Evidence gap maps

This EGM maps the rigorous evidence on sustainable energy interventions with a focus on energy access, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. It includes 668 impact evaluations and 35 systematic reviews from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and highlights a large and recent body of evidence concentrated around few interventions, outcomes and geographies.

To understand the extent of the evidence on SRHR and inform decision-making, 3ie developed an evidence gap map (EGM). This EGM was commissioned by the German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Co-Impact, to explore the state of the evidence base on SRHR and to inform upcoming impact evaluations. This evidence gap map includes over 1,000 studies on SRHR programs across the world and includes studies for people in challenging situations such as conflict or experiencing vulnerability in exercising rights or availing services.

In this evidence gap map (EGM), we systematically describe the available evidence on the effects of nutrition-sensitive agriculture interventions across food systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The map covers interventions related to 1) production; 2) transport and distribution; 3) support for food processing, storage, and packaging; 4) fortification and re-formulation; 5) pricing and profit initiatives; 6) market places; 7) voluntary adoption of standards and ethical practices; 8) women’s empowerment; and 9) consumer behavior. To the extent possible, we categorized intervention groups into education interventions; the direct provision of goods, services, or technologies; market-based approaches; and structural approaches.

This evidence gap map (EGM) provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence base for programming that seeks to strengthen resilience against covariate shocks, stressors, and recurring crises in low- and middle-income countries. Overall, we found a total of 362 studies, 343 of which were quantitative IEs and 19 were SRs. The field has rapidly expanded since the early 2000s, with approximately 20–50 new studies published annually since 2014.

Depending on the metrics used, between approximately half (Reporters without Borders, 2016) to 13% (BBC Media Action, 2016) of the world’s population has access to an independent media. Interventions aimed at strengthening independent media and free flow of information include interventions that promote or strengthen mediums for citizens to conduct free and open communication, engage with government and civil society, and increase constituency mobilization, and/or oversight of government functions to increase transparency and accountability.

Human rights programming encompasses a vast variety of interventions and is guided by several international and national legal frameworks. Understanding the gaps and the evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions can help inform policymakers and practitioners on where resources are most needed. In this evidence gap map, we look at two sub-sets of human rights: civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights.

Food security exists when all people have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food at all times. During a humanitarian emergency, an individual’s ability to purchase food is adversely affected due to loss of income, while food production and transportation can also be severely disrupted. This evidence gap map utilises a multi-sectoral approach and provides an overview of 146 impact evaluations (IEs) and 17 systematic reviews (SRs) which evaluate the effect of food security interventions during humanitarian emergencies.

The purpose of this map is to determine the distribution of the evidence regarding interventions to strengthen government effectiveness in L&MICs and provide easy access to this literature.

The EGM reveals clusters of evidence and key gaps where limited or no evidence exists and more research is needed. By searching both academic and grey literature, we have mapped a total of 283 impact evaluations (IEs) and 16 systematic reviews (SRs) related to the effects of energy efficiency (EE) interventions at the household, public institutions, and business level around the world.

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This map provides quick and easy access to published and grey literature on the implementation of nutrition-specific interventions in India. The map reveals concentrations of evidence, where we may know more than we think, and key gaps where limited or no evidence exists. This map will be a useful tool for policymakers who want to learn more about programme implementation and also point researchers to where gaps in evidence exist and more studies are needed.

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This EGM captures the evidence base for social and economic interventions, across all sectors, in Africa. The studies contained in this are drawn from 3ie’s Development Evidence Portal, which is the largest-of-its-kind repository of rigorous impact evaluations and systematic reviews in international development. Interventions are categorised according to the World Bank’s taxonomy of sectors, and outcomes are categorised according to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The map contains 1,267 impact evaluations and 634 systematic reviews.

This map displays interventions that seek to improve transparency and accountability in the extractives sector through compliance with global transparency initiatives, provision of information to citizens, citizen monitoring and participation and environmental and financial audits. The map includes 18 impact evaluations and two systematic reviews. Eight impact evaluations used experimental designs and 10 used quasi-experimental designs. We critically appraised the two systematic reviews. All studies in the map were published after 2013.

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This newly updated map facilitates access to rigorous evidence on intimate partner violence prevention interventions in L&MICs.

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This newly updated map facilitates access to high-quality evidence on the effectiveness of water, sanitation and hygiene promotion for households, communities, school and health facilities in L&MICs. It includes published and unpublished systematic reviews and impact evaluations up to April 2018.

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This map, produced by the World Health Organization and 3ie, presents the evidence available on social, behavioural and community engagement interventions related to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health programmes in low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs). Financial support was provided by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, and USAID.

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This map, funded by the UK Department for International Development, presents existing evidence on agricultural insurance interventions that aim to improve smallholder farmer resilience in L&MICs.

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This map, funded by the US Global Development Lab at USAID, presents the impact evaluation and systematic review evidence base for how science, technology, innovation and partnerships accelerate development outcomes in L&MICs.

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This map presents existing evidence on forest conservation in L&MICs. Our clearest finding is that there a paucity of high-quality evidence in areas significant for policy, such as the effect of forest-related climate change policies, trade laws and management, or education and awareness campaigns on environmental and social outcomes in forests.

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This map presents evidence on interventions designed to improve access to education and learning outcomes for primary and secondary school children in L&MICs.