-Reliance" initiative in that developing country participants are engaged and enhancing the skills to conduct, communicate and apply research to inform social, political and economic decisions that will ultimately impact their own development issues.