K4DD launches 3.5-year service to support FCDO

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Knowledge for Development and Diplomacy (K4DD) programme. K4DD is providing the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) with knowledge, evidence and learning designed to support development and diplomacy programmes and policies.

K4DD runs a helpdesk service specifically for FCDO, providing rapid evidence reviews, a curated learning service, and bespoke learning products to support the uptake and use of knowledge.

K4DD is a 3.5-year programme, directed by a consortium of six leading development and diplomacy organisations in the UK, which have long standing experience of working closely with UK Government. The consortium is led by the Institute of Development Studies, joined by the University of Birmingham, the Humanitarian and Conflict Research Institute (HCRI), the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).

The consortium builds on its experience of running multiple helpdesk services, such as K4D, HEART, GSDRC and more. K4D, which ran from 2016 to 2022, produced over 1,200 rapid evidence reviews, delivered 45 facilitated learning journeys, and saw over 675,000 downloads of its outputs.

James Georgalakis, Director of K4DD and based at the Institute of Development Studies, says:

“We are delighted to be supporting the UK Government with rapid evidence and learning services that will help shape its efforts to address urgent global challenges. This builds on over 25 years of collaboration on innovative knowledge for development services that utilise rapid research synthesis reports and facilitated learning events.

By accessing the latest evidence from across our worldwide network of expertise on climate change, conflict and security, health, education, economics and politics, we will support FCDO in its mission to promote a safer, healthier and fairer world for all.”

K4DD will be sharing all public-facing outputs on the programmes dedicated website, and also on social media including X and LinkedIn. Additionally, you can stay up to date by signing up for our e-newsletter.