Evidence Connect South Asia (Eco-SA): A research network by Campbell South Asia
We at Campbell South Asia (CSA) are excited to announce the formation of a new Evidence Synthesis Research Community in South Asia. To begin with, this will bring together researchers, practitioners, and experts from various fields to strengthen a pan-India network called Evidence Connect South Asia (Eco-SA).
This initiative by us aims to cultivate a collaborative ecosystem dedicated to producing high-quality, relevant evidence syntheses that can effectively inform policy and practice across critical sectors in South Asia.
Our Vision
In an increasingly data-rich but time-poor world, the ability to systematically gather, evaluate, and synthesise existing evidence is paramount. CSA envisions building a vibrant community of researchers and practitioners committed to advancing evidence synthesis methodologies and applying them to pressing challenges in India and beyond in South Asia. By bringing together expertise from humanitarian work, gender studies, public health, and various social science disciplines, we seek to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact.
Why Join Us?
Membership of this network is free and open to all professionals who meet the eligibility criteria. Joining this network will offer a unique opportunity to:
- Collaborate on impactful research: Work alongside interdisciplinary experts on high-priority evidence synthesis projects.
- Enhance methodological skills: Engage in shared learning, training, and discussions on advanced research techniques (e.g., systematic reviews, meta-analysis, realist synthesis, qualitative synthesis, AI in data mining).
- Inform policy and practice: Directly contribute to robust evidence bases that can shape interventions, programs, and policies in humanitarian aid, gender equality, public health, and social development.
- Network and share knowledge: Connect with peers, share insights, and foster new partnerships across diverse fields and institutions.
- Contribute to India’s evidence ecosystem: Play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s capacity for evidence-informed decision-making.
What’s in it for the members who join the network?
Joining the CSA research network will offer a wide range of benefits for members, from individual researchers to entire institutions. These advantages are centred on fostering research collaboration, sharing knowledge, and advancing careers. To elaborate:
1. This network will provide a platform to connect with experts from diverse disciplines, institutions, and even countries. The output will be:
- Development of new perspectives while enabling discussion of challenges with peers, resulting in innovative solutions and new methodologies that might not have been discovered working alone.
- Easier to form teams for complex, global problems that require expertise from multiple fields.
- Foster shared learning, wherein members can learn about new tools, techniques, and approaches from others, contributing to their professional development.
2. This network will prioritise greater access to resources and funding opportunities, which further emphasise collaborative projects, particularly those that are international or interdisciplinary. The network will support:
- Identifying funding opportunities, wherein members can gain access to information about grants and other funding sources.
- Working toward securing funding for ambitious research projects.
- Researchers will have access to evidence synthesis techniques from the CSA team, and likewise, it would be expected from the collaborating individual and partner agencies to work toward capacity building (access to facilities or data that are not available at their home institution).
3. This network will place a premium on accelerated research and impact by providing a structured way to connect and share. The vision is to foster:
- Faster solutions by providing the platform to increase the visibility and collaborative nature of network projects. This will amplify the real-world impact of the research findings.
- Lastly, to build a sense of community among researchers who are constantly navigating the complexities of doing research and curating reliable evidence.
Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking passionate individuals who already have expertise in different sectors, such as Child Protection, Early Childhood Development, Education and Learning, Health, Nutrition, Social Policy and Social Protection, WASH, etc. We also invite individuals and organisations who have experience in evidence synthesis or are willing to learn, including but not limited to:
- Researchers and Academics: With expertise in quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research, and an interest in evidence synthesis.
- Policy Analysts and Program Evaluators: From governmental bodies, NGOs, and international organisations.
- Practitioners: Working on the ground in humanitarian settings, gender equality initiatives, public health programs, or social development projects, who understand the practical evidence needs.
- Methodologists: Expertise in Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed-methods, and AI in research techniques across various thematic areas. Specialising in systematic review, meta-analysis, or other synthesis methodologies. Willing to build capacity around this
Get Involved
We look forward to building a strong and impactful community of evidence synthesis together.
If you are committed to harnessing the power of evidence to drive positive change and wish to contribute your expertise to this collaborative endeavour, we encourage you to express your interest by filling in some basic information about your area of work (OR a brief overview of your relevant experience and areas of interest) and contact details in this form
For more information or any clarifications, please contact Campbell South Asia at southasia@campbellsouthasia.org
