Marie Gaarder honoured for advancing evidence-based policymaking
Marie Gaarder honoured for advancing evidence-based policymaking
3ie’s Executive Director, Marie Gaarder, has been named the recipient of the Robert Boruch Award 2025 by the Campbell Collaboration, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to advancing the use of rigorous evidence in public policy and development decision-making.
The Robert Boruch Award honours individuals whose work has significantly strengthened the production, synthesis, and use of evidence on social interventions. The award recognises Marie’s long-standing leadership in championing evidence-informed policymaking and her role in shaping global approaches to evidence synthesis and accessibility.
Recognising innovation in evidence synthesis and access
In its award announcement, the Campbell Collaboration highlights Marie’s invention of 3ie’s first evidence gap map (EGM) in 2010 as one of her most significant contributions to the field. The EGM methodology represented a major innovation in evidence synthesis and visualisation, transforming how governments, funders, and researchers identify evidence gaps and prioritise research.
Today, evidence gap maps are a cornerstone of evidence synthesis worldwide and have been adopted and adapted by leading institutions, including the Campbell Collaboration and Mexico’s National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (Coneval).
The announcement also recognises Marie’s leadership in the creation of 3ie’s Development Evidence Portal (DEP)—now the world’s largest repository of rigorous evidence on what works in international development. Under her vision, DEP has become a critical global public good, enabling policymakers, implementers, and researchers to access high-quality evidence efficiently and at scale.
A shared commitment to evidence and impact
Reflecting on the honour, Marie Gaarder emphasised that the award recognises a collective mission rather than an individual achievement:
“This recognition is not just personal; it belongs to all who believe that research and evidence are essential to creating fairer, more effective development. Coming at this pivotal moment, it renews our energy and optimism to keep building a future where decisions are grounded in knowledge, collaboration, and a shared commitment to improving lives.”
The award comes at a time when development and research funding are increasingly constrained, reinforcing the importance of making better use of existing evidence and strengthening partnerships to ensure research translates into real-world impact.
About the Robert Boruch Award
The Robert Boruch Award is presented annually by the Campbell Collaboration to recognise exceptional contributions to evidence-based policymaking and the advancement of systematic reviews and evidence synthesis in the social sciences.
Read the full award announcement on the Campbell Collaboration website
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