The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) evaluation had its closing event today, where we shared our evidence and lessons with funders of international research and innovation from across government, academies and foundations.

It’s been my privilege – and challenge – to lead this evaluation for five years, alongside expert colleagues from → www.itad.com/pr ᠁ Itad and → www.rand.org/ra ᠁ Rand Europe.

GCRF’s evaluation leaves us with a wealth of insights—insights that feel more urgent than ever as the funding landscape for international research and innovation continues to change.

Running from 2016-2025, GCRF mobilised international partnerships, interdisciplinary research and innovation, cross-sectoral networks, and made lasting investments in skills, systems, and infrastructures. The fund supported partnered projects between UK and institutions over 100 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Fund closed in 2025 after nine years, reaching 140+ programmes, 3000+ grants, 100+ countries, 12,000+ researchers.

The evaluation found that GCRF contributed to important advancements in solutions to systemic global challenges, successfully influencing policy, practice and markets in low and middle income countries. For those interested in the details of GCRF’s impacts, our newly published → www.gov.uk/gove ᠁ Research Into Use evaluation report offers a deeper dive in five focal countries – Kenya, South Africa, India, Vietnam and Lebanon.

Why does GCRF still matter?

Today’s reality is very different from when GCRF first took shape. Funding for research for development impact (R4D) has been significantly reduced, and this new normal will involve decisions and trade-offs for funders. How, then, do the hard-won lessons from GCRF help us navigate this altered landscape?

Drivers of success in GCRF

We discussed the drivers of success in GCRF and also where there were missed opportunities. Key insights that resonated were:

• Embedding a focus on gender, equity, and social inclusion: Our evaluation evidence showed that integrating gender, equity and social inclusion into research isn’t just about ethics. It is a practical driver of impact, underpinning innovations that were pro-poor, with fairer sharing of benefits and supporting adoption by both communities and private sector entities.
• Building fair and effective partnerships: Collaboration was at the heart of GCRF’s achievements. Co-producing research with NGOs, civil society, businesses, community groups, or government bodies, the most successful projects fostered fair partnerships, promoted capacity building, and ensured benefits were equitably shared. This approach consistently led to broader and more lasting outcomes.
• Investing in stakeholder networks: Where networks were intentionally supported, these were crucial for navigating dynamic policy contexts, and mobilizing stakeholders to promote use and take up of research. Network grants showed good VfM, so were useful additions in a mixed portfolio approach.
• Taking a programmatic approach: When GCRF adopted a portfolio-level mindset—coordinating across research teams, nurturing cohorts, and facilitating capacity building and peer learning—the results were stronger and more resilient, even in the face of unforeseen shocks like the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Funding over longer time frames: Building equity, trust and partnerships takes time. The evaluation highlighted that even smaller investments, if sustained over longer periods, can enable deeper analysis of context, stronger partnerships and networks, and, crucially, building trust with communities.

Looking ahead

Looking to the future, coordinating across funds and programmes as learning opportunities for funders themselves was noted as something that could underpin a more strategic approach to make the most of today’s limited R&D funding.

Reflecting on the future of R4D investments at the learning event, the take-away was clear: as we navigate the realities of tighter budgets, the evidence and lessons of GCRF offer a valuable compass - by centring equity, supporting fair international partnerships and embracing long-term, coordinated approaches, we can continue to contribute to meaningful research impact even in challenging times.

Read all of the → www.itad.com/pr ᠁ GCRF evaluation reports here.