We launched our Research Collaboration Initiative in 2021 with four key objectives:

• Expand development research networks to include more researchers from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
• Enhance access to funding for LMIC researchers
• Promote pipeline development of researchers from LMICs within our country offices
• Support LMIC researchers with research communications and policy engagement

By 2025, our goal is for 35 percent of teams funded by IPA through competitive grants to include LMIC researchers and correspondingly, 35 percent of funds to go to grantee teams with LMIC researchers. We are committed to ensuring that at least 60 percent of IPA-related projects include LMIC researchers.

To help us achieve the abovementioned objectives, we formed the Research Collaboration Initiative Advisory Board. This Advisory Board provides strategic advice and guides the design and implementation of IPA's strategy to diversify our research network. The activities under the strategy are currently being implemented across IPA country offices in Africa and will expand to additional low- and middle-income countries where IPA has offices. This advisory board is chaired by the Executive Director of IPA.