Deadline: 03-Aug-2026
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), through the Global Research and Technology Development Research Commissioning Centre (GRTD RCC), is commissioning a programme synthesis study.
This synthesis covers 41 research grants focused on agriculture and food systems for nutrition. It is designed as a learning-focused exercise, not a formal impact evaluation.
Purpose of the Programme Synthesis
The aim is to consolidate evidence and generate insights across the funded portfolio.
Key purposes:
- Synthesise academic outputs across grants
- Assess policy influence and uptake
- Map contributions to nutrition and food systems knowledge
- Identify lessons for future programming and funding
Key Focus Areas of the Research Synthesis
Nutrition and Food Systems Outcomes
- Increasing consumption of nutrient-dense foods
- Building consumer demand for healthy diets
- Improving affordability of nutritious foods
- Strengthening local food markets
Food Safety and Health
- Improving food safety systems
- Reducing foodborne diseases
- Strengthening safer value chains
Agriculture and Value Chains
- Nutrition-sensitive agriculture approaches
- Value-chain interventions
- Market system strengthening
Data and Measurement Systems
- Food systems data innovation
- Scaling nutrition datasets and interventions
- Affordability-of-healthy-diet metrics
Core Research Questions
- Academic contribution
- Peer-reviewed publication output
- Contribution to the global evidence base
- Influence on agriculture and nutrition policy and practice
Expected Methodology and Activities
- Systematic synthesis of grant outputs
- Bibliometric analysis of publications
- Policy and practice impact assessment
- Review of grantee reports
- Surveys of grantees
- Key informant interviews
- Case study development
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible Applicants
- Legally registered organisations worldwide
- Universities, NGOs, think tanks, consulting firms
- Consortia of multiple organisations
Preferred Consortium Features
- Inclusion of LMIC-based researchers
- Leadership roles for local organisations
- Clear division of responsibilities
Ineligible Applicants
- Individuals (not eligible)
- Unregistered organisations
Compliance Requirements
- Declaration of conflicts of interest
- Demonstrated capacity to deliver synthesis research
Budget and Scope
- Total budget: £85,000
- Coverage: 41 research grants
- Nature: Evidence synthesis and learning-focused analysis
How the Programme Works
Step 1: Proposal Development
- Define methodology
- Design evidence synthesis framework
- Plan stakeholder engagement
Step 2: Engagement with Research Community
- Coordinate with grantees
- Collect qualitative and quantitative evidence
Step 3: Evidence Collection and Analysis
- Review academic outputs
- Conduct surveys and interviews
- Map policy influence
- Develop case studies
Step 4: Synthesis and Reporting
- Integrate findings
- Produce synthesis report
- Identify lessons and implications
Why This Opportunity Matters
This programme strengthens global understanding of food systems and nutrition by:
- Improving evidence on what works in agriculture-nutrition systems
- Supporting policy development in LMICs
- Enhancing food system resilience and affordability
- Informing future research investments
It contributes to addressing:
- Malnutrition
- Food insecurity
- Weak value chains
- Poor access to healthy diets
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating the work as a simple literature review
- Ignoring policy influence pathways
- Weak engagement with grantees
- Excluding LMIC partners from leadership roles
- Lack of methodological clarity
- Overlooking case study development
Key Deliverables
- Programme synthesis report
- Bibliometric analysis
- Policy influence assessment
- Case studies
- Stakeholder engagement summary
- Final learning report
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of this call?
To synthesize evidence from 41 agriculture and nutrition research grants.
Is this an impact evaluation?
No. It is a learning-focused synthesis.
Who can apply?
Legally registered organisations worldwide; individuals are not eligible.
Are consortia encouraged?
Yes, especially those involving LMIC partners.
What is the budget?
£85,000 total.
What methods are required?
Bibliometrics, surveys, interviews, case studies, and policy analysis.
What is expected on policy influence?
Assessment of how research influenced policy and practice.
Conclusion
This FCDO initiative brings together evidence from a major research portfolio on agriculture and nutrition. The synthesis will generate actionable insights on food systems, policy impact, and nutrition outcomes, supporting better design of future development programmes and strengthening global food security knowledge.
For more information, visit GRTD.
